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I have kept venus fly traps before so I was wondering if there where any aquatic carnivorus plants.

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I also have a few carnivorus with my orchids and I have never read about or seen any aquatic carnivorus plants. Bernard would be a good person to ask about this as he lives in the tropics where many of our plants come from.

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Keith

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bladderworts are carnivorous, free-floating plants that sprout attractive little flowers above the water, and yes, they can be kept in an aquarium! well, at least some species. the only downsides are that they will eat fry, and most grow large and fast

That is facinating! I had no idea that there were aquatic carnivorous plants. Perhaps I will try to grow some in just a planted tank.

Yep, there are carnivorous aquatic plants. They are really unique and interesting looking, however, they tend to either grow like weeds or die out due to starvation in enclosed aquaria. They're better suited to an outdoor pond where they always have access to food and have more space to spread, but they can still choke a pond in just a few weeks if you don't keep after them.

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Bladderworts, Utricularia species, are the ones to look for.

These plants eat Daphnia!

The root systems produce little bladders (hence the common name) that are designed to act as 'suction traps' with one way valves that are triggered whenever Daphnia or similar small creatures activate the trigger mechanisms.

The unfortunate victims are sucked into the bladders by a rapid inrush of water that overpowers the modest swimming capabilities of most aquatic invertebrates, and once trapped, are slowly digested. From the standpoint of the poor Daphnia, it's pretty gruesome, but as an example of the more interesting routes that Nature has taken in order to find niches for species, it's a fascinating example to observe.

You'll also find many species that have bladders appearing along the leaf stalks between the leaves.

Be sure to obtain the smaller species such as Utricularia minor, as there are one or two species whose bladders are capable of engulfing certain fish fry!

Be advised also that some Utricularia species are terrestrial epiphytes living on rainforest trees, and are not truly aquatic!

Here is a good place to view them and learn a little about their way of life.

Oh, almost forgot ... Here is an excellent web site that covers the plants in more detail!




Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Occasionally utricularias will com ein as stowaways on some aquatic plants. A friend of mine has some because it came in with a bunch of moss she purchased.

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