Can you put fake plants in a turtle tank?
The answer to this question is yes and no. It all depends on the type of turtle you have and what it needs.
For example, if your pet turtle likes high humidity levels, then a plant might be beneficial for them to regulate their environment.
However, if your pet prefers dryer conditions, then fake plants could make things worse for them as they would need more water than usual. Plants help absorb moisture from the air.
If you’re not sure which type of plant will work best with your pet’s preferences, ask an expert at your local pet store or do some research online before making any decisions!
Now, let us answer the question, “Can you put fake plants in a turtle tank?”
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Can You Put Fake Plants in a Turtle Tank?
Can you put fake plants in a turtle tank? In a word, NO. The reason is that fake plants usually contain harmful chemicals such as lacquer, paint, and glue.
These not only look horrible for the turtle tank but can also cause fatal harm to your pet turtles. It’s simply a bad idea at all levels to use any sort of fake or non-aquatic plant in a turtle tank.
You’ll be better off with some nice rocks and driftwood instead if your intent is to make a naturalistic environment for them.
Will Turtles Eat Fake Plants?
Turtles will eat a lot of things, so if you have a plant and they can reach it, chances are good they’ll take a bite.
Fake plants would be no exception to this rule. However, there is one thing to consider with fake plants and turtles.
Although turtles may nibble on the leaves or petals of your fake plants, many of them won’t eat plastic plants because these don’t smell like real plants.
Turtles have an excellent sense of smell and will often reject plastic plants in favor of those that smell more lifelike.
This is why it’s always best to go with the real thing whenever possible!
Are Plants Toxic to Turtles?
Some people think that keeping a pet turtle is easy.
Many people buy baby turtles thinking they are small and cute, but they don’t know what to do with them when they grow up.
No one wants to kill the growing turtle by stopping it from feeding or giving it food that will make it sick, so many turtle owners end up trying to find out if their pets can eat certain foods.
Turtles are reptiles whose ancestors lived in water millions of years ago. They need to live near the water now because their bodies still need the humidity they would get from misting over the surface of the water.
If you keep your turtle indoors, remember that most houseplants are poisonous for them! So watch out for toxic plants!
It’s best to either provide live plants or fake ones. Some turtles can climb and tend to love eating greenery.
You should also remember that, since your turtle is not an aquatic animal (even though it evolved from water animals), he/she still has to come on land for a while each day.
House rules say no shoes inside. But if you keep many turtles at home, barefoot might be the only way they would survive even without stepping on any plant!
Remember, if your pet turtle dies after being fed unsafe food, someone must have done something wrong.
Here are some safe and unsafe indoor houseplants for turtles:
Safe Plants for Turtles
- Aloe vera
- Christmas cactus
- Chinese evergreen tree
- Dracaena
- Fleece flower
- Golden pothos
- Jade plant
- Money tree
Unsafe Plants for Turtles
- Azalea
- Calla lily
- Elephant ear plants (taro)
- Castor bean
- False jasmine
- Oleander
- Philodendron
- Rhododendron
How to Stop Turtles From Eating Plants?
This problem has been plaguing pond keepers ever since fish were introduced into ponds. Turtles are not supposed to be in the water, but many have made their home in man-made habitats.
There are several ways to keep turtles out of the garden, but I will only discuss those that work best for my purposes.
First, you can place a barrier around your plants or garden area. I prefer placing bricks along the perimeter because they don’t move around as much as the chicken wire would if there is a strong wind present.
Also, beware of making holes too small for turtles to fit through. Otherwise, they may come up underneath and lift the bricks right out of their setting (been there done that).
Another option is laying down an aluminum window screen (make sure the holes are small enough for turtles to climb over).
If you like grow boxes, look into ones made of landscape cloth or wire. Make sure they are turtle-proof!
A second option is to build your garden inside an old tire. I found this idea online about 2 years ago and have never had a problem with my veggies since.
The size of the tire you need will depend on how many plants you want to place in it and how much space you want around them.
You could also use this method without any soil by using rocks, bark chips, or something similar instead.
This would be especially useful if your area receives high amounts of precipitation because it keeps the ground underneath dryer than placing the tire directly onto the ground would.
A third option is to build a fence around your garden area. This can be as elaborately as you like and I don’t think it’s as hard as people make it sound.
You need 2 pieces of 3 to 4 foot wide wire fencing (I prefer the white plastic-coated kind because it doesn’t rust and looks more aesthetically pleasing).
Connect them with PVC pipes about 8 inches long running along each side at a height where you want the top of your fence to be.
Just remember that turtles are small enough to fit through very small holes, so if there is any space they can get their shell through, they will!
Next, take some bricks or stones that won’t easily decompose over time and line up one brick/stone every 8 inches along the bottom of the wire fencing.
Now, you need to get some dirt and fill in your tire or garden area that you’ve prepared. This will help keep the fence upright and stable, but if there is a heavy wind, don’t be surprised if it blows over (I had this problem at first).
