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

Flightless fruit fly culture. (2 FOR $25)!!!!#FREE SHIPPING!!!!

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 180**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$25

Flightless fruit fly culture is offered at a special deal of 2 for $25 with free shipping included. This product is designed for reptile owners looking to provide their pets with a nutritious food source. The flightless nature of the fruit flies ensures they remain contained and easily accessible for feeding reptiles
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Fruit fly vials for starter packs, foam plug, screen 1 x 4"

Olmsted Falls, Ohio, 441**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$11

Ensure your fruit fly culture is contained and well-organized with these unbranded vials, ideally suited for starter packs. Each vial comes with a foam plug and a screen, providing a secure seal to prevent escapes while maintaining ease of access for routine care The vials are designed with a clear, see-through model, allowing for easy monitoring of your insect population. With a quantity of 12 units, you can efficiently manage your colonies, making these vials an essential tool for both ... more

Flightless Fruit Fly - Drosophila Melanogaster Culture - Super Loaded Colony

Aptos, California, 950**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$23

Drosophila Melanogaster
This listing is for Flightless Fruit Fly - Drosophila Melanogaster Culture - Super Loaded Colony
These Cultures will be loaded with flies and fresh made within a day of shipping. Spend less time waiting for them to breed, feed them off right away, leave at least half remaining and you will have thousands of more flies in about a week!
These fruit flies serve as a good food source to small animals such as young spiders and scorpions small reptiles and other ... more

Fruit Fly Culture Flightless Melongaster 6 Pack Reptile And Dart Frog Food LIVE

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

$57

6 pack Melongaster Flightless Fruit Flies
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 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
Regular fruit flies should be... more

32oz Flightless Fruit Fly Culture

Wichita, Kansas, 672**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$12

32oz Flightless Fruit Fly Culture.
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