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Re: Breeding drosophila
Danielle
I keep drosophila in a lab, and use both nipagin and proprionic acid as mold
inhibitors. I have not really noticed any problem, despiote rumours to the
contrary, the quantity I use is something like 5g/litre.
I prefer to use flighted flies D. melanogaster (if you dust them - they can
not fly for a good 5 mins- long enough to get eaten in - you can probably
get flightless melanogaster if you try hard enough)
but the main advantage is their shorter life span - put 100 in a vial for
3-4 days, then feed them to the fish. The eggs laid will all be of
comparable age, will hatch and grow together, and at last emerge as flies
together. If you keep such synchronous populations, the vials are needed for
a shorter period, and consequently there is less chance of going moldy.
furthurmore flighted flies can exist at higher densities than non flyers
jules
----- Original Message -----
From: cerridan <cerridan at tin_it>
To: Killietalk <killietalk at aka_org>
Sent: 12 March 2000 11:36
Subject: Breeding drosophila
> Hi friends !!!
>
> Recently, I have started to breed drosophila (wingless form). I use a
simple
> substrate with corn flakes, oat flakes, sugar, banana, sugar and
> unfermentaitve beer leaven. (The first recipe contained fermentative
> leaven).
> A few breeders have used a chemical preservative called "nipagina" (sorry
> but I'don't know the English translation) to prevent molds. Now,
"Nipagina"
> is reteined a cancerogenic substance, so it's a must to use another safe
> anti-mold. Citric acid could be a valid alternative, but I have never
tried
> it.
> During this weeks I tried to use unfermentative leaven, because the
> fermentative yeast can produce an excessive substrate swelling. This bulge
> can be stopped with a freezing process. If the substrate is keep at room
> temperature, after two/three days, bulge will be stop. Using a
> unfermentative leaven, bulge is absent and it's possible to use the
> substrate immediately or after a day. Have anyone tried to use
> unfermentative leaven with good results ??
> By the way, I haven't use any type of preservatized substrate and I have
> equally obtained a good hatch. My personal experience could suggest to
> avoid anti-mold substance but I prefer to know your experiences.
>
> Thank you in advance !
> Daniele Cerri - Italy
>
>
>
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