New to the forum, need help keying out Schefflera plant

[Nshepard]

Hi all, new to the forum. Looks like an exciting community here. I work in the animal care / field research arena, not new to chameleons but I don't have a wealth of experience either. Anyway, I am trying to key out a plant I just purchased for a couple small vields I received from a friend. Trying to make sure it is safe! Thanks!

Photographs below:

Thanks much!

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

Wow, that's a beautiful and healthy schefflera, it will be perfect for them.
Since you have herp knowledge you might not need prep info for it?
Enjoy your veiled and this site
Welcome!!
Anne

 

[lindawaz]

Welcome to the forum!
Just in case you need a little help I attached a couple of links you can use as reference
https://www.chameleonforums.com/frequently-asked-questions-71620/

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html

Are you going to free range them?

 

[pssh]

Be sure to clean them!

 

[Nshepard]

Thanks all! I will never turn down info! I am going to hose it down in the shower tonight. Tomorrow, I'll try and get a new pot and some organic soil. For now they are set-up in my shower. I want to free-range them when they get a bit bigger and used to me. They seem to stress a little easy. Its been tricky to hydrate them, but they one has been pounding crickets all night. Will try some small roaches Friday.

I mainly wanted to know if this plant is Schefflera arboricola (which is largely harmless) or Schefflera actinophylla (which can been a little too toxic). Thanks!

 

[okiroo]

Thanks all! I will never turn down info! I am going to hose it down in the shower tonight. Tomorrow, I'll try and get a new pot and some organic soil. For now they are set-up in my shower. I want to free-range them when they get a bit bigger and used to me. They seem to stress a little easy. Its been tricky to hydrate them, but they one has been pounding crickets all night. Will try some small roaches Friday.

I mainly wanted to know if this plant is Schefflera arboricola (which is largely harmless) or Schefflera actinophylla (which can been a little too toxic). Thanks!

i think it actinophylla beacuse it doesnt look like mine and mine is arboricola, i think but could be wrong. your chams will be fine on either as long as they dont munch to much. keep an eye and if they start eating it alot take it away. if i were you i'd get a hibiscus, they will eat that and probally wont touch the tree. mine took a few bites out of hers and i dont think it taste that gr8 as their hasnt been many bit marks sence.

 

[Nshepard]

According to a key I found S. actinophylla has leaves in sets of 7, while S. arboricola has leaves vary (up to 11). I have found leaf sets on my plant of 6, 7, and 8 - while that points to S. arboricola, I am still 50/50 after browsing a lot of internet photos.

 

[BeBoSON]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[laurie]

Welcome to the forum. I use both kinds of schefflera's with no problems. After to potting on organic soil, do you know to cover the soil with river rocks so the chams don't eat the soil when shooting a bug? Sounds to me like you are on top of what you are doing. If you want to post all your set up we can take a look and see if anything is missing or needed.

 

[Nshepard]

Welcome to the forum. I use both kinds of schefflera's with no problems. After to potting on organic soil, do you know to cover the soil with river rocks so the chams don't eat the soil when shooting a bug? Sounds to me like you are on top of what you are doing. If you want to post all your set up we can take a look and see if anything is missing or needed.

Thanks! I was going to cover the soil with sphagnum moss, but I could see river rock being a better choice. I'll post a set-up when its all, well, set up