Is setting up a fruit fly culture hard?

[Bug Trader]

Recipe:

1/4 c. Mashed Potato Flakes- choose the least expensive brand you can find

1 T. Powdered Sugar

1 T. Brewer's Yeast (optional)

Sprinkle of Dry Active Yeast

1/4 c. white vinegar

1/4 c. hot water

Brewers Yeast is actually the key ingredient in most FF Medias it is what makes them produce so well.

FlyCafe has a good media, as does Repashy but I make my own, its better anyways. But most depend on Brewers Yeast. My media is producing cups full of maggots that are pupating at about 11 days.

 

[JTHMfreak]

depends, what species/?

D Hydei

 

[hibiscusmile]

yes, to soon, should be any time now to see the maggots.

ps. I have brewers yeast on my site for those who want some.

 

[JTHMfreak]

My noodles have soggified on the bottom too

 

[lancaster1313]

My noodles have soggified on the bottom too

Rebecca did say that "a noodle won't do". lol

 

[JTHMfreak]

Yeah, but I was curious to see how well and long they would hold up for. Plus I had already made everything. Can excelsior be washed off and reused?

 

[Tony C]

Yeah, but I was curious to see how well and long they would hold up for. Plus I had already made everything. Can excelsior be washed off and reused?

I wouldn't recommend it, reusing materials that cannot be properly sanitized is begging for a mite infestation. Excelsior is dirt cheap anyway, not worth the effort even if it could be salvaged.

 

[Bug Trader]

I use the best excelsior I can find, and trust me its not the stuff that mushes up and gets real nasty but you couldn't pay me to try and take it out the cup and wash it......

Tony is right some things just are not worth it, your risking many things even a mold allergy should your cultures have mold like many peoples get.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Excelsior is the main item which brings in mites. As you notice in my feedback, my cultures have no mites, that for three reasons, one I do not use in cultures until they ship, 2 I do not keep them long enough to let them even start, oh and 3, they set on mite paper all the time.

 

[JTHMfreak]

The problem is I can't seem to find any excelsior around me, it's not the cost that makes me want to reuse it.

 

[Bug Trader]

Excelsior is easy to keep mite free, just microwave or bake it before use. You could technically quick dip in in boiling water as well to sterilize it and let it cool if your in a climate where your cultures normally dry out this will help keep moisture in the cup.

 

[Digger]

Excelsior is the main item which brings in mites. As you notice in my feedback, my cultures have no mites, that for three reasons, one I do not use in cultures until they ship, 2 I do not keep them long enough to let them even start, oh and 3, they set on mite paper all the time.

Rebecca - Where does one find mite paper?

 

[Bug Trader]

Amazon, herp shops, and many other places.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I have it on my site, but the manufacturer says it is in the dollar stores, but I can't find it there, maybe I don't look in the right places, but reguardless I had to order thru them.

 

[ladygigi]

Brewers Yeast is actually the key ingredient in most FF Medias it is what makes them produce so well.

FlyCafe has a good media, as does Repashy but I make my own, its better anyways. But most depend on Brewers Yeast. My media is producing cups full of maggots that are pupating at about 11 days.

On the recipe it says that Brewers Yeast is optional, yet you are saying that it's the key ingredient, :huh: which to me doesn't really make it optional. So which is it, optional ingredient or key ingredient? (Trying to learn something cuz I gotta start some cultures quick! Like yesterday. lol :lol: )

 

[patrickfraser]

It is a key optional ingredient.

 

[dgerndt]

I don't use brewers yeast very often. Don't worry about it if you dont have it.

 

[patrickfraser]

It works fine without it, but so much better with.

 

[mantid_mike]

I just set up my 3rd cultures of hydei & melanogasters using Repashy. Literally only took 5 minutes to prepare.

 

[fleurdejoo]

I like the Massa mix. There's a whole thread on here somewhere with the recipe.

I also prefer using excelsior the coffee filters can sometimes just get in the way for me anyway.