Aussie Finch Forum

Regarding the maggots in the fridge... They last for ages this way, but I would be disinclined to put a lid on them. With a lid on, I found there were was much more moisture, more dead maggots and a funky smell. A plastic container with steep sides (take away container, icecream container, kitty litter tray etc) will stop maggots escaping. Unless the WA maggots are just more relaxed than the eastern version!

I keep mine in an unlidded 2L ice cream container in the fridge. Never had one escape. No lid = less smell and more live maggots.

Mine are crawling all over the lid when i remove it ???????????

Faza wrote:Mine are crawling all over the lid when i remove it ???????????

Is your fridge on? They should be huddled together under the bran for warmth.

The way I think it works is that the maggots need a moist environment to stick to a vertical surface. Having the lid on creates this moist environment inside the container. With the lid off circulation is much better, therefore the maggots don't have the moisture to stick to the walls. I have never had any "escapees" in all the time I have been breeding them, else my mum would have killed me years ago for filling her outdoor fridge with little wrigglers!

J, as suggested, I would order one batch from frogs.org and see how long they last. With only a few live food eaters, you may find one container will last you weeks in the fridge, longer if frozen. You may even only need them for a maximum of say 9 months of a year too, so overall it may not be too expensive.

natamambo wrote:

Faza wrote:Mine are crawling all over the lid when i remove it ???????????

Is your fridge on? They should be huddled together under the bran for warmth.

Beers cold

Thanks guys! I've been monitoring the discussion.
Ill do as spanna and others have suggested and order a batch on Thursday when I get home.
I only for the moment have longtails jacarinis and painteds who would really be interested. But my longtails have been carrying grass so I wanted an extra incentive.