Getting the last few fruit flies out

[themann42]

When I'm about to end the life of a culture and clean it out, of course I always try to empty out the last of the flies. It's so annoying though how there's always like 20 that just won't let go and cling to the bottom of the container. I usually set the container in the cage for a day to let them crawl out. What do you guys do? Somehow get them out or just throw them away?

[wishIwereAnExpert]

Clean in the sink and wash them down the drain.

-Solly

Nuke Em! :twisted:

[KeroKero]

Toss them in the freezer overnight, clean the cultures using hot water the next day. Or I just get really lazy (since I have plenty of containers) and just let the culture die on its own, then clean it.

I usually just let the culture die on its own, then clean it. That reminds me I got a culture cup to clean thats been there for 4 months.

[Ed Martin]

I would not just leave the culture laying around or if you do at least move it from where you keep your active cultures. I honestly do not know how mites become established where there was no previous evidence of mites, but the only time I have ever had mite problems is when I either received cultures with them already established or left old cultures laying around. I believe (but unfortunately could not find the reference) that people who raise mites use old FF cultures to culture the mites. Once mites are established they are tough to eradicate. It might never happen, and obviously others here keep cultures around for some time without issue, but why take the chance.

I would recommend just getting rid of the old culture.
Ed

[themann42]

thanks for the heads up on mites, i'll keep my dying cultures in a different location just to be safe. or maybe i'll nuke em :wink: