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What animals can I keep in a greenhouse?

  • #21
Depending on the type of stick insect, it could be possible.
Most stick insects have rather strict diets and only feed on a small number of plants.
And you'll have to cull them or they will devour their food plant faster than it can regenerate.

I knew someone else who believed this to be true. Unfortunately, it's not.

Phasmid numbers can quickly grow completely out of control by the 2nd generation in a greenhouse environment with no predators to keep their numbers in check.

Watch the key words in what I said above Cthulhu138. ;)

From your friend's experience with Extatosoma, we know that species of stick insect would not be an ideal species for George_Adams greenhouse. Other species have stricter diets, such as Oreophoetes topoense, that is only known to feed on species of fern. Experimentation would be in order before releasing stick insects upon any plants that could be at risk. However, George_Adams does not yet have a greenhouse, and proper plant selection could work around the chosen stick insect species.

So, would keeping stick insects in a greenhouse be possible? Absolutely! However, many details would need attention and it could involve a lot of work to maintain the stick insect culture long term.
 
  • #23
Anoles, need special lighting.
Dumpy tree frogs, you'll have to feed crickets, roaches, etc.

Might I suggest taking a look at Kingsnake.com or FaunaClassifieds.com for care sheets on reptiles and amphibians? That way, you can see the needs of a variety of animals and then you can decide if you are able to match those needs. Also, several members have given good suggestions so reconsider those as well.
Good Luck!
 
  • #24
My greenhouse (13' wide x 26' long x 9' high) is heated (to maintain a minimum 38 degrees to 40 degrees F) but open during the growing season. The only animal I have purposely kept within are Mosquito Fish (Gambusia sp.). They overwinter in half barrel planters (I use them in my raised water beds to control mosquitoes during the growing season, and I keep some in the barrel year round for the same purpose). I don't spray but rather drench insecticides and fungicides so I'm not worried about overspray.

I have had a number of accidental animal residents, however. Several species of frog (one tree - Hyla chrysoscelis - and at least one terrestrial - Lithobates melanota and possibly one or two others) come and go, and spawn wherever they find open standing water (trays and the barrel planter). They come and go during the warmer months but I have found some in the winter-sealed greenhouse as well. A number of these either starved or dessicated although a few survived.

Personally, I wouldn't focus on animals in my greenhouse. My plants are too important. In order to feed these frogs through the winter months, I'd need to avoid killing the mealybug and the mites, and the fungus gnats and the ants that often carry scale and aphids and other nasties around. The animals won't keep these in check enough to really matter. And even drenching with insecticide, etc. has to take a toll on them as they move around and through the plants and trays.

Hope this helps.
 
  • #25
I think having some mantises would be the best option, preferably a species that wouldn't be able to stand the cold of winter in the UK so that even if any escape, they will die in the winter, also mantis will tend to keep their numbers in check, and having a fly culture (of a native fly species of course) will not only feed them, but it will also provide extra food for your plants :)
 
  • #26
Avicularia, Poecilotheria, Psalmopoeus, and Tapinauchenius would survive reasonably well in a greenhoue which reaches temperatures of 90 maximum and 60 minimum. Given there is humidity and adequate food.

Many people so far have expressed concerns about the amount of food available to these animals, though I think the anticipation of a spider needing constant supplemental food is unrealistic. What's more concerning is depending on your location, the bare ground may be toxic to the tarantulas (mites, dryness, parasitic worms, and fungi). I think that this could be remedied with a ground cover like brick, tile, regular carpet flooring, plastic-- etc.

As for concerns that you will be interacting with this animal, the animal will certainly establish an area where it spends most of its time, this is the case for almost all scorpions and spiders. I can almost garauntee that you will not be stung or bitten by a scorpion or spider if you are aware of their den, burrow, or established area.

It may be true that these critters can escape, a scorpion may burrow itself out of the greenhouse, a spider, especially arboreals, can escape by crawling through extremely small holes relative to their body size.

However, given a large enough space these animals will, for the most part, be content in an area where food, water, and lack of disturbance are plentiful.

Making a greenhouse tarantula-escape-proof is going to be the hardest factor. How will you ventilate your greenhouse without allowing large enough holes for the spider to escape.

I would consider buying a burrowing species, and providing a suitable substrate for that spider to burrow in. With this method, you can see the evidence of the spider. A species that makes great burrows and intricate webbing (whom you may occasionally witness slightly exposed at the entrance) is Pterinochilus murinus. This species is highly defensive, however, it webs heavily, is easily available, and is relatively cheap. It is also sustainably available in the U.S. due to the breeding efforts of tarantula hobbiests.

If this tarantula is free roaming, I would consider altering part of your greenhouse to provide the suitable area for burrowing. This would serve a dual purpose:

First it would more or less gaurantee that the spider will establish itself in the designated spot.

Second it will reduce the amount of substrate (coconut fiber, long fibered sphagnum, processed peat mixed with sand or vermiculite).

It may also be more aesthetically pleasing, that is, the burrow would complex all along the area which you have placed the suitable substrate. And you would be less likely to ruin the critters home when you roam the greenhouse doing various things.
 
  • #27
Anoles, need special lighting.
Dumpy tree frogs, you'll have to feed crickets, roaches, etc.

Might I suggest taking a look at Kingsnake.com or FaunaClassifieds.com for care sheets on reptiles and amphibians? That way, you can see the needs of a variety of animals and then you can decide if you are able to match those needs. Also, several members have given good suggestions so reconsider those as well.
Good Luck!
No light is more special than the sun, but if this greenhouse were to be a fully indoor proposition, any T5HO tubes give off sufficient uv for just about any lizard and certainly for anoles.
 
  • #28
I've kept free range reptiles before and now and the only problem i have is waking up beside them or them eating a visiting sparrow on my lawn lol...

why not keep tree frogs then? :D
 
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