Hibiscus?

[OrangeJuice]

so I've heard chams love hibiscus plants, so I bought my Cham one. He's been munching on it a lot, and I'm just a little worried if he can eat too much. Also, is the lighting and heating okay for the hibiscus or should I take it out of his enclosure and let him go outside on it? Thanks!

 

[etclement]

Hibiscus plants are pretty hard to keep but very cool (just like chams ) imo. As long as he isn't getting impacted, still eating bugs, and the hibiscus is clean, he should be fine eating flowers/ leaves. As far as the lighting portion goes, some people can have two hibiscus with one outside and one with the cham. As soon as the one inside starts looking bad, switch them. You could also get some Jungle Dawn Leds or grow bulbs and that might be able to do it for one plant. It would help if you attached a picture and description of your lighting and conditions.

 

[CharlieCharmingo]

In my experience hibiscuses are hard to keep in the cage but work beautifully as outside plants. They need tons of light and water.

 

[OrangeJuice]

Here is his inside enclosure. This one is 3.5 ft by 2 by 2. He has a reptisun uvb/uva 5.0. He also has a few chains (he hasn't gotten his feet caught in them and they're his favorite thing) and a small tire swing. I think since the hibiscus is so cramped I'll move it to his daytime enclosure so it gets the light it needs and so I can dump water everywhere. What do you guys think?

 

[OrangeJuice]

So the UVB reptisun 5.0 is the straight bulb, and the round bulb is his heat and UVA. I don't run the UVA when it gets too hot, as in southern Oregon we've been having temperatures of high 80s low 90s. He seems to hate it, because he opens his mouth if I turn on the UVA bulb. Tried to get all the numbers and stuff on there

 

[etclement]

I think you need more light for a hibiscus. Also if it's ambient 80-90 that is too high. 80-90 is the basking spot temp for an adult male Veiled, and 90 is pushing it. He needs ambient temps of about 70-75 if he's going to be in the same spot all day. Also, he needs more plants and vines to climb around in, especially once he gets bigger. I would recommend adding a pothos, and other plants besides what is in there right now. Plants aren't just for cover, they provide a humidity gradient, which is very important. I recommend getting some sticks from outside, cleaning them, and putting them in the enclosure with some fake vines. One chain/vine and one medium plant would be fine for a cage he spends an hour or so in, but being exposed like that for prolonged period leads to stress. As for the hibiscus, I recommend getting a t5HO at 5000k for it or some Jungle Dawn Leds if you want to keep it in the enclosure for longer.

 

[A.M.]

Not really a great indoor plant as you will have to move it outside too. You could save money and keep it outside or spend some extra and get more lighting. The choice is yours .