Then cut some more bricks/stones in half and place them every 2 feet or so on top of your soil with about an inch exposed above ground.
I like to line them up horizontally along the inside of my fence (meaning only one side has exposed brick/stone) because they look nicer than sticking straight up into the air!
That’s it! You can plant whatever you want now without worrying about turtles eating your crop! Just remember to have a water source for your plants and some type of ornamentation in the garden.
How Does Turtle Waste Help Plants Grow?
Turtle and tortoise (Testudinidae) excrement has been hailed as a potential solution to poor crop yields, according to a paper published in the journal Chemoecology by researchers from the University of Plymouth.
Researcher Dr. David Goulson said: “For some reason, no one had ever looked at whether turtle poo can provide nutrients for growing plants before. We seem to be the first people to have done so.”
In their study, they found that turtle excrement is rich in phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium — key ingredients for plant growth.
The team also discovered that the droppings contained up to four times as much protein as farmyard manure. They recommended burying turtle waste about 10cm (4in) underground to prevent it from washing into the sea.
Dr. Goulson said: “It all comes back to turtles’ weird but wonderful biology. They are descended from some of the earliest animals to have evolved shells, and because these shells need calcium carbonate, they eat their own poo so as not to deplete their bodies’ finite supplies of calcium.”
The researchers tested their theory on a small patch of land, but hope to use turtle droppings in future experiments.
Dr. Goulson said: “We haven’t done any field trials yet — we’re waiting until we can get some more funding and then we’ll begin trialing it with different types of plants and on different soils.”
He added: “If this works for crops as well as it seems to work for the grasses we tested, this could potentially go some way towards solving two global problems at once.”
Conclusion
Turtles are complex creatures with complex needs. It’s important to remember that the decision on what they need is ultimately up to you, including the plants in their tank.
There is no one correct answer for all turtles when it comes to plants in their tank. Ask your local veterinarian before making any decisions about caring for your turtle!
A good place to start might be by researching plant species that will thrive in a pet store or aquarium setting and then asking them if these would work well with your particular kind of turtle.
We hope this article has helped you make an informed decision on whether fake plants can go into a turtle tank, but please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help in any way moving forward!
Key points on whether you can place fake plants in your turtle tank:
Adding vegetation to your turtle tank can enhance the overall aesthetic and provide enrichment for your pet. While live plants are a popular choice, many turtle keepers wonder if fake plants are a suitable alternative. Here’s what you need to know about using fake plants in a turtle tank:
1. Easy Maintenance:
- Fake plants require no special lighting, substrate, or nutrient supplementation, making them low-maintenance.
2. Durability:
- Artificial plants are long-lasting and won’t wither or die, ensuring a consistent appearance in the tank.
3. Hygienic:
- Fake plants don’t introduce potential pests, algae, or parasites to the tank, reducing the risk of contamination.
4. Customizable:
- You can choose from a wide variety of fake plant styles and colors to match your tank’s theme.
5. No Soil or Substrate Disruption:
- Live plants may uproot or disrupt substrate, whereas fake plants remain firmly in place.
6. Safe for Turtles:
- High-quality, non-toxic fake plants are safe for turtles, as they won’t be consumed.
7. Durable Against Turtles:
- Turtles may occasionally nibble or interact with fake plants, but they are less likely to damage them compared to live plants.
8. Lower Light Requirements:
- Artificial plants don’t need specific lighting conditions, making them suitable for tanks with minimal light.
9. Budget-Friendly:
- Fake plants are generally more cost-effective than live plants, which may require specialized lighting and care.
10. Low-Risk Propagation: – With fake plants, you don’t have to worry about accidental propagation of plants within your tank.
11. Consistency: – Fake plants maintain a consistent appearance throughout the year, regardless of seasons or tank conditions.
12. Minimal Tank Alteration: – Live plants may require adjustments to the tank setup, such as substrate changes and planting, whereas fake plants can be added without altering the existing tank structure.
13. Escape and Basking Spots: – Place artificial plants strategically to create hiding spots and basking platforms for your turtles.
14. Cleaning Ease: – Cleaning fake plants is straightforward; simply rinse or wipe them down during tank maintenance.
15. Observational Enhancement: – Adding fake plants can stimulate your turtle’s natural behaviors, as they may interact with and explore the plants.
16. Disadvantages of Fake Plants: – While fake plants offer many benefits, they lack the natural filtration and oxygenation properties of live plants. – Turtles may not graze on or interact with fake plants as they would with live vegetation.
17. Mixing Real and Fake Plants: – Some turtle keepers combine live and artificial plants to enjoy the benefits of both. Live plants can help improve water quality while fake plants provide visual appeal.
In summary, using fake plants in a turtle tank is a practical and cost-effective choice, offering low maintenance and customization options. While they lack the biological benefits of live plants, they provide a consistent and durable option for decorating your turtle’s enclosure. Whether you choose to use only artificial plants or a mix of real and fake, ensuring your turtle’s habitat is enriching and safe is the ultimate goal.
