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

Made to order- Completely Wingless melanogaster 32oz Fruit Fly Culture

Vienna, Georgia, 310**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$16

Live arrival voided during extreme temps above 95 degrees ICE PACK OPTION AVAILABLE IF YOUR TEMPS WILL BE HIGH
Will have excelsior for surface area
DISCLAIMER: as we enter summer temps, there is a risk that cultures will not arrive alive or producing, because of this I have included a ice pack option.
wingless melanogaster 32oz Fruit Fly Culture .
Made to order, so it will take a few weeks for see larvae!(2-3 weeks for hydeis) Please order accordingly! Due to summer season, live ... more

Melanogaster (common) LIVE Fruit Fly Culture (retail)

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

$10

Buy Drosophila melanogaster Wingless Fruit Fly Cultures - Ideal Feeder Insects for Reptiles & Amphibians
Searching for the perfect live feeder insect for your small reptiles and amphibians? Our Drosophila melanogaster wingless fruit fly cultures are the top choice for feeding dart frogs, baby chameleons, mantises, and other small insectivores. These wingless fruit flies are easy to manage and provide a nutritious, protein-rich diet essential for your pet’s health and growth
Why ... more

Flightless Fruit Fly Culture (Drosophila Golden Hydei)

Ogden, Utah, 844**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$16

Flightless Fruit Fly Culture (Drosophila Golden Hydei). Condition is New. These flightless fruit fly cultures come in a 32oz cup with a ventilated lid, excelsior wool and culture mix. It will come with 100 adult flys that will already be laying new generations upon arrival. For best practices, do not use flys until 5 days after first generation hatches to ensure new generation. These cultures will last you several weeks. Do not be alarmed if flies do not make it in transportation. They only live... more

Fruit Fly Media Culture Mix 1 5Lb (24oz) Makes 10 cultures

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

$17

Fruit fly Media Culture Mix contains 1 5Lb (24oz) to makes 10 fruit flies cultures.


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 also ingredients 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 ... more

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