Artificial vs. Real plants in a habitat

[BrainGirl]

I don't need to put plants in my robo's new tank but I think it would look really cool, as well as provide hiding places for him. Question is, which is safer? I was going to use some variety of Carex (an ornamental grass) but that would require some special lighting and figuring out how to water it without making the habitat unsuitable for hammy. Or getting plastic plants, like the type made for aquariums, but I worry about how safe they are.

Anyone tried plants as decor?

[DrKMcK]

Well, My hams all chew on their plastic houses and tubes, so I guess plastic flowers will just be chewed up. Wash them well before you put them in the cage. Just be aware they may climb the plants...yet another way to reach to top of the tank/bin/cage. As for live plants, other than the grass, I'm not sure of safe plants.

[BrainGirl]

Hmm, well I'm in no rush to decorate the tank. I've moved him over and he's having a blast with all the new space and deeper bedding. For the time being anything new will just be gilding the lily for him

[Sarahbean]

Go on youtube and search natural themed hamster cages there's a lot of good ideas I've seen

[cypher]

I've wondered about this too, I have seen plastic plants in some natural habitats for hamsters but I'd worry about chewing. Quite a few of the German set ups I've seen seem to have millet growing in them which shouldn't be too difficult if you have sufficient light. Cat grass is an obvious one but red clover is easy to grow too & mine love it.
I found this idea for a hamster garden a while ago, haven't tried it but it might give you some ideas.
DIY Garden for Syrian Hamster » Coffee and Vanilla

[2LittlePuds]

Originally Posted by cypher

I've wondered about this too, I have seen plastic plants in some natural habitats for hamsters but I'd worry about chewing. Quite a few of the German set ups I've seen seem to have millet growing in them which shouldn't be too difficult if you have sufficient light. Cat grass is an obvious one but red clover is easy to grow too & mine love it.
I found this idea for a hamster garden a while ago, haven't tried it but it might give you some ideas.
DIY Garden for Syrian Hamster » Coffee and Vanilla

thanks for posting that link, looks brill! think im going to give it a try

[BrainGirl]

Ok, here is a picture of the sand side of his tank thus far. I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for in artificial plants and I'm still working on whether it will be feasible to have a permanent planting in there, so I opted for a couple of pots of nice cat grass. I was at the pet shop to pick up a 7" Flying Saucer anyway and they looked so nice. Should give him some feeling of privacy in the wide open sand area at least!

They're sitting in shallow plastic pans under the sand so if I do water them without removing them first then the water won't leak into the surrounding substrate

[2LittlePuds]

Id like to do something similar. Is there soil in the pots under the substrate?

[NiceCrocs]

My sister keeps hermit crabs, and she puts chia seeds in the soil of the tanks and the crabs chew them as they grow. Chia plants are closely related to mint, which is safe for hamsters, so that might be an option. just thought I'd share.

[Thrifty Hamster]

omigosh they sell cat grass at my Petco by like, little sections of mini tubs where you can just take it home. I wonder if I can just somehow buy that and keep that for my natural-themed cage-month? I'm sure the hamsters/mouse would love that! ^_^

Thanks for the ideas! (Though since my hamster Puffin isnt much of a chewer, do you think plastic plants are okay too? Literally, she doesnt touch ANYTHING with her teeth!)