House fly vs. blue bottle fly

[VanessaS]

I've purchased blue bottle flies for my panther and he goes nuts over them. It's time for me to order more but this time I noticed they offered a house fly/ blue bottle fly combo. Should I try this? Is their a difference as far as nutrition or fly temperament? I've noticed the blue bottles are pretty calm. A few have escaped here and there and I've been able to catch all of my escaped ones without trying very hard. Thoughts???

 

[nick barta]

The Blue Bottle is 3 times the size of the housefly, so you get more nutrition into the chameleon per successful strike. Houseflies definitely find cracks in screen cages the Blue Bottle can't get through. Nutritionally, I would say that the 2 flies offer about the same, just more with bigger BB's.

The advantage of flies is that they move fast enough to get the chameleon's attention, and will move enough to get the chameleon moving throughout the cage. Another benefit of flies is that you can leave pupae to hatch in the chameleons cage to give thee chameleon food even when you forget to feed them.

 

[asongforyou]

Where are you ordering them from?

 

[maxttu]

Where are you ordering them from?

This ^^^^^^^

 

[VanessaS]

The Blue Bottle is 3 times the size of the housefly, so you get more nutrition into the chameleon per successful strike. Houseflies definitely find cracks in screen cages the Blue Bottle can't get through. Nutritionally, I would say that the 2 flies offer about the same, just more with bigger BB's.

The advantage of flies is that they move fast enough to get the chameleon's attention, and will move enough to get the chameleon moving throughout the cage. Another benefit of flies is that you can leave pupae to hatch in the chameleons cage to give thee chameleon food even when you forget to feed them.

Yeah, every 3-4 days I throw about 20 pupae into a dish at the bottom of his cage and they hatch at different times. He loves it!!! Some days he has none and other days he may have 10 or so. Okay, so maybe I should stick to the BB then! Thanks!

 

[VanessaS]

Where are you ordering them from?

http://www.mantisplace.com/

They charge $6.50 shipping and the pupae are pretty cheap! Keep them in the fridge for weeks ; )

 

[VanessaS]

The Blue Bottle is 3 times the size of the housefly, so you get more nutrition into the chameleon per successful strike. Houseflies definitely find cracks in screen cages the Blue Bottle can't get through. Nutritionally, I would say that the 2 flies offer about the same, just more with bigger BB's.

The advantage of flies is that they move fast enough to get the chameleon's attention, and will move enough to get the chameleon moving throughout the cage. Another benefit of flies is that you can leave pupae to hatch in the chameleons cage to give thee chameleon food even when you forget to feed them.

Nick, do you se them as well?

 

[Mystic]

Blue Bottle Fly is not to big for a 4.5 month female veiled chameleon? Not sure if they would be ok for Milly. If they are I would order some.

 

[asongforyou]

I wish I can just get the adult flies. The pupae gross me out. I think I need more time, after all, dubias scared me and now I have them

 

[VanessaS]

Blue Bottle Fly is not to big for a 4.5 month female veiled chameleon? Not sure if they would be ok for Milly. If they are I would order some.

Probably not too big. My panther is only 4 months and he's been eating them for about one month with no problem ; )

 

[VanessaS]

I wish I can just get the adult flies. The pupae gross me out. I think I need more time, after all, dubias scared me and now I have them

The pupae is not gross at all. It looks exactly like Cham poo except smaller ; )

 

[patrickfraser]

I prefer BB, as houseflies are annoying and much smaller. I raise my own and sell the excess. I raise them mostly for my mantids, but the chams love em, too.

 

[Psychobunny]

House flies are about half the size of BB's, so for anything but a baby cham, I always get the BB spikes (maggots) form Grubco.com.
You can store them in the fridge, and just dump some into a deli container with ventilated lid and wait a few weeks.
I feed the flies a mixture of Bug Burger (prepaired) and honey 50:50.

You can stun them by placing the flies in the fridge for a few minutes so they dont fly out when you have to open the lid.

 

[tkilgour]

I'd go with BB flies. They are bigger and the chams go crazy over them.

 

[crocky]

Hmmm, tagging along. So guessing you just buy the pupae and then store it and put out as needed then they hatch? Going to look more into this.

 

[tkilgour]

Hmmm, tagging along. So guessing you just buy the pupae and then store it and put out as needed then they hatch? Going to look more into this.

Yep, they are super easy. Then when they are flies, you can slow them down in the fridge prior to feeding.

 

[VanessaS]

I just noticed some more BB pupae that got pushed to the back of the fridge. They have probably been there about 5 weeks. Is this too long or will they still hatch? I know the norm is 2-3 weeks in the fridge...

 

[Txherp]

I get mine from here http://www.mantispets.com/feeders--supplies.html

 

[VanessaS]

I get mine from here http://www.mantispets.com/feeders--supplies.html

Yep! Me too ; )