Fruit flies in the crickets.

[Silkyslim]

I been keeping crickets downstairs in a big rubbermaid bin and today I noticed a few dozen or so fruit flies flying around in the enclosure. Seems like it would be pretty normal considering all the fresh food gutloading and what not going on. It doesn't really bother me at all but was just wondering if I am a special case.

 

[kinyonga]

Do they move with a jerky motion when they walk?? If so, they are phorid flies not fruit flies.

 

[Seeco]

Breed them -- put a FF culture in there with no lid and see what you get!

 

[Silkyslim]

Nah no jerky motions, just straight up fruit fly action. The lil buggers been all over the cricket jail since I put it in the basement, makes sense as I have the jail heated up.

Where can I find such FF culture? I might consider breeding them but they would do me no good right now as I just have my 7mo old Sambava. Maybe if its easy enough I can sell them to my herp buddies around town.

 

[carol5208]

when I was keeping crickets on my screened in patio I noticed fruit flies also. Of course, as with the same case of yours being due to the oranges, apples, mangos etc I guess. I would just change out the food and by golly the little buggers would be back the next day! It obviously never did any harm to the crickets or my chameleon from what I could tell. I am not feeding crickets right now due to my picky cham not wanting to eat them. I am going to try them as a "new food" in about a week and see if he will go for them again.

 

[Silkyslim]

when I was keeping crickets on my screened in patio I noticed fruit flies also. Of course, as with the same case of yours being due to the oranges, apples, mangos etc I guess. I would just change out the food and by golly the little buggers would be back the next day! It obviously never did any harm to the crickets or my chameleon from what I could tell. I am not feeding crickets right now due to my picky cham not wanting to eat them. I am going to try them as a "new food" in about a week and see if he will go for them again.

Yeah like I said, I really don't care as it is in teh basement, if it gets out of control I'll just hook up the hose to the hoover and snatch them out of the air. Yeah they are all over the fresh food, I use lil watermelon slices for a water source and the flies love it.
On a side note, I just recieved my hornworms in the mail and offered up Samson 2 of those creepers. He displayed at the thing lol. Then he flanked it and snatched it off a branch. The 2nd one took a few mins for him to take but he did. I think he likes them, woot! I can snag up superworms and crickets with no tongs or gloves no problem, but these lil blue things creep me out!