Fruit Fly Easy Mix

[DonLisk]

Thanks Eric. I did three and it looks like all three are beginning to produce.

[John]

I'm not a fan of the Fruit Fly Company (another name for ED's Fly Meat / ED's Fruit Fly Media). They tout their medium as the best out there but it's simply not the best in my experience. Also, in my one dealing with that company, she (her name is Erin) stiffed me on a refund - said I could get my money back off my next order. Needless to say I didn't order from her again. AVOID.

[DonLisk]

Just wondering.... the cultures I received from Black Jungle were producing for about a week and then almost nothing.... so I started the new cultures ..... not all of a sudden the Black Jungle cultures exploded and there are crazy amounts of flies producing. Common?

[bshmerlie]

Ok the verdict is in. Day 13 they are finally taking off. I made two cultures on February 18th now I have fruit fly producing cultures. It was pretty easy and it was "just add water". So I'll let you know how long they continue to produce. I know you guys have these great recipes...I just honestly don't have time to do that kind of stuff. Anyway this is an easy alternative for a lazy newbie like me. When I first started getting into frogs, dart frogs seemed kind of intimidating because I didn't want to have to worry about cuturing a food source. Then I was worried about escape flys and culture crashes and I just avoided tiny frogs all together. But if this culture maintains for a decent amount of time I think it takes the pain out of dart frogs in my opinion. I know I've only had my two darts for two months but they are extremely easy to care for. You always hear how dart frogs are not for the beginners but I don't really see why not. It all goes back to if you can maintain a consistent enviroment for your specific frogs they will do well. And with the "just add water" food source it puts them into the beginner category for me. Just my opinion guys.

[clownonfire]

Ok the verdict is in. Day 13 they are finally taking off. I made two cultures on February 18th now I have fruit fly producing cultures. It was pretty easy and it was "just add water". So I'll let you know how long they continue to produce. I know you guys have these great recipes...I just honestly don't have time to do that kind of stuff. Anyway this is an easy alternative for a lazy newbie like me. When I first started getting into frogs, dart frogs seemed kind of intimidating because I didn't want to have to worry about cuturing a food source. Then I was worried about escape flys and culture crashes and I just avoided tiny frogs all together. But if this culture maintains for a decent amount of time I think it takes the pain out of dart frogs in my opinion. I know I've only had my two darts for two months but they are extremely easy to care for. You always hear how dart frogs are not for the beginners but I don't really see why not. It all goes back to if you can maintain a consistent enviroment for your specific frogs they will do well. And with the "just add water" food source it puts them into the beginner category for me. Just my opinion guys.

Funny that you say this, Cheri... In my article Choosing a Frog, I did add darts as a choice for beginners... with a certain BUT....

[DonLisk]

I am trying the Black Jungle mix that you just add water too.

I set them up Sunday and 4 days later have larva starting up the cups. Nice.

I'm foing to set up some wingless cultures this weekend so I can reduce the fliers in the house :-)

[MikeM670]

I am trying the Black Jungle mix that you just add water too.

I set them up Sunday and 4 days later have larva starting up the cups. Nice.

I'm foing to set up some wingless cultures this weekend so I can reduce the fliers in the house :-)

To win the heart of your wife...get some of those ugly fly strips you hang from the ceiling. That should help.

[bshmerlie]

Funny that you say this, Cheri... In my article Choosing a Frog, I did add darts as a choice for beginners... with a certain BUT....

The thing is people need to know themselves. If they know they are the type of person who occasionally ignores their pets for days at a time then darts are not for them. Darts are simply less forgiving to neglect or ignorance. If you do your homework first and understand the basic care needs and can constistantly follow it there is no reason that a beginner couldn't get a beginner dart frog. And with the instant "just add water" fly mix even making fruit flies can be easy. It seems like there are people in the dart frog community that try to make them out to be these mysteriously "advanced" pets. Then you hear people on the forum say well when I get a few more frogs on my belt then I'll feel comfortable to try a dart. Like they're in this different category or something. To me they are just another frog and the fact that they are diurnal and moving around all the time means that we should be recommending them to the right beginners. Seriously, some newbies pick a type of frog that never moves or burrows for weeks on end how is that enjoyable for the first time frog owner? If we can take away some of that mystery and make it easy for someone to understand simple care requirements and a simple way to make a food source that will create more excitement in frog ownership and expand our hobby. I don't know about you but I now find fruit flies easier than crickets....I don't have to go to the store to get them. Just add water and they make themselves...almost a free food source...and definately cheeped than crickets. So to all you newbies...the secret is exposed. Beginner darts are just another frog ...and they're awake in the day time....go tell all your friends.

[clownonfire]

The thing is people need to know themselves. If they know they are the type of person who occasionally ignores their pets for days at a time then darts are not for them. Darts are simply less forgiving to neglect or ignorance. If you do your homework first and understand the basic care needs and can constistantly follow it there is no reason that a beginner couldn't get a beginner dart frog. And with the instant "just add water" fly mix even making fruit flies can be easy. It seems like there are people in the dart frog community that try to make them out to be these mysteriously "advanced" pets. Then you hear people on the forum say well when I get a few more frogs on my belt then I'll feel comfortable to try a dart. Like they're in this different category or something. To me they are just another frog and the fact that they are diurnal and moving around all the time means that we should be recommending them to the right beginners. Seriously, some newbies pick a type of frog that never moves or burrows for weeks on end how is that enjoyable for the first time frog owner? If we can take away some of that mystery and make it easy for someone to understand simple care requirements and a simple way to make a food source that will create more excitement in frog ownership and expand our hobby. I don't know about you but I now find fruit flies easier than crickets....I don't have to go to the store to get them. Just add water and they make themselves...almost a free food source...and definately cheeped than crickets. So to all you newbies...the secret is exposed. Beginner darts are just another frog ...and they're awake in the day time....go tell all your friends.

You're just saying this after reading my article!

I agree with you, and you know where I stand. Yes, there are elitists in the dart frog community, but I also know some with different species of frogs. But like you said, if you make your research, and you get properly ready/equipped, they will be easy to cater too, even for the beginner.

Elitists are just the voice of the few. It's important that people make their own mind. And yes, just adding water to a fruit fly mix might make it easier. And it wouldn't be such a stretch to say that preparing a homemade mix is not that difficult. When you think of the amount of men that are washing their cars, tires, waxing them.... Sheesh, that sounds like more work than owning a dart frog.

[DonLisk]

Exactly Cheri.
I was at first intimated by the thought of caring for darts and I couldn't agree with you more now.

Once your viv is built, you have a means to keep the humidity up (simple), and a few fly cultures running, caring for darts is actually easier than caring for many other frogs that are always suggested to beginners.
My Whites and Red Eyes require much more attention, water dish cleaning daily, scattered waste pick up, misting twice a day, and trashed glass wipe downs also on a daily basis.

My darts need me to drop in a few flies, mist the viv a few times a day (now automatically with a monsoon) and an occasional waste pick up. Added plants, spring-tails, and good lighting, have my darts on a all day adventure and since they are very bold, they rarely run off and hide while someone is viewing them.
I'm getting more darts!