Safe Plants for Tanks

[Bumblebee]

Ok this list I actually found somewhere here on the petsnails forum, but couldnt find the link again, if I dont remember wrong tho, I think it was Paul that had posted it originally lol


Toxic Plants
ACOCANTHERA fruit and flowers
ACONITE (Monkshood) roots, flowers and leaves and seeds
AMARYLLIS (A. belladonna) bulbs contain alkaloids, stem, flower parts
AMSINCKIA (Tarweed) foliage, seeds
ANENOME (Wildflower) whole plant
ANGEL TRUMPET TREE (Datura arborra) flowers and leaves
APPLE seeds only (if crushed)
APRICOT PITS inner seed dangerous
ATROPA BELLADONNA all parts, especially black berries
AUTUMN CROCUS bulbs
AVOCADO foliage
AZALEAS all parts are fatal!
BALSAM PEAR seeds, outer rind of fruit
BANEBERRY (Doll's Eyes) red or white berries, roots and foliage
BEACH PEA all
BETEL NUT PALM all
BELLADONNA all
BIRD OF PARADISE foliage, flowers, seeds
BITTERSWEET berries
BLACK LOCUST (robina pseudoacacia) bark, sprouts and foliage
BLEEDING HEART flower, foliage and roots
BLUEBONNETS all
BLUE FLAG (Iris) bulbs
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE some forms are toxic
BLOODROOT (Sanguinaria canadensis) all
BOTTLEBRUSH flowers -
BOXWOOD all
BUCKEYE HORSE CHESTNUT sprouts and nuts
BUCKTHORN fruit, bard
BUTTERCUP all CALADIUM all
CALLA LILY all
CARDINAL FLOWER all
CAROLINA JESSAMINE foliage, flowers and sap
CASSAVA / MANIOC roots
CASTOR BEAN (castor oil) uncooked beans
CHALICE VINE (Solandra grandiflora) all
CHERRY bark, twig, leaves, seed pits
CHERRY LAUREL foliage and flowers
CHINA BERRY TREE berries
CHRISTMAS BERRY berries
CHRISTMAS CACTUS (Euphorbia) entire plant
CHRISTMAS CANDLE sap
CHRISTMAS ROSE (Helleborus niger) foliage and flowers
COLUMBINE foliage, flowers and seeds
COMMON PRIVET foliage and berries
CORAL PLANT all parts
CROCUS bulbs
CROTON foliage, shoot
CYCLAMEN foliage, stems and flowers
DAFFODIL bulbs, foliage, flowers and pods
DAPHNE berries
DATURA (Datura stramonium) leaves, seeds
DEADLY AMANITA all
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE (Atropa belladonna) foliage, unripe fruit, sprouts
DEATH CAMAS all
DEATH CAP MUSHROOM (Amanita phalloides) all
DELPHINIUM all
DIEFFENBACHIA (Dumbcane) all
DESTROYING ANGEL (Death cap) all
DOGWOOD fruit mildly toxic
DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES (Dicentra cucullaria) foliage and roots
EGGPLANT all but the fruit
ELDERBERRY (Sambucus) foliage, bark and shoots
ELEPHANT EARS (Taro) leaves, stem
ENGLISH IVY leaves, berries very poisonous
EQUISETUM all
EUPHORBIA (spurge(s)) foliage, flowers sap
FALSE HELLEBORE all parts
FALSE HENBANE all
FIDDLENECK (Senecio) all
FLY AGARIC (amanita, death cap) all
FOUR O'CLOCK all
FOXGLOVE leaves, seeds and flowers
GELSEMIUM all
GHOSTWEED all
GOLDEN CHAIN (Laburnum) all
HEMLOCK ROOTS (poison & water) all
HENBANE all
HOLLY, English and American foliage, berries
HORSE CHESTNUT all parts
HORSETAIL REED (Equisetum)all
HYACINTH bulbs, foliage and flowers
HYDRANGEA all parts
INDIAN TURNIP (Jack-in-the-pulpit) all
IMPATIENS (Touch-me-not) all
IRIS (Blue flag) all
IVY (all forms) foliage, fruit
JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT all
JASMINE foliage, flowers, sap
JASMINE, STAR foliate, flowers
JATROPHA seeds, sap
JAVA BEAN uncooked bean
JERUSALEM CHERRY berries and foliage
JESSAMINE berries
JIMSON WEED (Thorn apple) foliage, flowers, seed pods
JOHNSON GRASS all
JUNIPER needles, stems, berries
LABURNUM all
LAMBKILL (Sheep laurel) all
LANTANA CAMARA foliage, flowers, esp. berries
LARKSPUR all parts
LAUREL all parts
LILY OF THE VALLEY all parts, including water
LIMA BEAN (java bean) uncooked bean
LOBELIA all parts
LOCOWEED all
LOCUST(S) all
LORDS AND LADIES (cuckoopint) all
LUPINE esp. seeds, pods foliage
MACHINEEL all
MARIJUANA all parts
MAY APPLE all
MESCAL (BEAN) seed; all parts may be toxic
MILKWEED foliage
MISTLETOE foliage and berries
MOCCASIN FLOWER foliage, flowers
MOCK ORANGE fruit
MONKSHOOD entire plant, including roots
MOODSEED berries
MORNING GLORY all
MOUNTAIN LAUREL young leaves, shoots
MUSHROOMS (some wild forms) caps, stems
NARCISSUS (Paper-white) bulbs, flowers
NATAL CHERRY berries, foliage
NECTARINE SEED inner pit only
NICOTINE (tree, bush, flowering) foliage, flowers
NIGHTSHADES all parts, esp. unripe fruit
OAK TREES acorn, foliage
OLEANDER all
PEACH PIT inner seed
PEAR seeds
PENNYROYAL foliage, flowers
PEONY foliage, flowers
PERIWINKLE all
PHILODENDRON (some species) all parts
PINKS all
PLUMS foliage, inner seed
POINSETTIA leaves, flowers and sap
POISON HEMLOCK foliage, seeds
POISON IVY foliage, fruit, sap
POISON OAK foliage, fruit, sap
POISON SUMAC foliage, fruit, sap
POKEWOOD / POKECHERRY roots, fruits
POPPY (except California) all
POTATO eyes, shoots, raw foliage
RIVET all
REDWOOD resinoids, leached wet wood
RHODODENDRON all parts are fatal!
RHUBARB foliage, uncooked stems
ROSARY PEAS foliage, flowers, pods
ROSEMARY foliage in some species
RUSSIAN THISTLE foliage, flowers
SAGE foliage in some species
SALMONBERRY foliage, fruit
SCARLET PIMPERNEL foliage, flowers, fruit
SCOTCH BROOM seeds
SENECIO ("fiddle neck") all
SKUNK CABBAGE all
SNAPDRAGON foliage, flowers
SNOWDROP all
SNOW-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN (Ghostweed) all
SPANISH BAYONET foliage, flowers
STAR JASMINE foliage, flowers
SQUIRREL CORN foliage, flowers, seeds
SUDAN GRASS all
STAR OF BETHLEHEM foliage, flowers
SUNDEW foliage
SWEET PEA stemps, seeds and fruit
TANSY foliage, flowers
TARO (Elephant ears) foliage
TARWEED foliage, seeds
THORN APPLE flowers, foliage, pods
TIGER LILY foliage, flowers, seed pods
TOAD FLAX foliage
TOBACCO leaves
TOMATO PLANT foliage, vines
TOUCH-ME-NOT all
TOYON BERRY berries
TREE OF HEAVEN foliage and flowering parts
TRILLIUM foliage
TRUMPET VINE all
TULIP all
VENUS FLYTRAP all
VERBENA foliage, flowers
VETCH (several forms) seeds and pods
VIRGINIA CREEPER sap, foliage, seed pods
WATER HEMLOCK roots, foliage
WILDFLOWER leaves, flowers
WILD PARSNIP underground roots, foliage
WISTERIA all
YAM BEAN roots, immature pods
YELLO STAR THISTLE foliage, flowers
YEW (all varieties) foliage, needles, seeds

