[MauricesExoticPets]

It larva are now removing themselves from the media and pupating, not in any real great numbers yet but they are doing as they should.

Being day five the culture seems to be on schedule as per the instructions that indicate the culture should produce larva in 5-7 days, not bad.

I am mildly concerned with the ability of this medias ability to produce as many flies as I would like, oweing to the methylparaben content, I use this too but in very low measures so as to not reduce production and I avoid using at all in my D. melanogaster cultures because they tend to produce faster than any mold I have encountered.

I do understand the need to cover ones posterior should a mold outbreak happen, thus the mold inhibitor, and this media is as I understand it is designed to work with both D. melanogaster and D, hydei (hydeis longer life cycle is hard on culture media and is a mold issue waiting to happen.

At this point the media is solid enough to tip with no movement at all, this seems to be a good thing yet I hope the culture does not dry out too fast and prevent further fly development. At this point I suggest making the media as directed on the package, the directions do note that you may add water or media as necessary. I believe the at home culturest should wait a whole culture cycle prior to deciding that adjustments are required or make a few cultures to determine the correct mix for their environment.

Maurice Pudlo

[SeFruitFlies]

Good afternoon Maurice,

I know this post is a little late but waiting several hrs for the media to set is insane!

I make my own media and only takes about 30 seconds to set, let me know if you've figured out a new way to make media or need any help with it or want help. As i specialize in this area of feeders.

Thanks!

Preston
p.breece@yahoo.com
southeasternfruitflies.com

[MauricesExoticPets]

Preston,
I believe my first culture was made with water that was not as hot as the media was intended for, washer going, kid in the shower, not sure as to the reason. Since taking a closer observation of the water temperature I have had no issues with shifting media after the first couple of hours.

This I believe is part of the normal learning curve for any media type.

Production volume and time line of flies is on par with my own media formulations, mold is a non-issue with D. hydei at any point in the life cycle of the cultures.

Cost is not an issue for me, and if I take into consideration my time to mix ingredients and ingredient storage there is some slight but very real cost savings.

Thus far, and it may be too early to tell, production rates and health seem uneffected in all animals fed flies from these cultures.

I have experienced shifts in production with other media formulations sold by some online vendors (I have not used your media), mainly in reduced egg shell quality, and some loss in hatchling vigor after as little as one month of trial feeding.

I want to give this media a full generation of Mourning gecko production to better assess its nutritional qualities, so far though it is looking good.

Maurice Pudlo