Air plants and mantids

[lovemymantisfriends]

Hi!

Does anyone use air plants in their mantid enclosures?  Are they safe?

 

[Synapze]

I've used them with no problems, but I still suggest that you Google just to be sure.

 

[Predatorhousepet]

I have several air plants in my mantises enclosures and in the past have also put them in frog, lizard and salamander terrariums. Yes, they are conpletely safe. They are not toxic and mantises do not eat plants anyway.

 

[MantisGirl13]

What are air plants?
- MantisGirl13

 

[River Dane]

@MantisGirl13 They’re plants that lack roots, instead drawing moisture from the air, hence their name. They have other defining characteristics, too. They’re also called Tillandsia.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Ok! Thanks! I get it now!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Predatorhousepet]

This is a pic of two air plants I had in a fire belly toad terrarium many years ago. The one blooming on the right is called Tillandensia ionantha and the one on the left is called Tillandensia caput medusae. They are bromeliads that get the majority of their moisture from the air.

I found some more pictures showing the air plants I used in the fire bellied toad tank. There were several glued to a flat piece of bark, one on the rock formation that served as a waterfall,   another behind the FB toad. The last pic shows the tank from a different angle, you can just barely see the one on the waterfall rock. 

https://ibb.co/mRN5Xy
https://ibb.co/nb4SCy
https://ibb.co/hh5Zsy
https://ibb.co/bCrkzd
https://ibb.co/d8MUQJ

 

[MantisGirl13]

I can't see the picture...

- MantisGirl13

 

[Predatorhousepet]

I fixed it and added some more pics 

 

[MantisGirl13]

I can see it now. That is neat! Thanks for sharing!

- MantisGirl13