Skip to content
▸ FIELD NOTES · FEEDERS · 6 ARTICLES

Feeder insects & live cultures

Fruit fly cultures, bottle fly spikes, and feeding guides for mantises, jumping spiders, dart frogs, and reptiles — from the breeder who cultures them.

NOT SURE WHICH CULTURE? → ONE QUESTION, RIGHT ANSWER  ·  KEEPING ONE ALIVE? → CULTURE CARE GUIDE

Jul 16, 2026 · 6 MIN

Best Fruit Flies for Jumping Spiders: Melanogaster vs Hydei by Size

The best fruit flies for jumping spiders by size: melanogaster for slings, hydei for juveniles and adults. A breeder explains which, why flightless, how much.

READ →
Jul 16, 2026 · 6 MIN

Feeding Dart Frogs Fruit Flies: A Feeder Guide for Froglets & Adults

Feeding dart frogs fruit flies: melanogaster for froglets, hydei for adults, how much to feed, dusting with supplement, and culture rotation from a breeder.

READ →
Jul 16, 2026 · 5 MIN

Why Is My Fruit Fly Culture Not Producing? A Breeder's Fix-It Guide

Fruit fly culture not producing flies? A breeder walks through every reason a Drosophila culture crashes — no maggots, no new flies, mites, mold — and how to tell if it's salvageable or done.

READ →
Jul 16, 2026 · 6 MIN

How to Hatch and Store Blue Bottle Fly Spikes (for Chameleons & Reptiles)

How to hatch blue bottle fly spikes at room temp and slow them in the fridge — a breeder's step-by-step for chameleons, reptiles, and mantises.

READ →
Jul 16, 2026 · 4 MIN

What Do Baby Praying Mantises Eat? First Food for L1–L3 Nymphs

Baby praying mantises (L1–L3 nymphs) eat flightless fruit flies. A breeder explains exactly what to feed, how much, how often, and the 2-day rule after hatching.

READ →
Jun 9, 2026 · 8 MIN

Feeder Insects for Praying Mantises: The Complete Guide

What praying mantises eat at every stage — fruit flies, bottle flies, roaches. The feeder ladder, culture care, and where to buy mantis food.

READ →