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

Fruit Fly Cultures 3 Pack - Flightless - Wingless - Turkish Gliders Frog Food

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

$30

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, Wingless Fruit Flies and Turkish Gliders 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. Our Cultures been known to last 3 ... more

TC INSECTS Super Swarm Dry Fruit Fly Media 1 5lbs Makes 10 Cultures

Huntsville, Texas, 773**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$15

TC INSECTS Super Swarm Dry Fruit Fly Media
Take your cultures to the next level with TC INSECTS Super Swarm Dry Fruit Fly Media, a premium blend formulated to help produce large, healthy, and highly productive fruit fly cultures while supporting better nutrition for the animals that depend on them
Our Super Swarm Media is designed for keepers who want strong production, reliable cultures, and nutrient-rich feeders for reptiles, amphibians, dart frogs, slings, and other insectivores. This ... more

32oz Flightless Fruit Fly Culture (Reptile, Amphibian and insect Food)

Charleston, South Carolina, 294**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$9

Our starter culture of flightless fruit flies are a perfect source of nutrition and protein, for many types of reptiles and snmall pets. Including praying, mantis, small lizards, spiders, frogs, amphibians and other insectivores
The culture contains live fruit flies that cannot fly, making them easier for your animals to catch
With this starter culture, you will be able to maintain a steady supply of fruit flies for weeks and months!... more

Fruit Fly Culture

Flintstone, Maryland, 215**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$14

Our melanogaster flightless fruit fly cultures arrive well started with adult flies that will produce larvae within a few days. To care for the culture, simply keep it around 75 degrees, and do not feed off the flies until new flies have emerged. The culture will produce flies for up to 2-3 weeks.
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Fruit Fly Media Culture Mix Kit Makes 10 culture 1 5Lb (24oz)

Wheeling, Illinois, 600**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$40

Fruit fly Media Culture Mix contains 1 5Lb (24oz) to makes 10 fruit fly cultures
Our fruit fly media works for both melanogaster and Hydei. It is Homemade with the best ingredients to produce top quality flies for our animals. Our fruit fly media contains brewer's years, vitamins, minerals also anti-bacterial to avoid the bad smell, we use a mold inhibitor to prevent mold. The ingredients we use give increase the longevity of the cultures and produces high yields
I recommend add vinegar ... more