Carnivores plant for veileds

[Repti]

Are there any safe small carnivores plant I can put in my chameleons enclosure? And if so, how hard is it to take care of it?

 

[jamest0o0]

Well. Most are technically safe. I wouldn't put a pinguicula or drosera in there because of how sticky they are for starters. Dionaea are very sensitive, need to sit in bogs(inch or so of water) and never dry out, and require a winter dormancy. Basically they'd never work in a conventional cham enclosure. They are native to the Carolinas, so very different from Yemen. Most carnivorous plants need a dormancy period, but some don't. Mostly all of them require intense lighting/full sun and specialized care such as high humidity, attention to pests, highly acidic soil with minimal/no fertilizer, distilled water, etc. They are a small commitment in themselves and will take some researching to see success with.

That said it's not impossible. I do keep a nepenthes(which is probably the best bet for anyone considering carnivorous plants) with my parson's that is doing well. I have 2 JD 40w leds on it and lots of misting/humidity though.

 

[Jevin]

On a side note, having a carnivorous plant in a Cham enclosure would help take care of rogue feeders.

 

[jamest0o0]

They're extremely useful for soil gnats, but haven't seen any feeders drawn to them.

 

[44937]

if you decide to put a nepenthes, make sure you get a lowland or preferbly an intermediate species. The highlands needs a cool down at night to grow well. The lowlands will do OK and the intermediates will do the best for the temperatures we keep our chams.

 

[Jevin]

I've actually kept pitcher plants before, sundews, butterwarts and venus flytraps. Sundews are probably the hardiest of the carnivorous plants. My venus flytrap actually lived for 7 years and only met it's demise because it tried to flower which takes a lot of energy for them to do. Definitely will consider getting a nepenthes for Chandler's cage.

 

[jamest0o0]

if you decide to put a nepenthes, make sure you get a lowland or preferbly an intermediate species. The highlands needs a cool down at night to grow well. The lowlands will do OK and the intermediates will do the best for the temperatures we keep our chams.

It depends on species of cham. Most chams/all benefit from a night drop to some extent. Highlands are more suited for my parson's especially with winter brumation.

 

[jamest0o0]

@Jevin what lighting did you have or were they kept outside? Just curious

 

[Jevin]

@jamest0o0 no lighting, kept in an aquarium that was setup to give them the conditions they needed. Kept inside near a window. The original venus flytrap was actually kept in an old plastic mayonnaise jar with air holes drilled in the top. Pitcher plant was kept in two 2 litre pop bottles put together and when I had sundews, butterwarts and venus flytraps, they were kept in the aquarium. In addition to this I actually have a book that lists some of the more common varieties of carnivorous plants and their required environmental conditions, although I acquired that after my pitcher plant, sundews, butterwarts and second venus flytraps.

 

[jamest0o0]

@Jevin nice. The window makes a big difference. If there's no direct window lighting they need some. I have mine mostly outside during summer other than my nepenthes. I have the savage garden book as well. I reference it often with their care.

 

[Jevin]

@jamest0o0 my book is literally called growing carnivorous plants and has a moccasin pitcher plant on the cover.

 

[jamest0o0]

I might have to check that out, is it an older book? Carnivorous plants are definitely a little side hobby of my huge chameleon addiction.

 

[Jevin]

Published in 2006.