Is setting up a fruit fly culture hard?

[Davisnguyen998]

I always see posts on how to do it but I never get like .. visuals or pictures so it's kinda hard for me to understand. Is it expensive? I want to be able to raise my own little mantis babies haha.

 

[Malakyoma]

not at all. A basic culture is just mixing quick oats with honey and orange juice, costs maybe $5 for 10 cultures.

 

[Davisnguyen998]

not at all. A basic culture is just mixing quick oats with honey and orange juice, costs maybe $5 for 10 cultures.

do you know a good post or care sheet of some sort where i could learn how to do so? preferably with pictures

 

[Malakyoma]

do you know a good post or care sheet of some sort where i could learn how to do so? preferably with pictures

dont know of any with pictures, but this thread has a bunch of different recipes in it. http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7715

 

[hibiscusmile]

Search for "Bugatorium" I have a recipes on that thread.

 

[twolfe]

When I mix my own media, I use Rebecca's recipe and have had good luck with that. But as I got busy and have more mantids, I have switched to using Repashy most of the time. It's very quick and my nymphs seem to be doing really well eating fruitflies from the cultures made with Repashy.

 

[Rick]

No. I make them in the 32 oz insect cups with cloth vented lid. I add about an inch or two of dry commercially made medium (works best), a pinch of yeast, and enough water to make the medium wet but not sopping wet. Put a LITTLE bit of excelsior and add some flies. Put lid on and wait. Done. People on here try to get all fancy but it really is that simple.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Terribly hard, don't listen to them. buy mine! ahahha hahhaha I bad girl!

 

[Rick]

Terribly hard, don't listen to them. buy mine! ahahha hahhaha I bad girl!

Shameless promoting. :shifty:

 

[hibiscusmile]

I know! what nerve! :tt2:

 

[Qwiggalo]

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

 

[patrickfraser]

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)

Packet of Dry Active Yeast

1/4 c. white vinegar

1/4 c. hot water

Only sprinkle a pinch or so of the yeast on the prepared medium. 1 Packet will last a long time.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I made cultures again tonight, what am I doing wrong? see pics......

the first one is what was in one culture, 2nd is new culture, 3rd is even after dumping out all the flies I could, still to many left.....

fuzzy even made cultures with me twice last week, the more I make the more I make......funny, I don't have many mouths to feed them to, now if I did, I would not have any fruit flies, u with me !

 

[OregonMantis]

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

I use this recipe with a couple tablespoons of oatmeal too. I would also like to add the cheaper the flakes the better. Make sure there is no added butter or flavorings.

 

[TheOtherSpecies]

I buy my media through flycafe.net but I will be trying these other methods!

 

[hibiscusmile]

yea, there is absolutely no reason not to make your own. That's how I started, I never brought anyones mix, made my own till I got it right. Took me a long time to find the right yeast, and mold inhibitor, but I have them now and I am pleased with them.

 

[ScienceGirl]

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

Don't forget to read labels a bit, too. The smaller amount of preservatives, the better!

 

[JTHMfreak]

I started a repashy culture on the 3rd, still don't seem to see any larvae, too soon?

 

[hibiscusmile]

depends, what species/?