Killifish

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
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.

Nothobranchius virgatus feeding on Drosophila larvae
Nothobranchius virgatus Fula A Zarga SUD 98 feeding on Drosophila larvae
Cute fish look evil from above
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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Melanogaster (Golden Delicious) LIVE Fruit Fly Culture (retail)

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

$10

Buy Drosophila melanogaster (Golden Delicious) 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 ... more

"Turkish Glider" Melanogaster (Fruit Fly Culture) - LIVE FEEDER INSECT DART FROG

Cleveland, Georgia, 305**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$40

??PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING??
- IN EXTREME TEMPS LIVE ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
WILL ONLY BE IN EFFECT WHEN UPGRADED TO
PRIORITY MAIL OR IN TEMPS BETWEEN 0 - 85F
- COOL PACKS WILL BE ADDED IF NEEDED
(I CHECK TEMPS BEFORE SHIPMENT)
- UPGRADED PRIORITY SHIPPING IS RECOMMENDED
FOR THE SAFEST ARRIVAL
(WHAT YOU RECEIVE)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Name: "Turkish Glider" Melanogaster Fruit Fly
Size: 1 / ... more

Fruit Flies Flightless Drosophila Hydei

Lehigh Acres, Florida, 339**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$20

Flightless fruit fly feeders for your chameleons, spiders, fly trap plants etc??
32oz cup that produces for multiple weeks
We only ship priority mail, usually 2-3 days
... more

Flightless Fruit Fly Cultures - Includes 40-50 flies! - FREE USPS shipping!

Cleveland, Ohio, 441**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$30

Flightless Fruit Fly Cultures (40-50 flies included per cup!)
WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO OFFER LIVE ARRIVAL GUARNTEE WITH ORDERS SHIPPED VIA FEDEX 2DAY!
Flightless fruit flies (Drosophila hydei) are about ???? and are a great feeder for small lizards, spiders, mantids and frogs. Each culture will arrive with at least 40-50 live fruit flies
These are producing cultures that are about 2 weeks old. They will continue producing new flies for another two to three weeks. These are flightless fruit ... more

Fruit Fly Culture Kit for Small Pets Reptiles Feeders Live Insects

Marlton, New Jersey, 080**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$48

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