Fruit fly media?

[m0lsx]

Is anyone here producing their own fruit flies?

I have been looking around & media seems to be rather a dark art. Instant potatoes, mashed banana, white vinegar, orange juice instead of water. Oatmeal. Commercially available medias.

What are others here using? I am currently looking at some media on ebay from someone I have brought fruit flies off before. It is not too expensive, about £1 per pot & if it's what they use, then I know it's good.

 

[TokeHound]

I bought a flightless fruit fly culture and most are self sustaining. The culture comes with adult flies, larva, eggs, and food for everyone in the culture. I only have one Tarantula that eats that small of prey so the culture lasts forever. That's just me tho

 

[m0lsx]

I bought a flightless fruit fly culture and most are self sustaining.....The culture lasts forever.

Really? Every time I have used fruit flies they have failed after a month or so & my understanding was that it is normal to need to keep making new cultures every few weeks.

 

[TokeHound]

So, what I was told by a shop keeper was that they only live for 28 days. I bought a new culture, and all of the flies died in 2 days (idk why) then in a week, the culture was filled with all new flies again. And I bought this culture about 2 weeks ago

 

[m0lsx]

So, what I was told by a shop keeper was that they only live for 28 days. I bought a new culture, and all of the flies died in 2 days (idk why) then in a week, the culture was filled with all new flies again. And I bought this culture about 2 weeks ago

It sounds like you brought a new culture. The media is made & placed at the bottom & then some fruit flies added. Those flies lay eggs in the media & it is the flies from those eggs which will last a month. After that period, the flies will die off & you will need a new culture. Or that is my understanding, of how it works.

 

[TokeHound]

It sounds like you brought a new culture. The media is made & placed at the bottom & then some fruit flies added. Those flies lay eggs in the media & it is the flies from those eggs which will last a month. After that period, the flies will die off & you will need a new culture. Or that is my understanding, of how it works.

Oh, I see. This is new for me. Learning something new every day

 

[m0lsx]

The following is the best I have found.

 

[TokeHound]

The following is the best I have found.

Ohhh I see what you mean now! I apologize for jumping the gun. Pretty neat. I would definitely do this if I had a lot more slings, but I only have 3, and only my dwarf sling takes fruit flies. Thanks for showing me that!

 

[m0lsx]

An update.

I have now made several cultures using the above YouTube recipe & the results have been good.