Fruit Fly Medium you can count on

I have been using this for years. It doesn't get soupy and works better then the medium you buy. I put this in a zip lock bag and add the liquid when I need some. Works great and stays forever.

I got this this from someone on the forums; wish I could give them credit but I don't have the name anymore, but thank you whoever you are.

4 cups of plain potato flakes
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup brewers yeast (not the active yeast that comes in little packets. You can get it at the grocery store.)

Put it all in your zip lock and shake well and your done. Write on the bag: Mix in a bowl; 1/2 c. mix, 1/3 c. vinegar, 1/3 c. water. Stir until blended and place in your fly container. Sprinkle a little regular yeast on top of the medium and shove into the medium about 6 coffee filters. (The basket kind) Add about 50-60 flies and put away for about 3-4 weeks and you'll have a container full of flies.

Comments

Do you use this for just FF? Or other flies as well?

Id also be interested to know if vinegar works. I have had mold anytime I try and breed flies, and a quick fix like vinegar would be great.
 
Snake, when you hydrate the dry ingredients you add 1/3 c. water and 1/3 c. vinegar.
 
:rolleyes:
Looked over that.

Thats what acts as a mold inhibitor though?

Ill definitely give it a try. ;)
 
one thing to remember, is the acetic acid in vinegar breaks the bond of calcium, imo making vinegar enriched mediums poor choice for neonates. imo if a mold inhibitor is needed tegosept is a better choice for media that will produce flies intended for neonates. tegosept is available at carolina biological.
its a good media though, simple is usually better, i also have found it to be better than most commercial medias. if someone doesnt want to order tegosept, sometimes mold can be discouraged by adding a small (1/4tsp) of commercial jams or jellies as most have a preservative in them already. jmo.
 
So you're telling me that this culture formula is better and cheaper than lets say joshs frogs hydei culture medium? I have a lot of babies hatching and need to decide to buy in bulk of joshsfrogs stuff or use this. any thoughts???
 
so if you dust the flies with calcium would they be ok to feed to babies? or does the vinegar in the flies break the bonds of the CA in the whole digestion process?
 
xanthoman;bt1327 said:
one thing to remember, is the acetic acid in vinegar breaks the bond of calcium, imo making vinegar enriched mediums poor choice for neonates. imo if a mold inhibitor is needed tegosept is a better choice for media that will produce flies intended for neonates. tegosept is available at carolina biological.
its a good media though, simple is usually better, i also have found it to be better than most commercial medias. if someone doesnt want to order tegosept, sometimes mold can be discouraged by adding a small (1/4tsp) of commercial jams or jellies as most have a preservative in them already. jmo.

how much of the tegosept would go into the culture? a pinch?
 
I was a little skeptical because if the amount of vinager...but I followed the recipe and I Gotta say it worked! I have tons of flies
 
For the Texans, my local HEB doesn't carry brewer’s yeast so i tried the HEB yeast labeled "for bread machines". I have a ton of flies too.
 

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