Small Carnivorous Plant for Inside Enclosure

[poffypoffa]

I know that carnivorous plants are generally safe for juvenile/adult panther chameleons, and that Nepenthes in particular are widely used. Nepenthes ventrata is one that I frequently see recommended as hardy in a typical chameleon enclosure. The problem is that the ventrata looks like it gets pretty big--much bigger than I currently have room for. I'm looking for more of an accent plant (maybe a 4" pot) that can handle the fungus gnats. Has anyone had success with either a smaller Nepenthes variety, or instead another carnivorous plant that works for fungus gnats (I suspect venus fly traps wouldn't trigger from something so small, and I worry about the various sticky varieties, so wasn't sure what other options might be).

I searched but didn't see quite this discussion, so thank you in advance. If the CA podcast on Nepenthes answers this question I'm happy to simply listen to it, and sorry to have bothered if that's the case.

 

[ehdee6]

I have a good thread with some ways to get rid of those little beasts here.

I'm not sure I would put it in the cage, but the Drosera capensis sundews that were suggested have been eating them like crazy. I just keep it in the same room. Mosquito dunks/bits have been great too.

 

[Beman]

@jamest0o0 knows a lot about these types of plants. Maybe he can give you some feedback. Welcome to the forum.

 

[jamest0o0]

I’ve used nepenthes in my enclosures(they thrived) and they’d catch a lot of bugs including gnats. For entirely wiping out gnats though, IME drosera capesensis(sundew) work the best. I don’t keep them in the enclosure, I but I sit them on the top or next to my enclosures in a dish of distilled water. The gnats I’ve dealt with are drawn right to them and get stuck. I’ve had them catch thousands in a day before. With that said, some people seem to have gnats that aren’t as attracted to the sundews, I personally haven’t had this issue other than with fruit flies.