Fruit fly lifespan?

[beatsnotbombs]

I have an egg case that will hatch in two weeks. I plan to order hydei fruit flies and have them arrive in 4 days. Should I grab a producing culture or one that's 2-6 days old? I want to feed about 20-25 nymphs when it hatches! Which one should I pick? Help please!

 

[hierodula]

Well I believe a fruit fly will stay alive as adult for about 3-6 days. However, sometimes a culture takes a while to get started so always order ahead, as you will get lots of ff's from the culture. I lost 3 Majusculas because I got a culture that hadn' started yet. So buy a culture that has started, It better to be safe than sorry.

 

[brancsikia339]

Get a big culture because they will need to breed to keep your culture alive

 

[aNisip]

It will be cutting it close...but the egg case isn't exactly going to hatch when you want, maybe sooner maybe later...so it's up to you...

 

[fleurdejoo]

I would honestly get both but I always overdo things.

 

[Mime454]

I get a started one and some medium to make some more later. It would be better so that you/your school doesn't have to keep shelling out money for flies.