Pacman frogs are one of the most popular amphibian pets around the world. Caring for your frog is a top priority, providing the best habitat, creating a natural space where your frog will feel comfortable and safe.
Live plants are ideal for a bioactive habitat setup, offering a range of great benefits from providing clean air to keeping high humidity levels and providing a natural finish to the Pacman frog terrarium.
Important Notes When Keeping Pacman Frog Live Plants
- Ensure you buy pesticide-free plants
- Buy adequate lighting to promote plant growth and health
- Water plants regularly
Safe Live Plants for a Pacman Frog Terrarium
Chamaedorea Elegans
Chamaedorea Elegans is a plant from the Araceae family. This is a slow-growing palm that comes from Southern Mexico and Guatemala.
It is very low maintenance and easy to care for. It can handle low and moderate lighting conditions. It thrives in vivariums with moist soil.
You can mist the enclosure to reduce the risk of the soil drying out This plant can grow up to four inches in height.
Epipremnum Aureum ‘Neon’ Pothos
Epipremnum aureum ‘Neon’ Pothos is a type of vine that you can place in the back of the vivarium as a background. It grows very quickly and tolerates a host of water conditions.
Damp substrate is best in helping the plant promote the best colors. These plants don’t require any air circulation. It provides essential cover within the terrarium to promote a natural design.
Dracaena Compacta
This plant comes from Southeast Africa and is easy to care for. This slow-growing plant can grow up to six feet in height.
This plant is ideal in low to moderate conditions with low and bright lighting.
The plant can rot when too much water is used, in the terrarium you need well-draining soil.
Due to the fact this plant enjoys drier conditions, it is best suited for Pacman frogs and some geckos.
Syngonium
Syngonium are popular plants that are tropical plants from Latin America. These plants come in a variety of colors, require moderate lighting and water.
This is suitable for high moisture environments in a well-drained vivarium.
Due to the large growing size, you can usually use the plant with your frog for approximately one year before making it a houseplant.
Microsorum scolopendrium ‘Laua’e Iki’ Fern
This plant belongs to the Hypoglycemia family and is found in Hawaii.
It is dark green in color with pointed leaves. It is a small fern that stays approximately fourteen inches.
It thrives in evenly moist soil that is well-drained. It also enjoys being kept in partial shade, which is why it works well in the terrarium environment, enjoying drier air than the majority of other ferns available.
The plant can be attached to rocks and the background, which enables it to spread throughout the enclosure, offering excellent foliage for hiding and privacy. You will need to prune the plant on occasion.
Place in a very well-drained area of the enclosure for best growth and health.
Episcia Cupreata
This flame violet plant can add color to your Pacman enclosure. This is a trailing plant that is easy to propagate and offers unique and impressive foliage.
They require moderate light.
It creates a main or mother plant and then surrounds itself with younger grow off plants or runners
This plant loves moisture and provides excellent ground cover for frogs and other pets.
It can blossom in the terrarium and it enjoys the humidity provided by fine misting.
Chlorophytum Comosum
The Chhlorophytum Comosum is the spider plant which is native to Southern Africa.
It’s an evergreen herb and popular for its long ribbon-like foliage with a green and yellow combination that adds color and variation to your bioactive setup.
These plants thrive in brighter and indirect light, though they can tolerate partial shade.
The soil should be kept evenly moist. It is recommended for well-drained enclosures that won’t allow for water to stay on the leaves for extended periods.
Leaves are dark green, complete with light green stripe. They have thin, tough stems that turn red in bright light. The plant thrives in moist and well-drained soil.
Please note: This plant will grow large and fast.
Peperomia Quadrangularis (Angulata)
This plant comes from Southern America, Brazil, and Panama. The leaves are thick and succulent and are in a dark green, complete with light green stripe. They have thin, tough stems that turn red in bright light.
The plant thrives in moist and well-drained soil.
Please note: This plant will grow large and fast.
It’s recommended that you allow the soil to dry between watering, which reduces the risk of the roots sitting in water for long periods. This plant can tolerate high humidity.
Rhaphidophora Hongkongensis
This plant is a member of the Araceae family and is a climbing vine found in China, Thailand, Taiwan, India, and Malaysia.
The plant gives the appearance of roof shingles with leaves flattening against surfaces. The leaves are smooth, thick, and solid green.
Often found in evergreen forests, these plants prefer humid enclosures with partial or full shade.
These are suitable for larger terrariums providing a lush and green carpet.
Philodendron Cordatum
Philodendron cordatum is a tropical vining plant with yellow striped foliage.
The plant is native to South Eastern Brazil providing a low maintenance plant that enjoys moist soil and partial shade.
This plant grows quickly, as a result, you want to plan this plant at one third of the back of the terrarium.
The plant does not require airflow and requires a humid environment.
The plant is popular for its broad leaves offering ideal shading and privacy for your Pacman frog.
Scindapsus Pictus
Scindapsus Pictus is a slow-growing vine and a member of the Araceae family, native to Philippines and Thailand.
This plant thrives in high humidity and grows easily to several feet in length.
Keep in bright indirect light to get the best coloration.
Only water once the top half an inch of soil is dry. Do not overwater.
This climbing vine can cover the background of your enclosure with large round leaves providing hiding and privacy for your Pacman frog.
Good drainage is essential to keep this plant healthy.
Alocasia ‘Dwarf Amazonica’
This plant is also a member of the Araceae family and is found in Australia and southern Asia where it is commonly referred to as Elephants Ear. The name comes from the size and shape of the leaves.
This plant can grow up to sixteen inches with dark green leaves.
The plant does well in full shade, the leaves can burn easily.
It does best in a large enclosure, kept in moist soil that isn’t over saturated. Keeping the roots wet will cause them to rot.
Conclusion
Adding live plants to an enclosure setup is a common choice for many Pacman frog owners.
The plants you select are down to personal preference, what you like the look of and what will best suit your enclosure size and design. Ensure you select plants that are non-toxic and safe for Pacman frogs (as listed above).
Ensure you select a good quality mix for your substrate, which will create a great starting point for your live plant.
Create a hole in the substrate and then place your plant into the hole. Compact the substrate mix around the roots to help keep your plant in place.