
POISON DART FROGS
Drosophila - fruit fly
Drosophila is a type within the family the baptismal lying (Drosophilidae). The name "Drosophila" is a modern Latin adaptation of the Greek drósos, "rope" + phílos, "loving" + female ending-a. The type contain about 1500 kinds from which Drosophila melanogaster is the best known one as a current model organism in the genetics. The different kinds of the type differ partly considerably in the appearance, behaviour and in the reproduction.
The fruit aviation interesting for us are breeding forms (flight-incapable mutants). The wings have degenerated or askew, so that an aviation becomes impossible. There are also breeding forms only about wing attempts dispose. They vary in size and colour considerably. The fruit or vinegar fly is an excellent feed animal. The Imagines as well as the larvae are eaten with pleasure and willingly. If you talks of the fruit fly, you has in mind as a rule the kind of Drosophila melanogaster („small flies”) as you finds them in summer always close to (about) ripe fruits. But also other kinds, as for example D. hydei („big flies”) are well suitable to the increase, even if their breeding is not so fertile completely and quick, how of the D. melanogaster.
BiologyThe eggs lay D. of melanogaster females directly on the mush. The first larvae slip after about 24 h. They live primarily on micro-organisms as for example yeasts. Then within the next 10 days the larvae peel three times and pupate to themselves. After 4 - to 5 days slip the Imagines (full insects), they start to copulate immediately and already lay on the third life day again eggs. From third up to the sixth life day most eggs are produced. Some kinds like D. melanogaster can spend her whole life cycle in the darkness, other like D. subobscura copulate only with light. Because you normally don’t know which kinds are exactly maintained, perhaps you must experiment a little bit.
My attempts stand in the frog room with daylight in the shelve. The increase cycle of the D. hydei is substantially longer, than that of her small cousins; for it is the state time of the attempts if you now and again evaporated water refills substantially longer.
Small fruit fly: Drosophila of melanogaster

As a breeding container are all possible containers from a size of 0.5 litres. I use drinking mug for one time use, because I wouldn’t like to clean them. Ecologically maybe questionably, but I supply them again to the plastic garbage. The breeding cup is covered with a ladies' trump or ladies' socks which can be protected, in addition, still with a rubber. In summer a double situation is recommended. Culinary cloths or material leftovers are not ideal, because the firmness and air permeability form weak spots. However, sponges are more ideal.
The breeding temperature lies with melanogaster with approx. +21 ° C and with Hydei to +25 ° C optimally. More than 25 ° C it doesn’t come to an increase any more. This appears particularly in summer if in the amateur room the temperatures clearly rise. The development lasts, depending on the breeding temperature approx. 2 weeks with melanogaster and approx. 4 weeks with hydei. By beginning larva development warmth originates according to used subsoil to problems can lead. I put my attempts in a washing-up liquid bath. This has the advantage that mites can spread out only hard from cup to cup. The attempts should stand not dark. Some daylight is enough. The fruit aviation are absolutely free of illness. Nevertheless, that's why it is a very valuable feed! Fresh slipped and a little bit eaten, they have the highest nutritional value. New aviation attempts should be always provided with the first slip. These are the strongest, has less mites and become produce most eggs during the first 3-6 days. Later slipping flies can develop "hunger forms".
They are absolutely to be supplied with mash, before they are fed. But her nutritional value is a close zero. In old attempts mites get out of control fast and then should be rejected. There are not attempts free of mite after my experience. They are automatically transported with the flies by new beginning to the cup. By the number of the used flies per attempt you can bridle them well. Mould appears always only when not enough flies are in the cup or too little vinegar is used.
As a mash is enough a mixture of oatmeal, wine and water. The addition of vinegar, yeast and fruit does not damage of course, must endure, indeed, then a stronger odour development. Alternatively a tablespoon Multi-Sanostol can be added. With it the vitamin need is compensated. I chop up the oatmeal still, in addition, in the coffee grinder. The mash should be toe-liquid and can be easily filled in the mugs. Here is valid, rather more humid than too drily. Who works without vinegar and yeast a knife point should add Nipagin (preservative from the chemist's shop, 4-Hydroxybenzoesäuremethylester). This prevents the mould education on the mash. Nipagin is not injurious and is also used in Instant mixtures.
The mash height in the mug must at least 2 cm. (Prevents also that to quick drying up) the humidity denial comes, In addition, still by the tread like wood-wool, cardboard or culinary role. Wood-wool loses to firmness by the dampness of the mash and is able to fall in itself. After the mug is filled up with mash and the tread has put up, the flies come on. You shouldn’t be too sparing here, because not enough aviation do not lay enough eggs and also do not eat enough mash, so that it can come to mould. In addition, the danger insists that mites get out of control. Small and big fruit aviation can be attached with the same mash. You can experiment a little bit, but there are not big differences. Not used mash can be frozen in the plastic bag and remains so guaranteed Free of mite. With yeast set mash one hour should rest and then be mixed thoroughly once more hard. Pay attention to the fact that the vessel is big enough for which the yeast goes and, otherwise, the mash runs over.
Feeding fliesThe first hurdle is taken and the next one immediately reveals by them self. How I get the flies now in the tank without that they all immediately run over me from the mug. First you need a second mug, glass or container which takes up the flies.
In this one gives some vitamin powder (with high vitamin "A" portion as for example„ AMIVIT A“). Before opening the aviation cup this is beaten with the underside on the table or similar one, so that all flies of the top fall down. Only now the cup is opened fast and then beaten in sloping situation about the prepared second mug. Beating out the flies occurs according to demand. Before renewed closing of the old beginning this is beaten again at the underside. It gives you some time to fix the sock around again. The taken flies in the second mug can only hard climb up the side walls by the used vitamin. It gives you enough time to feed them now.
There are several possibilities to revalue the flies a little bit . You can transfer them day before feeding from the old mug to a new prepared mug. Also it’s possible to put them in a mug with some Multi-Sanostol on a pad to feed them. Thirth possibility: You take a film tin or petri dish or other gives some mash in it or on it and put it in the terrarium. The flies will automatically find the mash and eat there up. The frogs learn relatively fast to find this feed place and stay around this place often. From the mash will develop larvaes which are later eaten with pleasure. In Addition on the petri dish the remains of the vitamin powder are collected and can be removed so simply. Under use of carrot juice, paprika powder noble-sweetly and garlic juice in the aviation mash the colour brilliance of the frogs can be increased. Garlic juice supports, in addition, the regeneration of the skin.
Recipe of my attempts:- fresh fruit or applesauce
- 1 cube fresh yeast
- apple vinegar
- wheat bran ground
- oatmeal
Copyright © 2008 frogpage Designed by Ralf Lilienthal