Safe plants for leopard geckos [Top 10 plants list]

In this article, I’ll go through 10 plants that are safe to use with leopard geckos. Don’t worry; you’re not confined to using only these plants; they are simply the ones that I know are both secure and simple to locate.

Top 10 safe plants for leopard geckos

1. Aloes

So aloe is our first choice in the top 10 safe plants list for leopard geckos. Although there are more than 500 types of aloe, the most widely used aloes include the perennial evergreen aloe vera.

A tiger tooth aloe is something to consider if you want something that resembles a cactus without the risk.

If you want something with a little more color and tooth, consider the golden tooth aloe. I’ve also recently noticed these pink blush aloes appearing in garden centers; they look pretty interesting.

Another incredibly lovely aloe is the lace aloe. You may also look at sunset aloe or short-leaved aloe. I would, however, strongly advise researching this category of plants more because there are so many diverse kinds, as I already mentioned.

2. Cactus

Believe it or not, the next safe plant for leopard geckos is actually two cactuses. The Easter and Christmas cactus.

These are genuinely risk-free for your reptiles because neither of them has any harsh prickles and will ultimately blossom, which will look fantastic in your tank.

3. Snake plant

The following variety is known as a snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue plant. I already grow these in my crested gecko tank, but as they are succulents, an arid environment could be even better for them.

I would absolutely suggest putting them near the back of your leopard gecko terrarium because they have the potential to grow to be quite tall. But definitely a plant I’ve tried and tested with a lot of success. 

4. Echeveria

The next plant is echeveria, also referred to as hens and chicks. There are a lot of various species of plants, such as aloes, therefore I didn’t want to focus on just one particular group because there are so many options. In fact, this list contains mostly categories of plants.

Echeveria can be found in abundance in garden centers, supermarkets, and, if you’re lucky, in your neighborhood reptile store in the house plant section.

I personally buy most of my plants from garden centers and grocery stores, so I just make sure to clean the roots, clean the plant, and repot it in a substrate that is safe for reptiles. There are so many different alternatives you can choose from, so you should definitely look into this group.

5. Sedge grass

Now, we’ll swiftly change our focus from cacti and succulents to sedge grass. Although they have a rather unattractive appearance and are undoubtedly not as lovely as succulents, they function incredibly well in desert aquariums. They just serve as a cover or something to hide behind or within, but they do greatly contribute to the scrubbed appearance.

6. Living stone

A living stone is a next plant. These plants actually come in about 40 different species, but I always notice them since they’re so peculiar. They are a sort of succulent, although, despite their name, they resemble stones.

Even while they grow extremely slowly and won’t necessarily cover your tank, offer shelter, or take up much space, they are nonetheless interesting plants to include in your landscaping.

7. Jade plant

The jade plant is the next, also referred to as a lucky plant or money plant. These succulents can be purchased as tiny plants, as bonsai, or when fully grown, they get rather large.

I’ve only really used these in fairy gardens. Once, when I tried to make a fairy garden, it completely failed. Some of the plants died off, I reported some of them, and so on. However, I had a jade plant in the garden that I neglected to water for a very long time, and when I finally did, it was as if nothing had happened. From my experience, it is clear that this plant is hardy.

The only thing that would prevent me from using it with my reptile is that, while it belongs to many safe plant lists for reptiles and many people use it, if cats or dogs eat its leaves, it can be toxic and upset their stomachs. So how would a leopard gecko strike a cricket and get a leaf affects the Gecko? But, as I previously stated, it appears on the majority, if not all, of the reptile-friendly plant lists I’ve seen.

So it must be okay; maybe it’s something you’d have to think about if you had a tortoise. However, this is a possibility.

8. Peperomias

Next is the Peperomia, also referred to as radiator plants. Again, there are many different species to choose from, and they are typically not too difficult to locate.

There should be several results if you search for peperomia or radiator plants on a website for reptiles. According to what I’ve observed, different species perform better in various habitats, some of which are more tropical and others which are drier.

You might have to look into that to determine what would be most useful to you. But these are undoubtedly the most accessible and secure.

9. Zebra Cactus

The next safe plant for leopard geckos is a zebra cactus or occasionally called a zebra plant succulent. It is not a cactus at all, but rather a succulent. I particularly enjoy the way it resembles the lace aloe in some ways. It just looks incredibly cool to me and has a somewhat prehistoric feel about it.

They are originally from South Africa and are able to withstand higher temperatures. They do prefer a little bit of sun and are typically found in Africa under the shade of rocks in the wild, which would look awesome in a leopard gecko tank.

Yet another thing I discovered is that they are often Hardy succulents. That’s the variety that people advise if you’re new to succulents. Another hardy, lovely succulent for your enclosure, then.

10. Air plants

Air plants are the last. Personally, I tried to integrate these into a crested gecko setup. But tragically, I believe that the humidity and frequent tank spraying just caused them to rot.

So perhaps an arid atmosphere will be better. Just make sure there is excellent ventilation and that you sprinkle them intermittently; otherwise, some people may pull them all out, wet them, and then put them back.

I’ve now had luck growing them outside of tanks on driftwood and a piece of cork bark, and we’ve even seen one of them bloom, which was extremely fascinating to observe because it doesn’t happen very frequently.

The good thing about air plants is that you are not limited to putting them on the tank’s floor, despite the fact that they are typically slow-growing and don’t undergo much change.

The air plant is great for filling in areas that appear rather bare, such as on wood or higher up in the background where you can’t plant a regular plant. Some people wedge it in place or fix it in place with hot glue, but it’s very versatile and there are many different varieties available. In my experience, air plants are also fairly simple to find in garden centers.

As I said, not all plants may be used, so hopefully this article has been helpful. These are just a few that I am aware of as being both safe and rather simple to locate. I am aware that some plants will be added to the safe plant list, but they are really hard to find because nobody ever seems to stock them. I wanted to sort of demonstrate to you what is available, accessible, and useful. However, I do hope you have liked reading this post. Regards and thanks so much for reading.

FAQs on safe plants for leopard geckos

Do leopard geckos need plants in their tank?

No plants, real or fake, are necessary for leopard geckos’ tanks.

Can leopard geckos eat plants?

Leopard geckos do not eat and are unable to effectively digest plant stuff, much like lettuce or any other plant.

Is grass safe for leopard geckos?

Artificial grass and carpet are additional substrates that Leopard geckos can thrive in. They are safe to use, easy to clean, and pleasing to the sight. But there is a strong disinfection plan required for artificial grass.

Are peace lilies plants safe for leopard geckos?

Peace lilies are a safe plant that is ideal for crested geckos because they may grow to a height of 1-4 feet, with some varieties reaching a maximum of six feet. The crested gecko needs a great location of shade to stay cool on those hotter summer days, and since the leaves are a dark green color, it will provide that for it.

Is Monstera safe for geckos?

If your reptile eats too many plants, it can get into some difficulties.