Non-Toxic Plants
ABELIA (Abelia grandiflora)
AFRICAN VIOLET (Saintpaulia ionantha)
SWEET ALYSSUM (Allyssum sp.)
ASPERAGUS FERN (Asperagus setaceus plumosus)
ASTER (Aster sp.)
BABY TEARS (Helxine soleirolii)
BIRD'S NEST FERN (Asplenium nidus)
BOSTON FERN (Nephrolepsis exalta)
BOTTLE BRUSH (Callistemom sp.)
BOUGANVlLLEA (Bouganvillea sp.)
BRlDAL VElL (Tripogandra multiflora)
BROMELIADS (Aechmea; Bilbergia; Cryptanthus; Vriesia, etc.)
CACTUS, SPINELESS (Astrophytum)
CAMELLIA (Camellia japonica)
COLEUS (Coleus sp.)
CORN PLANT (Dracaena fragrans)
CREEPING CHARLIE (Pilea nummulariifolia)*
CROTON (Codiaeum SP.)
DRACAENA (Dracaena SP.)
EMERALD RIPPLE (Peperomia caperata)
EUGENIA (Eugenia sp.)
FICUS TREE
FUSCHIA (Fuschia)
GERANIUM (Pelargonium sp.)
HEN AND CHICKS SUCCULENT (Echeveria imbricata)
HIBISCUS (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
HOYA (Hoya exotica)
ICEPLANT (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum)
IMPATIENS (Impatiens)
JADE PLANT (Crassula argentea)
JAPANESE ARALIA (Fatsia japonica)
JASMINE (Jasrninum officinale; J. grandiflorum)
LAVENDER (Lavandula officinalis)
MARIGOLD (Calendula offcinalis)
MONKEY PLANT (Ruellia makoyana)
MOTHER OF PEARL (Graptopetalum paraguayense)
NATAL PLUM (Carissa grandiflora)
PAINTED NETTLE (Coleus)
PALMS (Areca sp.)
PAMPAS GRASS (Cortaderia selloana)
PARLOR PALM (Chamaedorea elegans)
PETUNIA (Petunia)
PHOENIX (Phoenix roebelenii)
PIGGYBACK PLANT (Tolmiea menziesii)
PILEA (Pilea sp.)
PINK POLKA-DOT PLANT (Hypoestes sanguinolenta)
PONYTAIL PLANT (Beaucarnea recurvata)
PRAYER PLANT (Maranta leuconeura)
PURPLE PASSION; PURPLE VELVET (Gynura aurantiaca)
SPIDER PLANT (Chlorophytum comosum)
STAGHORN FERN (Platycerium bifurcatum)
SWEDISH IVY (Plectranthus australis)
TREE MALLOW (Lavatera assurgentiflora)
UMBRELLA PLANT (Eriogonum umbrellum)

