Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster) wingless culture "FLYPAK - COMBO DEALS"
Pickup available at 1420 Costner School Road
Usually ready in 2-4 days
NO LIVE ARRIVAL GUARANTEE ON ALL FRUIT FLY SHIPMENTS FROM MAY 19 - SEP 01! PLACE ORDER AT OWN RISK OR CHOOSE NEXT DAY AIR SHIPPING FOR LAG COVERAGE. CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION.
PLEASE READ OUR DOA POLICIES ON FRUIT FLIES.
These are combo packs of fruit fly cultures to make buying them easier. Please use the fresh, developing, and producing cultures item descriptions to learn more about what you are buying.
One of the most widely utilized feeder insects in the dart frog hobby, Drosophila melanogaster is a small fruit fly species native to Africa but now established worldwide through human activity. The apterous form is a selectively bred flightless strain that lacks functional wings, making it an ideal live food source for poison frogs, mantella frogs, small reptiles, invertebrates, and other micro-predators.
At FrogDaddy, our apterous melanogaster cultures are maintained for reliable production, strong yields, and consistent performance in tropical vivarium environments. These cultures provide a steady supply of small prey items ideally suited for thumbnail dart frogs, juvenile poison frogs, froglets, small geckos, praying mantids, spiders, and other animals requiring appropriately sized live feeders.
Because melanogaster are significantly smaller than Drosophila hydei, they are often considered the preferred staple feeder for many dart frog species. Their smaller size allows younger frogs and smaller species to feed efficiently while encouraging natural hunting behaviors throughout the enclosure.
Fresh cultures are just started and will not produce for another 7-10 days, developing have 3-6 days before producing, and producing cultures contain actively reproducing adult flies, developing larvae, and emerging pupae that will continue producing flies for 10-16 days under proper conditions. As the culture matures, successive generations emerge, providing a sustained source of feeders rather than a one-time harvest.
The compact size and rapid reproductive cycle of Drosophila melanogaster have made them the gold standard feeder insect for bioactive vivarium keepers and amphibian breeders worldwide. When combined with proper supplementation and gut-loading practices, they form the foundation of many successful dart frog feeding programs.
Cultures perform best when maintained between 68–78°F. Higher temperatures typically accelerate production but may shorten overall culture lifespan, while cooler temperatures slow reproduction and extend development time. Avoid prolonged exposure above 85°F, as excessive heat can significantly reduce culture performance.
Whether you're maintaining a single dart frog vivarium or a large breeding collection, apterous melanogaster remain one of the most dependable feeder insects available for small insectivorous animals.