Aussie Finch Forum

I live in S/E Qld and since the humidity has kicked in my maggot medium has started to go mouldy by the 2nd day. I have changed the ingredients trying different mixes ie used less powdered milk, used more bran less chick starter, used no chick starter, I have changed the moisture levels ie less water in the mix and more water. I wash the containers out after every use. I use take away plastic containers (no lid)But all to no avail, has anyone got some advice on how to stop the mould. I don't have the light bulb on due to the temperatures recently being constantly above 34c.

I've not ever had an issue with mould so I'm just guessing here. No doubt it's your humidity making the difference. Try minimising the amount of bran/milk mix you use compared to the number of maggots. My thought is that you need to get the maggots eating all the mix before it has any chance of growing mould. Maybe keep some bran/milk mix in the fridge and just top up the growing maggots when absolutely necessary.

Hopefully someone in your area will chime in...

Thanks for the response SD , the problem is it is going mouldy prior to the maggots. I have just about done every mix of ingredients I can come up with and always the same result. Prior to the humidity really kicking in I never had a problem so definitely humidity based issue just not sure what the fix is.

Hi, not sure of the correct word [humidifier?]. A friend of mine uses these to help breed mealworms,
might be an option.

Cheers Greg.

To prevent my bran/milk powder/water mix from going off.

.... I use take away containers that are not to deep. Check that you have enough fly's in the box ( you can never have to many as the box should sound like bee's swarming???? inside),
....retain a small portion of maggots from the feed out container and place on top of new mix which can help stir up the mixture,
....pending my birds needs ( I use up to 2 containers at a time per day which can be reduced down to 1 container every 2 days in winter),
....re feed the 2 or 3 day old containers, if required divide into other multiple containers,
....place the day 3 containers into a larger flatter container ( I use a kitty litter tray) to help the maggots consume the entire mixture, ( place my large tray on top of the warm fly box).
....day 4 containers, large container, is fed to my birds ( remembering to retain some maggots for next generation).

.....My fly box has a light source of some form, 15w globe on at least some time during the night in very hot conditions, as it would appear that the fly's require the light as to stimulate production of maggots.

Mayb ur mix is too wet?

AMCA26 wrote:Mayb ur mix is too wet?

Mate I have tried about dozen different water amounts going from next to nothing to normal amount. All the same result mould. Am starting to think about maybe putting a fan in front of the box to see if it a circulation issue. I'm basically out of ideas apart from that.

Mate I have tried about dozen different water amounts going from next to nothing to normal amount. All the same result mould. Am starting to think about maybe putting a fan in front of the box to see if it a circulation issue. I'm basically out of ideas apart from that.

Its the humidity!

Can you wait until the maggots hatch and then just scrape off the top (Mouldy medium)? Replace top with fresh medium and place somewhere inside your house?

What location is the fly-box in?

Kept in my garage that has metal gate so plenty of air. Unfortunately its mouldy before the maggots hatch and the mould is from middle down which is why I am thinking about air circulation to the middle and bottom of the containers, & why I am having dramas, I'm getting very few maggots basically enough to keep flies going but only just. I'm having to supplement with meal worms for the birds at the moment. Can anyone think of different containers that let air into the middle and bottom of the container but also keep the maggots in? There must be someone in Qld that has come across this surely? And thanks for your advice so far guys is greatly appreciated. Flies and maggots are really giving me the sh*ts right now.

What temperature is your box operating at?