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
Killi.co.uk is funded by its visitors. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. For more info see
terms and conditions.
Xenia, Ohio, 453**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$15
Black Melanogaster Flightless Fruit Flies
32oz Master Culture ?? Made Fresh Weekly
??
What You??re Buying
You will receive (1) live, actively producing Black Melanogaster (flightless) fruit fly culture, freshly made and professionally packed
Each 32oz master culture includes:
?? Thick, nutrient-dense media
?? Excelsior climbing surface
?? Ventilated lid
?? Visible adult flies
?? Clearly labeled production date
view on ebay
Huntsville, Texas, 773**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$35
TC INSECTS Super Swarm Fruit Fly Kit
Keep your feeder supply going with the TC INSECTS Super Swarm Fruit Fly Kit, a convenient all-in-one bundle designed to help hobbyists and breeders produce their own fruit fly cultures at home
This kit includes the essential supplies needed to make 10 fruit fly cultures, making it a great choice for reptile keepers, amphibian keepers, dart frog hobbyists, and anyone who wants a reliable source of feeder insects
Kit Includes:
1 5 lbs Super Swarm ...
view on ebay
Dover, Pennsylvania, 173**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$28
Live fruit flies are a great option for feeding small lizards and many species of frogs, especially because of their reproduction cycle. Each culture of flightless fruit flies has a lifespan of about one month, and even after they die, they will continually pupate from eggs laid by the adults in the culture! This will allow you to keep fruit flies for a while, as long as they are taken care of accurately
Regular fruit flies should be kept at 70 - 75 degrees
The flies have ...
view on ebay
Etters, Pennsylvania, 173**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$25
The product is a Hydei fruit fly culture kit + 1 additional container of just-add-flies food designed for dart frogs and reptiles. Produced by the brand Crazy Frog Lady, this product provides a convenient and natural way to feed your pets. The fruit flies are a nutritious food source for many reptiles and amphibians, promoting healthy eating habits and reducing the need for processed diets. With this product, you can easily maintain a steady supply of live insects for your pets to enjoy
...
view on ebay
Andover, Massachusetts, 018**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$68
High-Quality Fruit Fly Culture Media
Unlock the potential of your cultures with our premium fruit fly media, designed to enhance growth and yield. Here??s why you??ll love it:
Produces High Yields: Your cultures will thrive, generating multiple generations of flies. Contains Vitamins & Color Enhancers: Healthy feeders lead to vibrant and colorful critters! Great Smelling Formula: Enjoy a fresh and clean scent with our natural ingredients. Many Pets ...
view on ebay
