P. regius sling feeding help

[regalpaws]

I have four slings and have recently bought a melanogaster culture for them. I bought a producing one but got a freshly started culture. I contacted the company over the weekend and haven't heard anything and might not for some time. They are out of stock of producing cultures atm. For the two larger slings, I've tried feeding them spikes and cut up mealworms but they aren't taking them. I've only seen them take one spike once.
The culture isnt producing at all yet, so Ive been placing fruit fly spikes in the cups they're in at the moment so they at least have something. I spray the lids at least once a day and lay a new piece of damp paper towel on the lid for humidity/water.
I'm a bit concerned and wondered what you would suggest, especially since they aren't taking spikes. Thanks a ton!!

 

[kadupul]

I've heard of taking sprigs of plants infested with aphids and giving them those. You'd have to be certain nothing was sprayed with any sort of poison. Roses tend to have a lot of aphids.

 

[regalpaws]

I've tried getting some cabbage worms, and very small isopods in the hopes they would eat, and nothing. They're scared/uninterested in whatever is there. Any way to speed up the fruit fly culture?

 

[kadupul]

Try keeping it warmer.

 

[Backcountry critters]

Try keeping it warmer.

I agree with this for sure just don't get the culture as warm as 85 degrees Fahrenheit because the flies can mutate back to having wings and will gain flight again. My cultures seems to boom at around 75-80F. We are pretty warm in NY these days and my kitchen where I keep my cultures on a cabinet are consistently around that temp and it has caused my cultures to just about overflow.

 

[kadupul]

don't get the culture as warm as 85 degrees Fahrenheit because the flies can mutate back to having wings and will gain flight again.

Thanks for sharing that info! I hadn't even known that that could be a concern.

 

[regalpaws]

Thank you guys! One of the bigger bois did eat a prekilled cricket, phew. I hope to be getting some flies soon. I'll keep trying.