Hobbies And Interests

What Ingredients Are Needed For Fruit Fly Cultures?

Fruit flies are used to feed different kinds of pet lizards and amphibians. Commercial food, or culture, for raising your own fruit flies is available, but it is easy to make your own. It is important to keep in mind that you are not trying to bait and trap the flies but feed them so that they are a good source of nourishment for your pets.
  1. Types of Fruit Flies Used as Food for Lizards and Amphibians.

    • Fruit flies used as food for lizards and amphibians fall into two types: flightless and wingless. Flightless have wings, or vestigial wings, but are unable to fly. Wingless have no wings at all. Of these, the two species most often grown to feed pets are the Drosophila hydei and the Drosophila melanogaster. D. hydei is larger and has a longer life cycle, D. melanogaster is about half the size and goes through its cycle in half the time.

    Containers for Growing Fruit Flies

    • Canning, or mason, jars can be used to grow fruit flies. Use only the ring over a sheet of paper toweling as a lid.

      The container needs to allow air in while not letting the flies out. A canning jar with a screw on ring works well with the ring put on over a piece of paper towel. Deli containers can also be used and specially vented lids to fit them can be purchased. No matter which type of container you use, you will only need enough culture/medium for a 1/2 deep layer on the bottom. It is recommended that you have something for the flies to lay the eggs on that is partially in and partially out of the medium. Excelsior and plastic canvas, available in craft stores, can both be used.

    Common Ingredients in Fruit Fly Medium

    • Most fruit fly culture/medium recipes share certain ingredients, in particular: brewers yeast, sugar, and some sort of binding agent such as potato flakes, corn flour, or oatmeal. They will also include a mold inhibitor such as Methyl paraben or apple cider vinegar.

      Medium can be stored in the refrigerator prior to use. Once the flies are added it should be kept at temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees F. Temperatures at the lower end of this range are better for reducing problems from mold, fungi, bacteria, and mites.

      Containers can be reused. Dump out the used up culture material, then either soak the containers in hot water with 1:20 parts bleach for five minutes, or wash in a dishwasher.

    A Common Fruit Fly Medium

    • A common and simple recipe for fruit fly culture is called the "Carolina Mix." This recipe uses powdered sugar, potato flakes, brewers yeast, and Methyl paraben. Amounts differ according to how much medium you wish to make and recipes can easily be found online.


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