Venus fly trap

[sepulatian]

Anyone ever had a Venus fly trap? I was given one today, awsome looking creature! The only instructions with it was not to feed it plant food, keep humidity high, and indirect sunlight. I have never had one and don't have any flies cruising around at the moment. I was wondering if there is any suppliment food that can be fed to them? I assume it would be meaty, I have fish food!!!lol Krill, baby shrimp, brine, tubifex, frozen mysis, frozen bloodworms. Do they need suppliments? Any help would be great!!! :joy:

 

[waiting]

I've had a couple before. Those instructions are pretty much dead on. As for feeding, if I remember right, you can give them little bits of cooked hamburger with a toothpick.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Waiting
I've had a couple before. Those instructions are pretty much dead on. As for feeding, if I remember right, you can give them little bits of cooked hamburger with a toothpick.
cooked hamburger? ok, anything else they might eat? Did you have any problems with them? how long did they live? This one has 6 heads, traps? I don't know what they are called, and it says that they will close while digesting, are all heads part of the same root? What I mean is do all 6 heads have to be well fed? Thank you so much for the reply!!!!

 

[waiting]

Hmm... I would guess cooked meat in general. I just wouldn't over do it with fancy meats.
I didn't have any problems with mine, but they only lived for a few months at best. When I got them they were sorta funky though so it could have been that.
As for feeding the heads, I don't think they all have to be fed. But maybe feed one or two every other day. I think that would be "natural". Good luck!

 

[sepulatian]

Thank you verry much for your help!!!!

 

[moby]

I had several when I lived back in Georgia, go to the pet store and buy feeder crickets.
The smaller ones are best. Do not feed them hamburger, it will rot and the meat has a lot of unhealthy side effects like samonella (sp?) and other harmful bacterias.
Feed them only about once or twice a week and alternate which mouth you feed.
Moby

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by moby
I had several when I lived back in Georgia, go to the pet store and buy feeder crickets.
The smaller ones are best. Do not feed them hamburger, it will rot and the meat has a lot of unhealthy side effects like samonella (sp?) and other harmful bacterias.
Feed them only about once or twice a week and alternate which mouth you feed.
Moby
MOBY my dear, always a pleasure hearing from you!!!!!! Ok, so all mouths don't need to be fed. Feeder crickets, will they eat crickets in a can? I have a thing about bugs!lol anything else they might like? catipillars or anything? My son will pick them up, I won't!lol :joy:

 

[moby]

MOBY my dear, always a pleasure hearing from you!!!!
You too, you flatterer! :hilarious
If you can't stomach crickets they will also do well with small meal worms, but you have to crush their heads (they can bite!)
I have a thing about bugs
Me too, centipedes make me scream like a little girl!

Moby

 

[moby]

In all seriousness, venus fly traps are tough to keep happy. The moss they are planted in needs to stay moist but not wet. Early morning sun is great but not full sunlight all day.
I had several in an empty 10 gal tank with some little S. American poison arrow frogs.
The fly traps lasted about 2 years and then we moved to Arizona, its too dry here and they didn't make the move. They were really fun to watch eat, doesn't seem natural for a plant to eat critters!
Moby

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by moby
In all seriousness, venus fly traps are tough to keep happy. The moss they are planted in needs to stay moist but not wet. Early morning sun is great but not full sunlight all day.
I had several in an empty 10 gal tank with some little S. American poison arrow frogs.
The fly traps lasted about 2 years and then we moved to Arizona, its too dry here and they didn't make the move. They were really fun to watch eat, doesn't seem natural for a plant to eat critters!
Moby
Thats what I love about them, they are almost unatural! This one came with its own little greenhouse. The top has to be taken off for them to catch food. Morning sun sounds good. I have it right now on a stand that is just left of the north side of the building, which catches the morning sun, I guesse I am ok there. I will tell my son to get hunting, because I am not going to touch the bugs!lol Thanks for the reply!!!!

:cheer:

 

[moby]

No problemo!

Moby

 

[surfinusa]

but when you feed them they stay closed for around 1 - 3 weeks so they can digest

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by surfinusa
but when you feed them they stay closed for around 1 - 3 weeks so they can digest
what do you feed them?

 

[surfinusa]

anything that can go in its mouth so it can close comfortably but they only eat meat

 

[moby]

but when you feed them they stay closed for around 1 - 3 weeks so they can digest
Thats why you alternate feeding different mouths, and make sure whatever bug you feed is small or it will rot before it can be digested.
Remember these guys get all their nutrition from this method, nothing is provided from the soil they live in. This is why they evolved the ability to "eat". Same as the pitcher plant.
Moby

 

[surfinusa]

and if you put them in a container with flies the flies are attrachted to the red and green coloration

 

[lion_crazz]

Wow, that's cool that you got one of these. I have never had one, and never known anyone with one.
Is this in your store as well?

 

[sepulatian]

yup. I have no flies in there yet though, I'm sure I will within a few weeks.lol Yes, it is awsome looking. My mother went to get the stop parisite for me and came back with that too. She got it at Lowes for $10! Cool little critter. I have been moving it around to different spots, it is like a new pet!

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by moby
Thats why you alternate feeding different mouths, and make sure whatever bug you feed is small or it will rot before it can be digested.
Remember these guys get all their nutrition from this method, nothing is provided from the soil they live in. This is why they evolved the ability to "eat". Same as the pitcher plant.
Moby
Will do Moby, Thanks again!!!! And Thank you surfinusa!!!!!

 

[kimc]

Well, my husband has a bog where he grows carnivorous plants. (werid, I know) First of all, water your venus fly traps with RO water. Venus fly traps prefer to asorb water. Put your venus fly trap in a tray with 1/2 inch of RO water and put out in the sun, they thrive in direct sun light. And by no means, feed it any food expecially hambuger meat. Here some pictures... he started this bog this past March.