Thought i would post this up, i have also added it to the wiki, just a quick info sheet on culturing fruit flies
Culturing fruit flies
Fruit flies make a great food source for many animals including fish, small frogs, small lizards, young praying mantis, scorpions and small spiders. They are also very easy to culture so i will give a quick rundown on producing fruit flies for feeders. Probably the most difficult part in Australia is getting the fruit flies to start your culture, occasionally you may find vestigial winged or wingless fruit flies available from universities and if you do locate them they are by far the best to breed but most of the time you will have to catch your own so here is a simple outline of a fruit fly trap, all you will need is a small icecream container, a jar, a knife or pair of scissors, a soldering iron(optional) and some rotten fruit. First you will need to cut a hole in the lid of the icecream container, make sure it is smaller then the jar opening, this is to allow easy collection of the flies. Then with either a soldering iron or knife make a few holes in the base to allow water and rotting fruit juices to drain out to increase the life of the trap. Now all you have to do it put some rotting fruit in the trap and place it in a shady area, under fruit tree's always works well. After a day or 2 place the jar over the opening and tap the icecream container, the flies will fly out the hole into the jar then all you have to do is place the lid on and there you have the start of your colony, about 20-30 flies is ideal so repeat as necessary to get those numbers.
Basic fruit fliy culture recipe (makes 3-4 cultures)
Jars (with or without lids)
Pantyhose (optional)
Rubber bands
Empty toilet roll
1 cup potato flakes
1 tablespoon white sugar
20-30grains bakers yeast (per jar)
1 tablespoon white vinegar (optional mold inhibitor)
Boiling water.
Sterilize jars in a pressure cooker or in a pot of boiling water. If using lids poke 5-6 small holes in the lid or use panty hose secured by rubber band. Mix potato flakes and white sugar together and add white vinegar. Add boiling water and mix till its the consistency of soft mashed potato. Add approx 3cm of mix to jars and allow to cool. Once cool sprinkle 20-30 grains of yeast over the top and poke a toilet roll into the mix for flies to pupate on. Cool flies in the fridge for 10-20mins to prevent escapes before adding to the culture. Replace lid (of pantyhose) and keep in a warm (25c-30c).
After about 1 week cultures will be ready for use and they last approx 3-4weeks. Its best to start new cultures every week from flies for the freshest colony. Fruit flies make a great feed for small lizards, frogs and inverts and are a great food for hatchling gecko's and dragons.
John
Culturing fruit flies
Fruit flies make a great food source for many animals including fish, small frogs, small lizards, young praying mantis, scorpions and small spiders. They are also very easy to culture so i will give a quick rundown on producing fruit flies for feeders. Probably the most difficult part in Australia is getting the fruit flies to start your culture, occasionally you may find vestigial winged or wingless fruit flies available from universities and if you do locate them they are by far the best to breed but most of the time you will have to catch your own so here is a simple outline of a fruit fly trap, all you will need is a small icecream container, a jar, a knife or pair of scissors, a soldering iron(optional) and some rotten fruit. First you will need to cut a hole in the lid of the icecream container, make sure it is smaller then the jar opening, this is to allow easy collection of the flies. Then with either a soldering iron or knife make a few holes in the base to allow water and rotting fruit juices to drain out to increase the life of the trap. Now all you have to do it put some rotting fruit in the trap and place it in a shady area, under fruit tree's always works well. After a day or 2 place the jar over the opening and tap the icecream container, the flies will fly out the hole into the jar then all you have to do is place the lid on and there you have the start of your colony, about 20-30 flies is ideal so repeat as necessary to get those numbers.
Basic fruit fliy culture recipe (makes 3-4 cultures)
Jars (with or without lids)
Pantyhose (optional)
Rubber bands
Empty toilet roll
1 cup potato flakes
1 tablespoon white sugar
20-30grains bakers yeast (per jar)
1 tablespoon white vinegar (optional mold inhibitor)
Boiling water.
Sterilize jars in a pressure cooker or in a pot of boiling water. If using lids poke 5-6 small holes in the lid or use panty hose secured by rubber band. Mix potato flakes and white sugar together and add white vinegar. Add boiling water and mix till its the consistency of soft mashed potato. Add approx 3cm of mix to jars and allow to cool. Once cool sprinkle 20-30 grains of yeast over the top and poke a toilet roll into the mix for flies to pupate on. Cool flies in the fridge for 10-20mins to prevent escapes before adding to the culture. Replace lid (of pantyhose) and keep in a warm (25c-30c).
After about 1 week cultures will be ready for use and they last approx 3-4weeks. Its best to start new cultures every week from flies for the freshest colony. Fruit flies make a great feed for small lizards, frogs and inverts and are a great food for hatchling gecko's and dragons.
John
