Not exactly pets, but I have some slings to feed- and I am trying wingless fruit flies for the first time.
Not having any potato flakes on hand, I gave it a go with some sliced banana; I used a Mason jar with some popsicle sticks (it seems to give a much higher surface area than excelsior, plus they were handy), and some sliced bananas in the bottom. I added maybe 200-300 flies from a previous culture which I had purchased.
Now, maybe 8-10 days later, only a few flies are left; the balance have passed on to that great banana in the sky. The bananas have liquefied, but there is still plenty of banana above the liquid line. But no sign of larvae. They're at room temperature (probably 72-74 degrees F).
Is it still too early? I expect I should have seen some by now. Any suggestions?
Not having any potato flakes on hand, I gave it a go with some sliced banana; I used a Mason jar with some popsicle sticks (it seems to give a much higher surface area than excelsior, plus they were handy), and some sliced bananas in the bottom. I added maybe 200-300 flies from a previous culture which I had purchased.
Now, maybe 8-10 days later, only a few flies are left; the balance have passed on to that great banana in the sky. The bananas have liquefied, but there is still plenty of banana above the liquid line. But no sign of larvae. They're at room temperature (probably 72-74 degrees F).
Is it still too early? I expect I should have seen some by now. Any suggestions?