Edible Plants
ALFALFA Hay
BURDOCK
CLOVER leaves, stems
DANDELION leaves, flowerhead
FICUS (F. BENJAMINA) leaves
GERANIUMS flowers, leaves
GRAPES (NOT GRAPE IVYS) leaves, fruit
HIBISCUS flowers, leaves
LAMBS QUARTERS leaves
MALLOW young leaves
NASTURTIUM flowers, leaves
PEAVINE (NOT SWEETPEA) leaves
POTHOS leaves*
ROSES petals
SPIDER PLANT leaves
SPLIT-LEAF PHILODENDRON (MONSTERA) leaves - known safe for P.T. skinks*
VIOLETS (NOT AFRICAN VIOLETS) flowers, leaves - known safe for torts
WANDERING JEW (ZEBRINA SPP) leaves

* High in oxalic acid - pothos may be offered to iguanas only in moderation; many species of philodendron are extremely high in oxalates and so should be avoided. A lot of people get pothos and philodendron confused, so if you don't know and you are plant shopping, shop at a nursery where folks know their plants.
NON_TOXIC PLANTS -- This list appears in Iguanas: A Guide To Their Biology And Captive Care by Fredric L. Frye, DVM. He credits (among others) the following sources: International Turtle and Tortoise Journal, San Diego Poison Information Center (UCSD), Sa

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I have been using this list when getting the plants i got in my tank, and all snails have been doing fine, and most of the plants as well, only the fuschia didnt like it, kinda looked like it was about to die lol, maybe was the moist or so it couldnt take. Bit pity tho, my snails seemed to like to sleep in it xD

[coyote]

Interesting that some of the toxic plants are favored by garden snails as cover plants (ivy and privet.)

A little disturbing that the toxic list is like twice as long as the safe list!

[glittersniffer]

FLY AGARIC are a mushroom, a magic kind... Are you totally sure they can have these..?

[aerliss]

Fly Agaric is eaten by slugs and snails in the wild, so I assume GALS would do fine on them too. Our brains and nervous systems are very different to those of molluscs.

[crossless]

I would not go and pick one for snails. Really ome people don't know any mushrooms. I won't go even near one shroom. I had banana plant in my snail tank they love it now it's too big for tank so I sometimes give few leaves them as food.

Even if some plant is safe for snails. some can't stand any root eating etc. some won't support huge snails weight so owner have to see which plants are good and safe for snails so they don't hurt too much them selves.

[Bumblebee]

Yeah i agree with crossless, it really is wise to find out what plants actually like the conditions that the african snails live in, and that the plants can take the snails rough treatment.

I can directly say that avoid spider plants for african snails unless they are tiny tiny babies, cause that plant really get demolized so easy, same with fuschia, a pretty flower but way to fragile for the adult snails xD

[crossless]

www.guide-to-houseplants.com/house-plants-encyclopedia-a-z.html Here some page which has useful info about different plant profiles. I have to check them out if there's something worth of trying. In spring loads of plants comes again in shops so they are more available than in winter. Here in one Bauhaus when plants are not really seasonal as in summer employees are too lazy to look after them and everything is almost half dead, lol.

