Fruit flies part 5: Feeding Drosophila to fish

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

Flightless Fruit Fly - Drosophila Melanogaster Culture - Super Loaded Colony

Aptos, California, 950**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$23

Drosophila Melanogaster
This listing is for Flightless Fruit Fly - Drosophila Melanogaster Culture - Super Loaded Colony
These Cultures will be loaded with flies and fresh made within a day of shipping. Spend less time waiting for them to breed, feed them off right away, leave at least half remaining and you will have thousands of more flies in about a week!
These fruit flies serve as a good food source to small animals such as young spiders and scorpions small reptiles and other ... more

Hydei (Golden) LIVE Fruit Fly Culture (retail)

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$10

Buy Drosophila hydei Flightless Fruit Fly Cultures - Superior Feeder Insects for Medium to Large Reptiles & Amphibians
Enhance your pet’s diet with Drosophila hydei flightless fruit fly cultures—an excellent live food source for medium to large reptiles and amphibians. Drosophila hydei are known for their larger size, slow movement, and unique flightless trait, making them the ideal feeder insect for chameleons, frogs, geckos, and other insectivores that need more substantial ... more

Turkish Glider Fruit Fly Culture 4 Pack Reptile Dart Frog Food Live

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

$29

32 oz Drosophila Melanogaster (4 Pack) "Turkish Glider" Fruit Fly Culture
Our Fruit Flies are made in house with Repashy
Turkish Glider Melanogaster are the smallest size of fruit flies at 1 / 16 "
Turkish Glider Melanogaster are a winged and slightly darker than the Golden Wingless Melanogaster
This winged form of melanogaster can 'glide' short distances making for a more active feeder enticing even the pickiest of eaters
Turkish Gliders produce fast and consistently with ... more

Fruit Fly & Drain Fly Killer - Simple Commercial Drain Gel Treatment

Saint Louis, Missouri, 631**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$27

Fruit Fly & Drain Fly Killer - Simple Commercial Drain Gel Treatment ?? Eliminates Gross Fruit Flies, Drain Flies, Sewer Flies & Gnat Infestations From Any Drain. Fast & Easy
FAST ACTING & EASY TO USE ?? Simply Pour This Specially Formulated Gel Solution Down Any Sink Drain Or Floor Drain Where Fruit Flies and Drain Flies Breed. Works On The Worst Fruit Fly & Drain Fly Infestations. Can Be Used In Bars, Bathrooms, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens & Restaurants
HOW IT WORKS ... more

Fruit Fly Media Culture Kit (MAKES 5 CULTURES) Free Shipping

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... more