Description
Subscribe & Never Run Out – Dark-Eyed Black Drosophila hydei
A flightless Drosophila hydei culture producing larger adult flies than D. melanogaster. This dark-eyed black strain is supplied for suitable amphibians, reptiles and invertebrate predators able to take the larger prey size.
Why choose D. hydei?
- Larger adult body size than D. melanogaster.
- Flightless strain for easier culture handling.
- Useful as part of a varied feeder programme for appropriately sized animals.
- Can be lightly dusted with an appropriate supplement immediately before feeding.
Nutrition wording corrected
We have removed “higher feeding value”, “higher nutritional payload”, “more filling”, and claims that fewer flies are automatically needed per feed. A larger feeder is not necessarily nutritionally superior, and feeding quantity should be based on animal size, body condition, prey size and the wider diet.
Culture-performance wording corrected
We also no longer guarantee a “predictable cycle”, “maximum production window”, higher density, longer productive period or fewer culture changes. Larger culture volume can be useful, but output and longevity vary with strain, media, starter density, age, temperature and handling.
Life-stage selection
Where selectable culture stages are offered, “newly made”, “intermediate” and “mature” describe the visible culture stage at dispatch. They do not guarantee a precise emergence date after delivery.
Feeder-Insect & Nutrition Review
Last reviewed: 5 September 2026
Fruit-fly body size and culture productivity do not by themselves establish superior nutritional value. Feeder nutrient composition varies, and an appropriate supplementation programme remains important for captive amphibians.
Evidence & further reading
- Latney & Clayton – amphibian nutrition and common feeder insects
- Livingston et al. – nutrient supplementation for amphibians
