Fruit flies part 1: Introduction to Drosophila

Fruit flies are an excellent food for many surface feeding killifish, closely resembling their natural diets in the wild. They are easy to culture, quickly, cheaply and in large numbers. Fruit flys are rarely available in pet shops, but are widely available online, and very much worth trying, even if you don't bother culturing them on an ongoing basis.

What is a fruit fly?

Fruit flies are small flies that live on and around decaying fruit and vegetation. They occur worldwide, except the very coldest regions. The species most familiar to scientists, aquarists and herpetologists are in the genus Drosophila which literally means 'dew-lover' in Greek. Also known as 'bar fly' or 'vinegar fly', these little flies are commonly found around waste bins, bars, orchards etc, and they are widely used in laboratories as research animals. The species we feed to our fish however, have been bred to have shorter 'vestigial' wings, and as such can not fly. These are typically from two species Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila Hydei.

Why fruit flies?

Although dealing with highly mobile flies can be trickier than with worms, there are some great reasons to consider culturing them.

• Nutritious - all fish can be trained to eat flies, but surface feeders love them. Not only are they relished by the fish, but they also have a high fibre content, and are therefore a great contrast to the fattier foods such as worms and beef heart. They are also typically disease-free, unlike some aquatic livefoods.
• Prolific An adult fly can lay 20+ eggs in a day. Once you get the hang of it, fruit flies are easy to maintain, and at 25 deg. centigrade the development of Drosophila melanogaster takes just 9 days.
• Availability - unlike collected livefoods, cultured Drosophila are available all year round.
• Flightless flies available - fruit flies have been studied in laboratories for very many years, and a lot is known about the humble fruit fly. Over the course of these studies, geneticists line-bred many strains of fly, including vestigial-winged, and even wingless flies. These are the flies typically cultured by hobbiests.

Drosophila larvae in a typical culture

Drosophila larvae climb up the walls of their vials and chrysalise

Drosophila pupae

Drosophila life cycle

Adult flies lay a lot of eggs. A single female can lay over 20 eggs in a day, and can store sperm within her body for up to two weeks, to lay fertilized eggs at will.

Eggs take 23 hours to hatch at 25 deg C. Once they do hatch, the larvae bury into the media and grow. They will stay as larvae for five days, in which time they undergo three moults.

Eventually they will start to climb the sides of the vial, and when fully grown will settle near the top, and form a chrysalis. The change from maggot to fly takes around three days, but again, is temperature dependent.

The image to the right shows a newly formed chrysalis with the lava's segments still visible (1), an older chrysalis with the fly clearly visible. The red dots are its eyes (2) and an empty chrysalis from which a fly will have hatched (3).

Once the flies have emerged they must be moved to new vials, as there is now no food suitable for them in the old vials.

Fruit fly cultures for sale

Golden Hydei Fruit Fly Culture - Hocks Herps LLC

York Haven, Pennsylvania, 173**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$18

This Golden Hydei Fruit Fly Culture from Hocks Herps LLC is perfect for feeding your reptiles. It contains a high volume of nutritious flies that your pets will love. The culture is easy to maintain and comes with all the necessary supplies.

The product is ideal for reptile owners who want to provide their pets with a healthy and tasty diet. The flies are bred in a controlled environment to ensure quality and freshness. Get your Golden Hydei Fruit Fly Culture today and give your ... more

32oz Flightless Fruit Fly Culture

Wichita, Kansas, 672**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$12

32oz Flightless Fruit Fly Culture.
... more

Melanogaster Flightless Fruit Fly Culture - Hocks Herps LLC

York Haven, Pennsylvania, 173**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$11

Introducing Melanogaster flightless fruit fly cultures from Hocks Herps LLC, the perfect solution for feeding your pet reptiles. With these cultures, you can ensure that your reptile is getting the necessary nutrients to thrive and grow


Our Melanogaster flightless fruit fly cultures are carefully cultivated by experts and are guaranteed to be of high quality. Each culture contains a large number of fruit flies that are perfect for feeding small reptiles. With Hocks Herps LLC,... more

Fruit Fly Culture 3Pack Variety Live Flightless, Turkish Gliders, & Golden Hydei

Dover, Pennsylvania, 173**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$25

Introducing a pack of four fruit fly cultures, specially designed for reptile supplies. These live cultures are brought to you by Crazy Frog Lady L L.C. and are perfect for feeding your pets. You will receive a variety of Turkish Gliders, Golden Hydei, and Flightless fruit flies in this pack.
The high-quality brand ensures that your pets get the best nutrition. These cultures are suitable for pet owners looking for fresh and healthy food for their reptiles. So, if you are looking for a new ... more

Fly Trap Indoor, Fruit Fly Catcher Mosquito Killer Insect Trap with Sticky

Phoenix, Arizona, 850**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$71

FVOAI Fly Trap Indoor, Fruit Fly Catcher Mosquito Killer Insect Trap with Sticky Glue Boards(Black-Blue)HOME DESIGN
WELCOME
TO YOUR PERFECT
HOME
DETAILS
Tips for best results:
1 12 or more hours of running is suggested for an ideal effect
2 Close your windows and shut the doors
3 Put the trap in a dark place for the best trapping of insects
4. Place the trap near the insects-near the fruit, trash can, or plants
Product Specifications:
Power Required: 5WPower ... more