Miniature bonsai trees in ball python's vivarium?

[JeanTownsend]

I'm going bioactive soon, and I know which plants I'm using. BUT, I really wanted a small tree she could climb, since mine is on aboslutely everything and she enjoys climbing. So I was wondering, does anyone know any bonsai trees that are all right for them and have strong limbs?
Also, do you know how strong jade tree branches are?
Thanks in advance.

[MD_Pythons]

I don't think a little bonsai would stand up to the weight of a ball python, if you want something for her to climb you're better off with that branch.

[Starscream]

If you want a live tree, maybe look into dracaena plants. They get kind of tall, though, so you'd have to trim it down once it got larger than the cage.

[Zincubus]

Just get some nice branches from nearby woods or park .




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[SDA]

Bonsai trees are not sturdy plants and would not do well inside such an enclosure. Just get some branches or you could get something like this and cover it in fake vines

https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/hab...ml?cgid=500116

[AbsoluteApril]

Just get some nice branches from nearby woods or park .

Just a caveat with this - make sure to check state/county/city laws, some areas in the US it's illegal to remove wood from parks.
For instance here in CA there are laws governing which type and what amount of driftwood is allowed to be taken from the beaches.

[dadofsix]

How deep are you planning to bury the bonsai's roots in the vivarium? I don't know how big your snake is but anything approaching 500 grams would probably be strong enough to knock it over until and unless the plant had a serious root system established.

[JeanTownsend]

Thanks, everyone.
I kind of figured bonsai trees might not be sturdy enough. I'm still not sure about the jade tree, though.
She's a year old right now, so she's still pretty small. I do intend to allow a few months to pass before putting her in the new vivarium, to allow the plants time to grow strong roots.
I have no idea what the laws here in NS, Canada, are, for taking branches. We do have plenty of trees on our property, however, I was told that most of them wouldn't be great for reptiles, even if treated. Correct me if I'm wrong. Obviously pine or cedar is out of the question, and that's pretty much what we have here. Thanks for the suggestion.
I will definitely check on the draceana tree.
Thanks.

[Apiratenamedjohn]

Bonsai will work. You have to pick your trees well for the heavy snake and have a big enough enclosure with strong enough lighting. Older trees will work as they will have thicker branches. You can cheat and go to the local nursery and get the same tree pre bonsaid in a 10 gal landscaping pot and that way it will be older and sturdier as well. If you provide the size of the enclosure i can help with some trees or bushes that will work for this purpose. In my hognose viv i have coastal rosemary, honeysuckle, ivy, azalea, grewia, and chinese elm. The ball python only has ficus for now, but he is getting a much bigger enclosure as soon as i move and he is getting bigger trees then too.

[redshepherd]

Bonsai isn't a plant species. Most inexpensive "bonsai" from nurseries are either chinese elm or juniper cuttings, both of which don't have a well developed root system yet and will definitely topple over under the weight of a young adult ball python.

Bonsai is just the art of pruning and shaping normal tree and shrub species over time to grow into the look of as if a miniature tree. Older or younger doesn't matter, the branches were meant to stay thin on top, and to have a thick base only. They're also meant to develop a shallow, flat root system anyway. A plant is only considered a "bonsai" when it's grown with the intent of keeping a shallow base and shaped into a tree. Otherwise, it's just a normal plant LOL.

Also, when most people think of bonsai, they think of junipers... Junipers need full sun and won't survive in a terrarium, and I don't believe they're reptile safe anyway.

A mature jade plant will hold up a smaller sized ball python, but still the new branches are risky under an adult, from what I'm guessing.

If you want a live plant, you want to find a plant that has a very strong root system in the pot (if you are keeping the plant in a pot), can live in low-light, and preferably has no branches.