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What types of animals do well in planted vivariums? Well, herbivorous lizards such as iguanas and bearded dragons would probably reduce a lush terrarium to lunch in a very short amount of time. This is not to say that their environment cannot offer a nice display, however, decorative wood and other non-living natural decor should be strongly considered. There are many types of plants that will prosper under a wide variety of conditions, while many more prefer a narrower climate preference. The trick is in matching the needs of the plants to that of the animals they are cohabitating with. Plants that thrive in the warm, humid environment will suit many small animals such as geckos, anoles, toads, salamanders, tree frogs, dart frogs, and arboreal snakes such vine snakes. Other plants, such as succulents, prefer things on the drier side and can live with leopard geckos and other non-vegetarian desert dwellers. Animals such as turtles and young tortoises can also be maintained with live plants as long as those with herbivorous tendencies cannot reach the plants. Remember, however, that smaller herps usually work out to be the best choice and pose the least difficulties.

Other plants, like the terrestrial bromeliads, will play not only a decorative part in the terrarium, but also may serve as breeding sites for species such as poison dart frogs. Some of the smaller Sansevierias will be used by day geckos for egg laying as well. Cacti and succulents can add a dramatic effect to desert terrariums, however caution must be used in that cacti should only be used in terrariums housing animals that would normally coexist with them naturally. Some desert reptiles possess such thick skin that they are almost impervious to the sharp spines of cacti. This is something I witnessed myself when my chuckwallas decided to use one of their cacti as a 'bed'. At first I was quite alarmed, but eventually the lizards won and managed to wear the spines off the cactus through their repeated traffic over it!