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
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Dover, Pennsylvania, 173**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$130
This 16 pack of Hydei Fruit Fly cultures is the perfect addition to any reptile or dart frog owner's collection. These cultures provide a nutritious and tasty food source for your pets without the hassle of dealing with live insects. The flies are easy to maintain and will last for several weeks, ensuring that your pets are well-fed and healthy.
With free shipping included, this is a great deal that you don't want to miss out on. Whether you're a seasoned reptile owner or a new dart frog ...
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Cleveland, Georgia, 305**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$40
??PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING??
(WHAT YOU RECEIVE)
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Name: "Golden" Drosophila hydei Fruit Flies
Sizes: Flies, Larva & Eggs
Count: 50+ (will produce prolifically)
Sex: M / F
WITH EXTREME TEMPS THERE WILL ONLY BE
LIVE ARRIVAL GUARANTEE WHEN UPGRADE TO
PRIORITY MAIL OR IN TEMPS BETWEEN 0 - 85F
COOL PACKS WILL BE ADDED IF NEEDED
(CULTURE ...
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Phoenix, AZ, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$37
eBay Product Listing Welcome to shopping excellence
Browse with confidence, leave with satisfaction
32oz Deli Cups with Fabric Vented Lids, Fruit Fly Culture Cups and Fabric Lined Lids, Fruit Flies Feeder Culture Containers Prevent Escapes - 10 Pack
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Product Description
【Escape-Proof Ventilation System】Our deli cup with fabric vented lids feature a breathable fabric cover made with precision-woven breathable fabric. This fabric lined lid prevents liquid ...
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Huntsville, Texas, 773**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$37
Fruit Fly Combo | 4 Species Hydei, Melanogaster, Golden and Normal morphs
Keep a reliable mix of popular feeder flies on hand with this convenient Fruit Fly Combo. This bundle includes 4 different species and varieties, giving hobbyists and breeders a practical range of feeder sizes for reptiles, amphibians, dart frogs, slings, and other small insectivores
Whether you are feeding a growing collection or maintaining multiple cultures at once, this combo is a great way to add variety and ...
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Dubuque, Iowa, 520**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$8
Looking for an easy and reliable feeder insect for your dart frogs, fish, mantids, or juvenile reptiles? Our D. melanogaster Fruit Fly Cultures are the perfect choice! These small, flightless fruit flies can be easily produced at home offering a continuous supply for 30-50 days!
Product Features:
Species: Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) Fruit FliesPerfect for: Dart frogs, fish, mantids, juvenile reptiles, and other insectivoresCulture Lifespan: Each culture typically produces ...
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