Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i cant really get my hydei s to reproduce.

I have been using potato flakes vinigar water and bakers yeast along with some reptile powder hopeing vitamins would help.

i use 1/4 cup potatoe flakes what is the measure ment of the other stuff i should be using??

How long have you waited?

Is it getting dry?

I use that mix and it can take 3 weeks sometimes to get flies.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

no sugar ? This could be your problem. For 1/4 cup of potatoe flakes, I would add a tablespoon of powdered sugar, if you add a tablespoon of brewers yeast, you'll get more flys than you'll know what to do with.

good point I missed that
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Heavy protein supplements seem to be the key to hydei. The brewers yeast works great, as does finely powdered protein rich fish food. Hydei usually take a while to get going, but when they do you will have a ton of flies to deal with. Make sure you empty the cultures regularly, or they will crash fast.

The biggest thing I had to get used to with hydei is keeping the media just moist enough for the first couple weeks to keep them mold free, but not too moist so that the media falls out when you are trying to get the flies out. A misting of the surface of the media is usually needed once or twice the first couple of weeks.

My media mix is

32 oz potato flakes
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup mold inhibitor
1/2 cup of protein supplement (brewers yeast, fish flakes, etc.)

I mix 1/3 cup media with 1/2 cup hot water in a disposable insect cup. Let it set for about 15 minutes to cool off and then add about 50 melanogaster or about 25 hydei.
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1.1.3 D. azureus
0.0.8 P. bicolor
0.0.7 D. auratus (polka-dot)
0.0.3 D. auratus (blue)
0.0.3 D. auratus (kahlua and cream)

Shannon

Two things you might want to try to keep the mold away:

1) Use a generous sprinkle of baker's yeast after adding the water to the media. It takes off faster than brewer's yeast, and competes for the sugar that the mold feeds on.

2) Cover the container while it is cooling. This prevents mold spores from settling in the container.

I just use the 50/50 vinegar water mix. I still haven't had mold problems. I have had one overrun with bacteria. What a smell!
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

It's good to see you back on the forum, Tom. Do you have any new pics of those great setups and frogs you have? I'm going to have to get a folder at frognet soon . . . .

I use a little less sugar and brewer's yeast and still end up running out of media before my flies stop producing. However, agree that sugar and brewer's yeast are the secret ingredients (with a sprinkle of baker's yeast on top).
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense