I have a storage bin that I would like to use to store my cultures to keep them out of sight. It is sealed, but not airtight, so I think I'll be fine with ventilation. Will darkness ruin the culture or make it less productive?
Fruit fly storage
- Thread starter Synapze
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Predatorhousepet
Well-known member
No, it should be fine in the dark but definitely check on them every day to make sure they are still in good health and no mold is forming on the media. This should also help reintroduce new air into the storage container. If you leave the culture for too long without enough ventilation it can grow mold, fungus, or mites can overtake it.
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The smell builds up a little in the bin, but I can't smell it when it's closed. I'm glad darkness is an option! 
Thanks for the info on preventing mold and mites. We discussed making cultures in a previous thread and you gave me the encouragement I needed to make the first attempt. I started 2 cultures yesterday, 1 D. hydei and 1 melanogaster. One looks kind of "iffy", but the other looks promising. ?
Thanks for the info on preventing mold and mites. We discussed making cultures in a previous thread and you gave me the encouragement I needed to make the first attempt. I started 2 cultures yesterday, 1 D. hydei and 1 melanogaster. One looks kind of "iffy", but the other looks promising. ?
Predatorhousepet
Well-known member
I'm glad I was able to encourage you to try making a ff culture. It saves so much money to culture them yourself plus its not hard to do and requires very little maintenance once you have the method down.
If they are starting to smell when you open the bin then that is probably a sign the bin needs more ventilation. Try drilling some holes in the lid and sides or airing it out more frequently. I have a bin with dubia roaches in it that does pretty well, I drilled a lot of large holes in the top and hot glued fiberglass window screen over it to prevent escapes. I also drilled small holes they can't fit through on the sides. Since you have containers in the bin that actually hold the flies you don't need screen over the holes and you can make the holes fairly large. To make holes in a plastic bin you can either use a drill or by heating up a screwdriver on the stove and using it to melt holes in the plastic.
What do you mean when you say one looks iffy, can you elaborate? Maybe there is something that can be done to get it off to a better start.
If they are starting to smell when you open the bin then that is probably a sign the bin needs more ventilation. Try drilling some holes in the lid and sides or airing it out more frequently. I have a bin with dubia roaches in it that does pretty well, I drilled a lot of large holes in the top and hot glued fiberglass window screen over it to prevent escapes. I also drilled small holes they can't fit through on the sides. Since you have containers in the bin that actually hold the flies you don't need screen over the holes and you can make the holes fairly large. To make holes in a plastic bin you can either use a drill or by heating up a screwdriver on the stove and using it to melt holes in the plastic.
What do you mean when you say one looks iffy, can you elaborate? Maybe there is something that can be done to get it off to a better start.
The texture of the medium was bordering on too stiff, but I put in my excelsior and flies. After seeing the first, I decide to add just a dash more fluid which made the texture appear more in line with the examples I've seen. I also used the coffee filter method this time to see if it dispenses the flies easier as I've been told.
It sure would be great if there was a Pez dispenser for flies.
