How to breed Cifox for fleas? - briefly
Maintain the culture at 22‑25 °C with about 70 % humidity and feed it a yeast‑rich medium. Introduce a starter batch of adult fleas to lay eggs on the substrate, ensuring continuous reproduction.
How to breed Cifox for fleas? - in detail
Cifox, a specialized strain used in flea production, requires precise environmental control, nutritional support, and breeding protocols to achieve high yield and genetic stability.
Maintain temperature between 25‑27 °C with ±1 °C fluctuation. Relative humidity should stay at 65‑75 % to prevent desiccation of eggs and larvae. Use a calibrated thermostat and hygrometer, and install a ventilation system that exchanges air every 30 minutes without creating drafts.
Provide a diet rich in protein and lipids. A standard formulation consists of:
- 40 % dried insect meal (e.g., crickets or mealworms)
- 30 % powdered yeast
- 20 % wheat germ
- 10 % vitamin‑mineral premix Mix components thoroughly, add distilled water to reach 70 % moisture, and store the feed in sealed containers at 4 °C to preserve freshness.
Breeding cycle:
- Egg collection – Place gravid females on a moist substrate (e.g., vermiculite) for 24 hours. Harvest eggs with a fine brush and transfer to a sterilized incubator.
- Incubation – Keep eggs at 26 °C, 70 % RH for 3‑4 days until hatching. Ensure darkness to mimic natural conditions.
- Larval development – Distribute newly hatched larvae onto a shallow tray containing the prepared diet. Maintain a density of no more than 200 larvae per cm² to avoid competition.
- Pupation – After 5‑7 days, provide a dry sand layer (2 mm depth) for larvae to pupate. Keep the sand at 24 °C and 60 % RH.
- Adult emergence – Collect adult fleas 2‑3 days post‑pupation. Separate males and females using a fine mesh sieve for controlled mating.
Implement a rotation schedule: start a new cohort every 48 hours to ensure a continuous supply of adults. Record temperature, humidity, and mortality rates for each batch; adjust parameters if mortality exceeds 5 %.
Sanitation measures:
- Autoclave all reusable equipment weekly.
- Replace substrate after each pupation cycle.
- Perform a UV‑light disinfection of the breeding chamber for 15 minutes nightly.
By adhering to these specifications, Cifox can be reliably propagated for flea production, delivering consistent output and minimizing genetic drift.