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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Flightless Fruit Fly Culture 32oz Live

Middletown, Pennsylvania, 170**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7

Our Flightless Fruit Fly Culture 32 oz are made with Repashy
Live Flightless 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
Oue Fruit ... more

Fresh Golden Delicious Fruit Fly Culture | Free Shipping | LIVE FEEDERS

Porter, Texas, 773**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$15


Fresh Golden Delicious Fruit Fly CultureSize: Golden Deliciousare small fruit flies, adults are about 3mm long
Each culture is started fresh in a 32 oz vented cup using our high-quality fruit fly media
a nutrient-rich blend designed to support strong fly production and extended culture life
Get the Best Savings with ERAWAN IMPORTS!
At Erawan Imports, we are dedicated to delivering the quality you expect
We pride ourselves on fast delivery and producing quality in quantity ... more

10-200PC Sticky Fly Trap Paper Yellow Traps Fruit Flies Insect Glue Catcher Best

Baldwin Park, California, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8


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Fruit Fly Culture WINGLESS 3 Pack Lizard And Dart Frog Food Live

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

$30

This Fruit Fly Culture WIngless 3 Pack is perfect for feeding your Lizards and Dart Frogs. The live food is guaranteed to provide your pets with the necessary nutrients to keep them healthy and active. The pack is made from high-quality ingredients and is sure to satisfy your pet's appetite.
The brand, Crazy Frog Lady, is well-known for producing top-quality pet supplies. With this pack, you can be sure that your pets are getting the best possible food. This pack is ideal for reptile owners ... more

Wingless Fruit Fly Culture (Drosophila Melanogaster) 32oz Cup (Chester)

Florida, New York, 109**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$10

Each 32oz. container has everything the flies need: Fruit Fly Food Media (from Josh's Frogs) and Aspen Wood Excelsior for added surface area Drosophila Melanogaster are about 1 / 16" in size and are an ideal food for poison dart frogs, fish, praying mantis, young frogs and toads, and other reptiles, amphibians, or captive animals that require small foods I have producing cultures and freshly started cultures that will start producing flies in about 12 - 14 days Each culture has a lifespan of ... more