DIY Flightless Fruit Fly Dispenser: easy and cheap way to feed slings, jumping spiders, and more
- Catty
- Nov 20
- 5 min read
Feeding tiny critters like tarantula slings, jumping spiders, dart frogs, and mantises can be tricky. Flightless fruit flies are go-to feeder, but they are difficult to handle and can escape easily. That’s where a DIY flightless fruit fly dispenser comes in handy. It helps you feed your little critters quickly and with fewer escaped flies.
You don’t have to buy an expensive gadget (although there are some cool ones, so you do you boo). But it's pretty easy to make your own DIY fruit fly feeder using a simple condiment bottle. Here's some step-by-step instructions on how to create and use a DIY condiment bottle fly feeder that works great for feeding fruit flies to your pets.
Choosing the right condiment bottle for your DIY flightless fruit fly dispenser
These bottles are readily available at dollar stores, supermarkets, online, etc. They can cost as little as $0.50 each if you find the right place! Most condiment bottles are very similar, but to make things easier, make sure you have one that fits these specs:
Size: Look for a bottle that fits comfortably in your hand. A 12 to 16-ounce or even 24 oz bottle works well. It needs to be big enough to hold plenty of fruit flies but small enough to control easily.
Material: Choose a squeezable plastic bottle. It should be soft enough to puff out flies with a gentle squeeze but sturdy enough to last. Dishwasher safe condiment bottles work really well.
Tip style: A narrow tip helps direct the flies when you squeeze, and allows you to cut the tip down to your liking. Avoid bottles with wide or irregular openings.
Not into the DIY part? If you want a ready-made option that's battle tested, the Flightless Fruit Fly Dispenser is designed exactly for this purpose. It’s a great example of the right size and shape for feeding fruit flies to small pets. It makes feeding jumping spiderlings and tarantula slings so much easier.
Modifying the condiment bottle for better airflow and fly release
The secret to a good dispenser is the right amount of airflow. Fruit flies need air to flow around them as you squeeze the bottle so they get "puffed" right where you need them to go. 🤌
Too much airflow and you won't have any control, meaning your fruit flies will probably escape prematurely.
Too little airflow and the flies will get jammed up in the tip.
The original tip on most condiment bottles is too narrow and restricts airflow, causing flies to get stuck.
Here’s how to modify your bottle:
Remove the cap and tip cover.
Use scissors, a cutter, or a sharp knife to cut off the very top part of the tip. Cut just enough to widen the opening but keep the tip shape intact. 💡Cut a little bit of a time, because you can always cut more, but you can't uncut it.
Smooth the edges with sandpaper or some kind of file (like a dremel, nail file, etc) to avoid sharp bits that could hurt you, your pets, or the flies.
Test airflow by gently squeezing the bottle. You should feel a steady, gentle stream of air that is easy to control. 💡You can test it with some coarse ground pepper or something similar in size to your flies so that you can perfect your airflow before it's gametime.
This simple modification lets you puff out flies easily without them escaping all over the place. It's especially helpful if you're feeding individual slings and you don't want 100 flies in each enclosure.
Loading fruit flies into your DIY fruit fly dispenser
Now that your bottle is ready, it’s time to load it with fruit flies.
Take the modified lid off the bottle.
Find a funnel that has as wide of a mouth as possible while still fitting snugly into your condiment bottle.
Assuming you have your flies in some kind of wide mouthed deli cup or other such container, get the flies away from the lid by tapping the container on the table a few times. Then, open the lid as little as you can while tipping the flies into the funnel.
Shake the funnel a bit to get the flies into the bottle. When they're all in and at the bottom of the condiment cup, quickly remove the funnel and replace the modified condiment bottle lid.
Some keepers have had success keeping the fly culture inside the bottle itself! This eliminates the need to load flies each time, and is definitely worth a try.
How to feed fruit flies using your DIY condiment bottle fly feeder
This part is simple, especially if you tested your bottle's airflow before loading the flies.
Hold the bottle over the enclosure.
Gently squeeze the bottle to puff the desired amount of fruit flies for feeding.
Use short, light squeezes to control the number of flies released.
Watch your pets enjoy their meal without chasing escaped flies around the room.
This method reduces the number of escaped fruit flies compared to dumping flies by hand. It also speeds up feeding, especially if you have multiple enclosures.
Practice before using your DIY dispenser. Invertebrates like tarantulas and jumping spiders are especially sensitive to air flow, meaning they will likely bolt from a sudden puff of air.
Maintain a gentle pressure on the bottle and allow gravity to move the flies down into the tip, then squeeze gently to flow them out.
Tips for maintaining your DIY fruit fly dispenser
To keep your dispenser sanitary and working well:
Clean it regularly. Wash in the dishwasher, or soak/scrub with warm water and mild soap to remove fly residue. Don't use until it's free of soap/cleaner residue and completely dry.
Avoid crushing flies when loading or squeezing.
Check the tip for damage and trim or sand if needed.
Replace the bottle if it becomes too soft or cracked.
Don't leave flies in your dispenser for long. They can usually survive less than a day in there IME, but it's best to only load as many flies as you need each time.
With proper care, your DIY fruit fly dispenser will last a long time and make feeding your tiny pets easier.
Feeding fruit flies to tarantula slings, jumping spiders, dart frogs, and other small pets doesn’t have to be a hassle. A simple DIY fruit fly dispenser made from a modified condiment bottle can save you time and reduce escaped flies.
Want a flightless fruit fly feeder that's already made and ready to use?