Flightless Fruit fly culture (D. Hydei) Need HELP

[Pyramid_Party]

Hey guys,


So I got a vial of flightless fruit flies from petco. The species is D Hydei. I don't know how many flies are in there but I would like to keep them alive as long as possible and even breed them. How could I achieve this? I am going to be feeding these to my bettas and african dwarf frog.


I have a 5 quart tupperware I was thinking about using. But really, I don't know anything about their bedding, what to feed them, etc. Plus how do I stop them from escaping? In the vial I have I see some type of foam or something blocking the hole so they can't get out. Anyway, if you know anything about these flies and could help me out, I'd love to hear from you. Thank you

 

[PostalPenguin]

http://www.livefoodcultures.com/FruitFlyFood.html

As soon as the food starts to show some drying(cracking or crust forming) switch to new food. I'd just re-use the bedding that came with the original jar.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Any idea in what to keep them in and what to use as bedding? also how to prevent them from escaping?

 

[PostalPenguin]

Get a few home canning mason jars, the kind with the screw on lids. Then either rubber-band a piece of newspaper over it or use the metal screw on rims to hold the newspaper there.

Bedding can probably just use crumpled up newspaper as well. Or re-use the bedding that comes with the culture.

Since they are flightless you just need to prevent them from crawling away so it doesn't need to be all that complicated.

The only thing that limits the life of the culture is the amount of water in the food supply and eventually the food rots. So as long as you keep the food fresh the flies will live indefinitely.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

How many approx flies can live in a mason jar if you had to estimate?

 

[ceeej31]

How many approx flies can live in a mason jar if you had to estimate?

i would say at least 100, probably more

 

[nes999]

i culture my own. first buy some media off of ebay its cheap some will suggest making your own but its cheaper and easier. just google flightless fruit fly media. you will also see somthing called aspen Excelsior or just Excelsior buy this. this is what they will stand on. i went to deli and bought a couple 32oz cups. just used a nail head and coved the small holes in an airfilter from my rcs. i used to use cut up socks. if you lightly tap the bottom of the cup on the table they cant climb. to feed i make one large hole with a screw that i can shake the out of. if you have anymore quetions feel free to ask.

you will see at one put no more flies in your cultures but like black worms or just worms. LEAVE IT BE. they had babys and even though you are possitive they are all dead you will see hundreds born.