[Dyesub Dave]

Perhaps I missed it but I don't see measurements for these ingredients. Of course it would depend on how much you want to make but I don't even see a guideline to make enough for one culture.

I recently got some fruit flies and have all the ingredients but am not sure how much of each ingredient to use to start my culture. IE. 1/2 cup vinegar & water and add a tablespoon of sugar and a teaspoon of brewers yeast .... something along those lines.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks ... Dyesub Dave.

[Dyesub Dave]

OK ... well I've mixed up my first batch while guessing the amounts. I used 1/4 cup of hot water and 1/4 cup white vinegar. I added one tablespoon of sugar and one teaspoon of brewers yeast. I didn't measure the potato flakes but probably added around 1/4 to 1/2 a cup. It seemed really runny at first but when I added more it thickened up very quickly so I added more water.

So I will give this a try and post my results. I'm thinking that I probably need more sugar and I will sprinkle some quick rising yeast on top when I put it in the container. I hope this works so I don't ruin the culture that I'm trying to start.

Dyesub Dave.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Dave ~

Yes, the only things missing from Marty's recipe are the ingredient amounts. Please post your success.

Marty---Do you have recommended ingredient amounts?

Originally Posted by Dyesub Dave

OK ... well I've mixed up my first batch while guessing the amounts. I used 1/4 cup of hot water and 1/4 cup white vinegar. I added one tablespoon of sugar and one teaspoon of brewers yeast. I didn't measure the potato flakes but probably added around 1/4 to 1/2 a cup. It seemed really runny at first but when I added more it thickened up very quickly so I added more water.

So I will give this a try and post my results. I'm thinking that I probably need more sugar and I will sprinkle some quick rising yeast on top when I put it in the container. I hope this works so I don't ruin the culture that I'm trying to start.

Dyesub Dave.

[Dyesub Dave]

Well it's only been a few days and the fruit flies still seem to be alive. However I haven't seen many of them go to the mixture at the bottom nor do I see any egg sacs anywhere.

I was wondering if it would hurt to put a piece of banana in as well. I wasn't sure if it would help or just go moldy and ruin the culture.

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks .. Dyesub Dave.

[John]

Dave: I have seen several recipes which include banana but I also saw this warning: Ripe bananas can also be used on their own. These will not dry out, because as they rot, they release liquid. As this is the case, it might be necessary to put in some cotton wool, which will absorb the liquid.
If you are using a few slices on top of your mixture, this may not be a problem.
John

[Dyesub Dave]

Thanks for the good advice John. I will definitely be adding a bit of banana to help the culture reproduce.

Dyesub Dave.

[leopard]

I have plenty of fruitflys, you can have all of them! Nice thread!

[Dyesub Dave]

Well ... the measurements used above seemed to have worked well. I'm finding 30 or so new flies a day. The only problem that I have is that most of them are FLYING !!! After being confused about this for quite some time I found that the coffee filter that I taped on the inside of the screen lid had one little section without tape. So I'm assuming that some regular fruit flies got in and have ruined the culture.

I've been letting the flying ones go every day but there's always more. So I think that I'm going to release them all today and try to keep a few of the jumpers and try a new culture. Unfortunately this will mean another few weeks before I start getting more flightless fruitflies.

Dyesub Dave.

[Airedale]

I've heard that if flightless fruit flies are kept too hot they will revert back to flying. This has been from some places that sell them that wont ship if things are too hot because they can regain flying capabilities. I've never had any trouble but I've only kept Hydei for about a month now. And I keep getting way too many flies for my two L. williamsi.

[Dyesub Dave]

Originally Posted by Airedale

I've heard that if flightless fruit flies are kept too hot they will revert back to flying. This has been from some places that sell them that wont ship if things are too hot because they can regain flying capabilities. I've never had any trouble but I've only kept Hydei for about a month now. And I keep getting way too many flies for my two L. williamsi.

Yeah ... thanks Jim. I'd heard something similar to that as well. And we just got over a hot spell for the last couple of weeks. However ... I have an A/C unit and the place was generally around 25-27 deg. C.

I ended up getting about 12 adult flies that were jumpers and started them in a new culture with a lid that is definitely SEALED!! So if I get a bunch of fliers this time I'll attribute it to the temps.

Dyesub Dave.