Greenhouse pets

Take a longer-term view before you decide.

At some point, you're going to need to use pesticides in the greenhouse. What do you do then?

 

I had a surly iguana that loved Oncidinae. Talk to some local herpetologist and get some local frogs maybe? If they get out not a big deal.

I'd like the same, preferably a tortoise to meander as it pleases eating weeds that sprout on the ground. Having to spray inhibits said dream though.

 

In my shadehouse I have three different species of Anole lizards, one species of nocturnal gecko, four species species of frogs and one snake. They don't touch the most troublesome pests which are hard scales and white flies. They are quite used to my presence and some of the younger ones will jump on me if they see an engorged mosquito on my skin. Iguanas are herbivorous and can be pretty ill tempered, in particular large territorial males.

 

I've always thought that having some free-flying birds in a greenhouse would be pretty neat (notwithstanding the pesticide issue), but finding ones that can tolerate the conditions and not eat your plants and flowers can be an issue.

 

I know the late Bill Wilson (he of Penn Valley Orchids fame) kept toads in his greenhouse - he'd grumble about them digging themselves into the pots, and dislodging the plants, and commenting on the racket they'd make in the spring. However, they would eat slugs and things like sowbugs. He went so far as to leave buckets of stuff for them to dig into for their winter beauty sleep.

I also remember Lee Soule giving a talk back in the '80s, and noting that when he had a small snake temporarily lodging in pot bottoms, he never had slug problems, but they didn't eat snails.

 

Geckos of the genus Phelsuma would be cool additions to a greenhouse, and they would likely help with your insect problem. A large portion of their natural diet is fruit, so they would also appreciate "smoothies" from time to time or the pre-packaged "day gecko diets".

You would want some of the forest tortoises if you went that route since they are used to higher moisture levels. They would also need some time outside or a strong source of UVB since the greenhouse material will block all useful levels of it. Some tortoises to research are Elongated, Red/Yellow foot, and species in the genus Kinixys (though I would only recommend captive bred Kinixys). There are also some turtles that might work as well (but they will still need UVB). American box turtles (Terrapene), species in the genus Cuora, Heosemys spinosa (again CB only) would all be decent candidates as long as some kind of shallow but large water area is provided.

I would go with Phelsuma if I had a fairly escape-proof greenhouse. Species like laticauda are large enough to be showy and can be obtained fairly cheaply (they were introduced to the Hawaiian islands, so they are imported from there in high numbers). A decent sized colony could be obtained without breaking the bank, so you can see them more often and may even produce offspring.

 

Hummingbirds routinely pollinated Ascocentrums at Gold Country Orchids. They come in through the roof vents and do their thing with garayi, miniatum, curvifolium types.

 

Now that the weather is turning cooler the Blue Line Skinks are staking out their winter quarters, my greenhouse is a choice spot. They are quite cute and don't seem to eat any plants, I love it when I go out there in the early morning and they get startled and run, they are a handsome lizard. Have not been able to get a photo of one yet.

 

I don’t know about any surly iguana but these three did not keep nonthin out of the greenhouse. The puppies are now 7 months old now and love to chew anything. Not allowed in, any more. But they do love hanging out with you in the yard.

 

They are a pair of fine looking buddies as is their mother, at least I am assuming it is their mom.