06-08-2011, 01:56 PM
A lot of people ask me what are the differences in feeder insect cultures.
Are not all "for sale cultures", the same ?
Nope.
There are two (02) main types of cultures:
1. Starter Culture: This is a newly made or "fresh" culture. It may contain a decent amount of insects but they are not yet, or fully, in the breeding, pupating stages of reproduction. In other words, you are going to have to wait a while until you get such production amounts of bugs, that you can "feed out". Most "other bugs" like springtails and Isopod take months before they mature as a culture. Most new people incorrectly believe that a starter culture and be "fed out" and dumped into the viv, just like fruit flies and this is incorrect. The phrase I like to use is "buy a culture, split a culture". Always have an extra "Starter culture" or two made from ever one that you buy. This is the easiest way to keep the production going.
2. "Booming" Culture: This is an insect culture that is older and is in full blown production mode. Lots of bugs right away for feeding. This type of culture, if it's fruit flies, is usually a little more "brown" or dirty looking, although certainly not a problem.The drawback to this type is that it may not have a lot of time of production left, or maybe it will. Hard to tell. Some really "Booming" cultures of Springtails and Isopods take 6 months to a year to achieve.
BOTH cultures are equally valuable and useful and it just depends on your preference, as to which you would want.
Are not all "for sale cultures", the same ?
Nope.
There are two (02) main types of cultures:
1. Starter Culture: This is a newly made or "fresh" culture. It may contain a decent amount of insects but they are not yet, or fully, in the breeding, pupating stages of reproduction. In other words, you are going to have to wait a while until you get such production amounts of bugs, that you can "feed out". Most "other bugs" like springtails and Isopod take months before they mature as a culture. Most new people incorrectly believe that a starter culture and be "fed out" and dumped into the viv, just like fruit flies and this is incorrect. The phrase I like to use is "buy a culture, split a culture". Always have an extra "Starter culture" or two made from ever one that you buy. This is the easiest way to keep the production going.
2. "Booming" Culture: This is an insect culture that is older and is in full blown production mode. Lots of bugs right away for feeding. This type of culture, if it's fruit flies, is usually a little more "brown" or dirty looking, although certainly not a problem.The drawback to this type is that it may not have a lot of time of production left, or maybe it will. Hard to tell. Some really "Booming" cultures of Springtails and Isopods take 6 months to a year to achieve.
BOTH cultures are equally valuable and useful and it just depends on your preference, as to which you would want.