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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San Juan, Puerto Rico, 009**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$40
Drosophila melanogaster Flightless fruit flies culture in a 32oz cup
Culture is made at the time of purchase to ensure freshness
We ship on Monday through Wednesday. Any order received from late Tuesday??through Sunday??will be ship on the following Monday
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San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$10
Looking for a smaller fruit fly culture package that's perfect for lighter needs? This 2-in-1 bundle is just what you need! Choose one culture of your choice, and we'll also include supplies to create a second culture whenever you-re ready
Key Features:
Easy-Feed Spouts: Includes 2 convenient spouts that can replace the black cap, giving you better control over the number of flies released. Interchangeable Caps: Use the ventilated cap for airflow swap it out for the easy-feed ...
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Cleveland, Georgia, 305**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$40
??PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING??
(WHAT YOU RECEIVE)
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FRUIT FLY: "Wingless" Drosophila melanogaster
SIZE: 1 / 16?? inches (smaller than hydie fruit flies)
COUNT: 50+ (will produce prolifically)
(BASIC INFO)
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LIVE FOOD SOURCE FOR: Dart Frogs, Jumping Spiders, Praying
Mantis, Mantids, Morning Geckos, ...
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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 ...
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Porter, Texas, 773**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$15
Fresh Turkish Glider Fruit Fly Culture (TG)Size: Turkish Gliders are small fruit flies adults are near 3mm long
These Hydei are extremely prolific and make excellent feeders for small reptiles, amphibians, jumping spiders, and other invertebrates
Each culture is started fresh in a 32 oz vented cup using our high-quality fruit fly media
a nutrient-rich blend designed to support strong fly production and extended culture life
Get the Best Savings with ERAWAN IMPORTS!
At ...
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