So I had my first experience with keeping houseflys recently, and I must say I sucked at it. Even after putting them in cold storage for a little while before trying to transfer them to my mantis enclosures, I still had several escapees, and then I guess I let them get dehydrated cuz 90% of them just up and died. I gave them honey/powdered milk to eat and "cricket gel" to drink, but I didnt spray them at all, and I kept them at about 80'f. One thing that bothered me about the whole experience was the inability to just pour out a few cold flys without having to remove the water dish and the food dish and the pupae dish. They warm up rather fast while you do all this and you end up with flys all over the house. So I got to thinking and came up with a way to change the fly's sustenance as well as meter out cold flys without removing a lid and giving the flys a chance at a fast getaway or spilling their food and drink.... observe.........................................................................
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I simply put 3 holes in the bottom of a rubbermaid screwtop plastic jar using a butane torch. A drill and a big drill bit would have worked better, but I didnt have them handy. Then I hot clued the lids to some little 1.5 oz condiment cups. (these can often be found at resturaunts or ordered from foodservice suppliers. I'd be willing to bet Rebecca @ Mantis Place would know where to get some.) I first cut holes in the lids with a razorknife, and once they are in place the cups can removed and returned easily and quickly. This allows me to remove the cups as need be for refil, and also to remove cold flys through a small hole, lowering the oppurtunity for escapes. I decided on three as that would leave room for a pupae cup along with the food and water cup. I also hot glued 3 cotton balls to the inside, which can be moistened for maintaining humidity.
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I simply put 3 holes in the bottom of a rubbermaid screwtop plastic jar using a butane torch. A drill and a big drill bit would have worked better, but I didnt have them handy. Then I hot clued the lids to some little 1.5 oz condiment cups. (these can often be found at resturaunts or ordered from foodservice suppliers. I'd be willing to bet Rebecca @ Mantis Place would know where to get some.) I first cut holes in the lids with a razorknife, and once they are in place the cups can removed and returned easily and quickly. This allows me to remove the cups as need be for refil, and also to remove cold flys through a small hole, lowering the oppurtunity for escapes. I decided on three as that would leave room for a pupae cup along with the food and water cup. I also hot glued 3 cotton balls to the inside, which can be moistened for maintaining humidity.