Re: Dionaea Muscipula

Paulette Alves (palves@PICA.ARMY.MIL)
Mon, 15 Nov 93 10:52:37 EST

Hello!

I am a new subscriber to this list and have been lurking for a week
until I trudged through the archived messages. I do, however, feel
like the littlest indian on this totam pole. I am a secretary in
the Office of the Project Manager for the Advanced Field Artillery
System. Yes, the Army... I have always been fascinated with
Dionaea Muscipula/VFTs and recently I was "gifted" with three small
VFTs by a friend for Halloween. Poor things are in those little
plastic cups filled with black muck that poses for peat/bog.

I'm not sure if they are still alive. As it is dead fall out here
in New Jersey, I picked up "vitafly" (dead flys for iguana's) to
try and revive them. The traps are not closing on them, though.

Please, has anyone out there successfully raised a VFT to "giant"
proportions??? I need info on what to pot them in, can they be
saved?, what can I feed them in absence of bugs?, do they hibernate
in the winter?, what temps do they need, ditto on humidity, is
an aquarium the best medium to grow them in?... O.k., o.k., I'm
off to the library after work to try and track down some of the
books listed in the index but my town library is pretty small and
I'm doubtful they have anything.

HELP!?! I'm pretty desparate... I'd like these poor things to
live but if they're already on the way out, I don't want to kill
another one. I also grow bonsai. Just started this summer.
They are all still alive so I can't have that black of a green
thumb.

Who was it out there that wanted a python in their greenhouse???
I have four at home of varying sizes (6-13 feet) and was in
hysterics over the "what I did on my summer vacation" account
of snakes. Really, though, a python needs a constant temp of
78-84 deg F. The night temp is 68-70 deg F. I don't think it
would be a good idea to let one loose on the floor of a greenhouse -
it would die of the cold. Besides, they just get big and fat
and lie around in one spot. They love to climb trees, though.
Its funny as hell to see one climb up onto a branch, start hanging
itself off the branch, lose its balance and crash to the floor.
They head right back to the branch, first chance. They are a great
deal more clever than they are given credit for.

Well, this is a *big* introduction. Sorry to take up so much
space, guys. Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Alors'
Paulette Alves
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*** Paulette A. M. Alves | His nostrils flared out ***
*** <palves@pica.army.mil> | suddenly, and he opened ***
*** Assoc. Member: SLA&E/BS | his eyes, his gaze locking ***
*** Member: PSEB | with hers. ***
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*** JLPSoL: Captain's Personal Counselor (Second Shift): ***
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