Fruit flies for neonates - how to?

[sruli]

Is there a trick for releasing only a finite number of fruit flies for my neonates? As soon as the jar is open they all rush out... too many get released, and they swarm the neonate! Had to remove the baby back to the main enclosure, and much wastage of food. Any suggestions?

 

[sharkey]

tap the tube of on a hard surface, or 'shake' the tube like you are shaking human baby tylenol (a back a forth motion that forces everything towards the floor due to gravity). the flies will all fall to the bottom, or near it, and then you can release them more slowly as they crawl upwards.

hope you are using the flightless kind (Hydei).

 

[Glittergloomgirl]

You can also put the flys in the fridge for a couple of minutes ( 5 minutes tops ), this kinda makes them go into a hybernation state and easier to tap out.

 

[sruli]

I will try your suggestions. I just had another idea myself... these flies always walk in a bee-line towards a light source... if I shine a light on the opposite end of the container, I should be able to keep them crawling towards the closed end, and tap them out the open one...thanks, guys.

You can also put the flys in the fridge for a couple of minutes ( 5 minutes tops ), this kinda makes them go into a hybernation state and easier to tap out.