Just purchased Fruit Flies, please HELP!

[mullberrysdream]

Hi, I just got what appears to be 1 giant culture of fruit flies. I ordered these from my local pet store last week and picked them up today for my 6 week old male veiled because he is quite thin due to lack of eating. I think he wasn't eating because the crickets that the local pet store caries are often too big, so i thought i'd give these flies a shot in order to get his weight up a little bit and to make sure he was still interested in eating.

I got a big plastic container of these things, for $19 which seems like it is way overpriced (they quoted me at 15 when i ordered them), but it is what it is, and next time I will order them online.

What do I need to do to keep these flies healthy and continuing to breed so that Mullberry may continue to eat them for the next coming weeks? I have already tapped a bunch of them out of the container and into his cage and he has gobbled them right up.

What do I need to know about fruit flies? Is the best method for feeding just setting them loose? I put a piece of a banana in his food dish so that they can climb on the banana, but so far he has been more interested in eating the ones at the top of the cage.

Any help is MUCH appreciated! Thanks

 

[JoeG]

I put a piece of fruit in the cage to keep them from wandering. He can pick them off at will. Some will inevitably get out but they are harmless...

 

[SSimsswiSS]

I'm not sure fruit flies are going to help pack on any weight to a month and a half old veil. Try to get him or her some natural sunlight to boost appetite. Appropriate sized crickets will be best bet. House flies, mantis nymphs, small silkworms secondary.

 

[mullberrysdream]

Thanks for the advice SSimsswiSS, I think I may order some crickets off the internet because my local pet store doesn't seem to have ones that are small enough for him to eat.

What size should I get? Here is a picture of Mulberry from this past week.

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[mullberrysdream]

Also does anyone have any great place to order a small amount (100-250) crickets online that isn't too expensive?

I can't afford to keep spending 10cents a cricket at my local pet shop when they aren't even the appropriate size.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Also does anyone have any great place to order a small amount (100-250) crickets online that isn't too expensive?

I can't afford to keep spending 10cents a cricket at my local pet shop when they aren't even the appropriate size.

Where are you located? State, city will help us find you a close source.

 

[mullberrysdream]

I'm in Plymouth NH during the school year. 03264

 

[camimom]

I use mulberryfarms.com for crickets.
You can buy itty bitty, (they size by week, so get the youngest crix you can)
they bulk order, I would do 1000 bc a baby can eat thru crix like they are free.

 

[mullberrysdream]

Great, thanks for the advice! Do you have any advice on how to keep such a large number of crickets alive? I have enough trouble keeping 30 alive when I get them from the local pet store.

 

[BocaJan]

You have to feed them and give them water. I use Cricket crack and water jel from Lowes, but if you use veggies (see stickie under food) or the orange cubes you can get by. Keep them in a tub with egg crates so they can hide. This is important.