[Bumblebee]

ohh a very nice list, its always so annoying to try and google the plants yourself to find out what conditions they like

[aerliss]

Not suggesting anyone go out and pick fly agaric for their snails (or any other purpose ) of course... just sayin; British slugs and snails devour them happily.

Actually, it's probably a bad idea to pick ANY plants from the wild for snails; you never know what little pests are on them.

[Hannah-Bird]

My snails are cepaea nemoralis, is there any reason to think they would have different toxicity tolerance than GALS? I normally give them salad or dandelions, but I wondered especially about the calla lilies; the slugs in my area LOVE them. I wondered if this could indicate a difference for the smaller snails as well...

[coyote]

From what I've observed, the wild snails in my area (H. aspersa) will not eat anything toxic, even though they crawl through its foliage and even estivate on its leaves.

I wouldn't be surprised if the toxicity is the same throughout all snail species. The only exception to that that I can imagine is that a species that evolves in conjunction with a toxic plant and develops defenses to it; a non-native species exposed to such a plant might succumb. But I'm only speculating here, I could be quite wrong.

[Deleted]

you forgot cress! which is edible and safe

[crossless]

I have currently in my snail tanks some Syngonium auritum and Nephrolepis cordifolia. Nephrolepis cordifolia dry out really quickly so have to keep spraying it more.

[Hannah-Bird]

Has anyone had any experience with growing pothos in their tanks? I thought it would be a good fit for my grove snails in terms of size (and lack of toxicity) because we kept some in a tank with small frogs when I was a kid. However, I read that it doesn't like soggy soil on the site that crossless posted, so might the humidity be too high in a snail tank?

[crossless]

Yep, I have that light green form in there.. Some snails might like to eat it so plant should be quite big when put first time in tank so it don't die after few bites. It don't like too moist neither it starts to rot from part that has been eaten.

It depends of species which you can keep what plant.

Some species snails can't have too watery soil some species might die if it's too high humidity. So soil moisture level depents always about species, some need drier than others. I keep plants in their own pots because snails dig pot sometimes lot and plants roots don't fall apart too much.

I usually lift pots out of terrarium when they need water so no plant survives or get too wet from daily spraying. Even in humidity terrarium plants soil will some day dry out, because plants soil helps keeping humidity up.

[coyote]

I don't think the relative humidity in the tank would be a problem, but if the soil is too damp you could keep the plant in a small pot set into the substrate, to make it easier to control the moisture of the plant's soil. Be careful the roots don't come out of the bottom of the pot and go into the substrate, though.

[Hannah-Bird]

Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure if I'll go with that, but I'll let you guys know when I'm getting the new tank set up.

[crossless]

Hmmh.. Does anyone know do you need plant light to terrarium if you use infrared light as heating and I read that plants can use red color light too? Hmmh.. Have to test if no one know the answer.

[coyote]

I suspect you would need a plant light in addition to the infrared light. Plants might use the red part of the spectrum, but they need the rest of the spectrum too in order to grow well and be healthy.

[crossless]

All right then. I'll keep then using that energysaving plant light during day time to make day/night cycle for plants. I'll just check from here www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/sunrise.html average day lenght of Ghana. Because I'm setting up terrarium to one A. Achatina baby.. seller will put it to post on Monday so I make set up ready on weekend when snail is arriving on someday on beginning of next week.

I'm putting in terrarium as hiding places some plants like Epipremnum pinnatum, Ficus benjamina and Syngonium podophyllum hope new snails don't prefer them more than food it self..

[kristensaurr]

What about fake plants? I own a few plastic and fabric fake plants and I'm worried about putting them in there because I am scared the snails will try to eat them. Will they, or do they know it's not edible and they're actually smarter than I think?

[Neo53]

I have fake plants in my tank and no nibbles have been taken out of them. Snails enjoy climbing up and down them and no ill effects. I suggest they are very very VERY well washed before being placed in the tank, and also make sure they are vivarium/terrarium specific so they can withstand the humidity.

If I am wrong, PLEASE someone correct me!

[ness]

Agreed on the above advice.

Yes snails are very good at distinguishing between edible and none-edible things, they don't rasp the plastic so there shouldn't be a problem with vivarium artificial plants.
A snails main sense is smell. Although they 'mouth' things they don't rasp unless it's edible, plastic doesn't smell like food to them, even when food has been sitting directly on it they still won't rasp the plastic.
However it can be surprising what snails find apetising. They will eat cardboard and paper if you let them (as people, myself included, who's had escaped snails munching on their letters will testify!)

[Neo53]

Mmmm...but paper is so nice, Ness :3

Hehehe. A friend had 2 escaped snailes and ate half of a poster!

haha! (oops!) ;D
Now if I can train mine to eat pesky bills......

[coyote]

I use plastic aquarium plants in my tanks and have never had any problems.