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

Premium Fruit Fly Food Media - 3 lbs / 2 7 Quarts for Reptiles & Amphibians

Andover, Massachusetts, 018**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$68

High-Quality Fruit Fly Media for Thriving Cultures
Enhance your pet feeding experience with our premium fruit fly media, designed to deliver exceptional results and keep your critters healthy and vibrant. Discover the key features that make this product a must-have:
Produces High Yields: Your cultures will thrive in this quality media, generating multiple generations of flies. Contains Vitamins & Color Enhancers: Healthy feeders lead to healthy and colorful ... view on ebay

MELANOGASTER Fruit Fly Food - 1 5 lbs Seafood Flavor Flake for Optimal Nutrition

Multiple Locations, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$36

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WINGLESS DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER AND HYDEI FRUIT FLIES CULTURES 32oz.

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

$15

WINGLESS DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER FRUIT FLY CULTURE 32oz
DROSOPHILA HYDEI FRUIT FLY CULTURE 32oz
Wingless Drosophila Melanogaster Fruit Fly Culture is ideal to feed, praying mantis, small frogs, small reptiles and amphibians
Fruit flies' cultures generally keep at 70F - 78F temperature. Humidity 60-80%
Drosophila Hydei Fruit Fly Culture is also ideal for praying mantis, small frogs, small reptiles and amphibians
They are a bit large than D. melanogaster. Fruit flies' ... view on ebay

Repashy Superfly Fruit Fly Culture Media Bearded Dragon Crested Gecko Reptile

Danville, New Hampshire, 038**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$30

Repashy Superfly is an Instant Formula for Drosophila Culture. This Premium Mixture is fortified with Minerals, Trace Elements, Vitamins, and Carotenoids in order to Maximize the Nutritional Value of Fruit Flies when they are used as feeders. DIRECTIONS: To make a typical Repashy Superfly culture (32 oz. size deli container) add between 3 tablespoons (typical when using boiling water) and 4 tablespoons (typical when using hot tap water) SuperFly media to 2 / 3 cup prepared water and stir until ... view on ebay

Wingless Fruit Fly Culture + 1 Just Add Flies for Dart Frog Food Reptile Food

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

$25

The product is a Winglessless fruit fly culture kit + 1 additional container of just-add-flies food designed for dart frogs and reptiles. Produced by the brand Crazy Frog Lady, this product provides a convenient and natural way to feed your pets. The fruit flies are a nutritious food source for many reptiles and amphibians, promoting healthy eating habits and reducing the need for processed diets. With this product, you can easily maintain a steady supply of live insects for your pets to enjoy ... view on ebay