Flybox

[Storz]

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This is the flybox that I made, I put the light and heating globe outside the caged area for the flies which I thought would be easier to keep clean and enclosed it all in a cupboard with some doors to keep the heat in. So far so good

[Craig52]

IMG_0535.JPG

This is the flybox that I made, I put the light and heating globe outside the caged area for the flies which I thought would be easier to keep clean and enclosed it all in a cupboard with some doors to keep the heat in. So far so good

These ideas are getting better everytime i see them,well done Storz and Jack. I really like the idea of putting the heat source outside the fly cage but still the whole cage is enclosed to keep the heat in. Craig

[Nye]

Nice job, but for the life of me why are you using incandescent light globes ? I changed over 5 years ago to a ceramic heat globe ES running off a relay which is controlled by an old coolroom thermostat and for light there is a 5watt compact florescent globe and have only changed the compact florescent once in that time . For water I use a tube drinker .

[Storz]

At the bottom of the fly box is a ceramic heating globe, been slack and haven't changed it yet. The heat globe is on a thermostat and the light source is on all the time. I don't know what would happen to the flies if it was hooked up to the thermostat and went on and off with the heat

[E Orix]

Do you know how many watts the ceramic heating globe draws ?
As for water we use a wide mouthed jar with coconut fibre in it.
The reason for that is that we found that if you use a tube then it restricted the
flies getting to drink especially when you have large amounts of flies in the box.

[arthur]

The evolution of the fly-box . .

From hanging a bullock heart in a tree, a long way from the house; to something that you could keep in your bedroom . . well perhaps not quite




Like the perfect aviary, the perfect fly-box is yet to be built . .

But we must be drawing nearer

[toothlessjaws]

Hey guys,

I am planning on building a fly box next weekend and i was looking for some advice.

As a cheap and easier alternative, i was wondering if one could not create a similar system by just using a large plastic storage tub with a reptile heat mat underneath?

of course you could still cut the access holes in the side, add some ventilation in in the lid etc, but if its just about a box with a heat source - i reckon you could whip something up like this for under $30

[jonno0383]

I'd avoid going with the plastic container as the heat from the globes could cause it to warp. the box methods your seeing in this post really is the best method for raising gents. I have a similar set up with two boxes running off of an external fluro and ceramic heat glob plus a separate box for all the gents which produces about 4 litres of gents a day. also consider spending the money on the thermastat as that reduces the amount of heat in summer not to mention the long term savings in power

[toothlessjaws]

So I had a go at making a cheap flybox using a plastic container, an old ikea lamp, some electrical tape, some flyscreen and a (stolen) pair of my girlfriends pantyhose.

Aaaand my conclusion is that the old adage "do it once do it right" probably applies here. The box was awkward to use, too humid, and sure enough as soon as the light failed, maggots went walkies and the whole experiment was over as i realised it was uncleanable.

So i took another go at it and to be honest, found it really not much more effort that the first version and pretty inexpensive. I was initially going to make the globes screened off from the box proper (much like storz' box) but eager to get it done opted for the conventional version. the main departure from the box's ive seen was that rather than have an old pantyhose or shirt sleeve as the access point i put a very narrow hinged door at the bottom that is not much taller than the plastic containers that will hold the breeding medium. By making the box quite tall with a very thin hinged door at the bottom i'm hoping that i can quickly and cleanly remove/add containers without loosing too many flies. it is also just big enough for my arm to reach up to the globes should i need to change any.

I also added a dimmer switch and two globes so i can regulate the temperature. i'll probably drape an old hand towel over the front to help keep in the heat and work out the correct temperature balance.

anyhow, both versions attached for you viewing pleasure. I was planning on restocking with some purchased housefly pupae from the local aquarium and trying again with a mix of pollard and milk powder. Better than cat/dog biscuits?

[Craig52]

Yes the first one looks awkward but the top pick looks great but don't use pollard, use bran as pollard sets like a brick. Craig