Fruit flies, or Drosophila are an excellent food for most small fish, largely representing the natural killifish diet of invertebrates. Flies are the perfect food for surface dwelling fish species, but even killies from the lower strata, like Nothobranchius can be trained to eat them. Drosophila larvae are also a good food for killies, and although rarely a 'favourite' food, are an easy source of small food when worms are not available.

A Rivulus xiphidius eyes up a fruit fly
Feeding fruit fly larvae to killifish
Larvae of any size can be fed to killies to suit their needs. Lots of larvae can be scraped from the sides of their vial, and if a drip of water is added , the rest will make their way out of the media and up the sides. After this you can leave the remaining larvae to hatch turn into flies, or to be really thorough you can add the contents of the vial to a strong (3M) salt solution. The food dissolves away or sinks and the larvae will float, allowing them to be scooped out with a net, rinsed and fed. It is crucial not to over feed with Drosophila larvae, as they drown very quickly (1 hour or less) and although fish do eat them, they do not eat them with the same relish that they enjoy other insect larvae.

Cute fish look evil from above
Feeding with flies
Simple throw them in! The flies float on the surface, sometimes in clumps. If they can get to the sides they will climb out. Feeding fish with fruit flies is easy when the fish are hungry and waiting, however some will always escape. Surface feeders, such as Epiplatys will devour them quickly, however other species need to be trained, not so much to eat them, but to notice that they are there! Unless your fish are mad for fruit flies, only feed a few at a time! Again, 5-8 minutes in a freezer can immobilise flies for some time, but they do wake up after a few seconds in warm tank water.
Fruit fly cultures for sale
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Dover, Pennsylvania, 173**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$35
This Fruit Fly Culture 4Pack Variety is the perfect food for your pet reptiles. You'll receive live flightless fruit flies of different species, including Turkish Gliders, Golden, and Hydei. These fruit flies are bred by Crazy Frog Lady L L.C , a trusted brand in the pet supplies industry.
Use this variety pack to provide nutrition to your reptiles and keep them healthy. These live fruit flies are a great source of protein and are easy to digest. They also provide entertainment for your pets...
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Etters, Pennsylvania, 173**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$65
Welcome to our listing for a Fruit Fly Culture 8 Pack Variety! This product is perfect for those in need of a live food source for their reptiles and small frogs
This 8 pack includes: 2 Flightless Melanogaster, 2 Turkish Gliders, 2 Golden, and 2 Hydei flies. These fruit flies are perfect for feeding reptiles and small frogs, as they are flightless and will stay in the enclosure for a longer period of time. Our product comes from Crazy Frog Lady L L.C, a trusted brand in the industry
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Florida, New York, 109**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$10
Each 32oz. container has everything the flies need: Fruit Fly Food Media (from Josh's Frogs) and Aspen Wood Excelsior for added surface area Drosophila Melanogaster are about 1 / 16" in size and are an ideal food for poison dart frogs, fish, praying mantis, young frogs and toads, and other reptiles, amphibians, or captive animals that require small foods I have producing cultures and freshly started cultures that will start producing flies in about 12 - 14 days Each culture has a lifespan of ...
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Wheeling, Illinois, 600**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$25
Media fruit fly culture kit contains 12 8 oz. 0 8 Lb
It includes Media mix , Excelsior, Cups of 32oz and lids to make 5 fruit fly cultures.
The kit does not include live flies
Our fruit fly media mix works for both melanogaster and Hydei. It is Homemade with the best ingredients to produce top quality flies for your animals. Our fruit fly media contains brewer's yeast, vitamins and minerals, also ingredients anti-bacterial to avoid the bad smell, we use a mold inhibitor to prevent...
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Wheeling, Illinois, 600**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$36
Fruit fly Media Culture Mix Kit contains 1 5Lb (24oz) Of Media Excelsior, Cups / Lids to makes 10 fruit flies cultures.
It does not include live flies
Our fruit fly media works for both melanogaster and Hydei. It is Homemade with the best ingredients to produce top quality flies for your animals . Our fruit fly media contains brewer's years vitamins B also ingredients anti-bacterial to avoid the bad smell, we use a mold inhibitor to prevent mold. The ingredients we use give increase ...
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