Small fruit fly “Turkish glider”

Gliding fruit flies for active hunters

The small fruit fly “Turkish glider” (Drosophila melanogaster) is a special breeding form that is ideal for flying insectivores. Unlike completely wingless variants, the wings are fully developed in this form, but the flight muscle is not functional. As a result, the fly cannot actively fly, but only glide gently – a behavior that instinctively appeals to many hunters and makes hunting particularly exciting.

For reptiles, amphibians and jumping spiders in particular, which hunt flying prey in the wild, this “gliding effect” is an excellent way of encouraging their natural hunting strategies. The slight drifting of the flies when jumping or falling simulates real flight behavior without the animals being able to escape in the terrarium.

Keeping and breeding the “Turkish glider” is just as uncomplicated as with other Drosophila melanogaster-Forms. In a suitable breeding batch with a nutrient-rich medium, the eggs develop into adult flies within around 10-14 days. This means that the right amount of fresh live food can be provided at any time.

With their handy size, the “Turkish gliders” are ideal for small mantids, jumping spiders, geckos, frogs or young animals of larger species. Thanks to their active but controlled movement pattern, hunting in the terrarium remains interesting and species-appropriate without you having to worry about food animals escaping.

If you want to add variety to your feeding and offer your animals the most natural hunting experience possible, the “Turkish glider” is the perfect addition to the classic fruit fly varieties.