Royal Python's Cove
Flightless Fruit Fly Culture
Flightless Fruit Fly Culture
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Drosophila hydei & Drosophila melanogaster
Enhance your pets' diet with our blooming colonies of premium live flightless fruit flies, meticulously cultivated and nurtured by a dedicated team of enthusiasts. Trusted by pet owners — give them a try!
Nutritional Excellence
Our flightless fruit flies are cultivated on a nutritious Repashy Superfly diet to ensure they are packed with essential nutrients beneficial for your pets. They are an excellent addition to a varied diet, offering high protein content and essential vitamins and minerals that promote healthy growth, energy, and overall vitality.
Species Available
We offer colonies of two species of flightless fruit flies:
- Drosophila hydei: Larger size, ideal for medium to large-sized pets.
- Drosophila melanogaster: Smaller size, perfect for smaller pets or those requiring a smaller prey size.
Nutritional Profile (per fruit fly)
- Moisture: Approximately 60-70%
- Protein: 16-20%
- Fat: 8-10%
- Fiber: 1-2%
- Ash: 1-2%
Vitamins and Minerals
- Vitamin A: Essential for vision and immune function.
- Vitamin D: Promotes calcium absorption and bone health.
- Calcium: Crucial for bone health and muscle function.
- Phosphorus: Supports energy metabolism and bone structure.
- Magnesium: Necessary for muscle and nerve function, as well as energy production.
Fatty Acid Profile
Flightless fruit flies contain beneficial fatty acids, including Omega-3 and Omega-6, which support brain function and immune response.
Benefits for Pets
- High Protein Content: Supports muscle development and tissue repair.
- Essential Nutrients: Promotes overall health, immune function, and vitality.
- Natural Prey Item: Encourages natural hunting behaviors.
Care Instructions
Ensure your flightless fruit fly colonies thrive with these care tips:
- Housing: Use a well-ventilated container with fine mesh to prevent escape.
- Feeding: Maintain the colony with provided food medium and occasional yeast to promote continuous egg-laying and hatching.
- Temperature: Keep colonies at room temperature (around 70-75°F) to maintain optimal growth and reproduction.
- Maintenance: Regularly clean the culture to remove debris and encourage healthy growth.
Delivery Options
For local customers, we offer convenient pickup and delivery options within our service area. Choose pickup during checkout to collect your insects at our facility, or opt for local delivery to have them delivered directly to your door. Opt for ground shipping for cost-effective delivery to your location or choose 2-day shipping for expedited delivery. At Royal Python’s Cove, we prioritize the health and well-being of your reptiles and amphibians. Whether you choose pickup, local delivery, or shipping, rest assured your insects will arrive healthy and ready to nourish your pets.
Guaranteed Live Arrival
We stand behind the quality and health of our mealworms. If you encounter any issues with your order upon arrival, please contact us within 24 hours, and we will gladly provide a replacement or a full refund. Feel free to reach out to us at question@royalpythonscove.com, and receive the needed assistance within 24 hours. Your peace of mind and your pets’ health are our top priorities.
Our Commitment
At Royal Python’s Cove, we take pride in our insects. Bred by a small, dedicated team of hobbyists, our insects are raised in pristine, sanitary conditions to ensure they arrive at your doorstep healthy and ready to nourish your pets. Our commitment to quality and care guarantees that your reptiles and amphibians receive the best nutrition available.
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Shipping Policy & Live Arrival Guarantee
Timeline and Processing
Order Processing Time: All orders are processed within 1-2 business days (Monday to Friday, excluding holidays). Please allow for additional processing time during peak seasons or holidays.
Shipping Days: We ship live insects Monday through Wednesday to ensure that orders do not sit in transit over the weekend. We do not ship live insects on Thursdays or Fridays to avoid delays caused by weekend transit.
Delays: While we do our best to ship all orders on time, please understand that shipping carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.) may experience delays that are beyond our control. Please track your shipment regularly for updates.
Temperature Warning
To ensure the safe arrival of your live insects, we take temperature into consideration. The health of your order is our top priority, and we have specific procedures in place for extreme temperatures.
- Cold Weather Shipping (Fall/Winter Months):
During colder months, we include heat packs in all orders to maintain a safe temperature range for your insects. If temperatures are below 40°F (4°C) at any point during transit, we will include a heat pack at no additional cost. - Hot Weather Shipping (Spring/Summer Months):
In warmer months, if temperatures exceed 85°F (29°C), we may delay your order shipment or opt to ship your insects with cool packs or use additional insulation to prevent overheating. We will reach out if we believe weather conditions are too extreme for shipping and discuss the best options for you. - Live Arrival Guarantee:
We guarantee live arrival of your insects only if the package is received within the first 2 hours of delivery (in cases of heat packs or cool packs used). In the event of any issues, please contact us immediately with photographic evidence of the condition of the insects upon arrival.
Shipping to a Hub
Hold for Pickup Option
- Shipping to a Hub:
To minimize potential risks associated with extreme weather or shipping delays, we highly recommend choosing the “Hold for Pickup” option with carriers like UPS or FedEx. This allows your package to be kept at a local hub for pickup rather than sitting in a mail carrier’s truck. This option is available at checkout and provides more control over the timing and condition of your insect order.
Shipping Carriers
Carrier Options:
We ship via USPS, UPS, or FedEx depending on the size, weight, and destination of the order. All live insect shipments are sent via expedited or priority shipping methods to reduce transit time.
Overnight Delivery:
We ship overnight via FedEx. This option automatically includes Live Arrival Guarantee.
Tracking:
A tracking number will be provided once your order ships. Please track your package to stay updated on its estimated delivery time. In case of delays or issues with the tracking, please contact us immediately, and we will assist in resolving the issue.
Live Arrival Guarantee & Shipment Protection
Automatic Shipment Protection: To ensure the well-being of your insects, shipment protection is automatically included in all live insect orders at checkout. This means your order is covered for issues related to shipping conditions, such as delays, extreme weather, or packaging problems.
For 2-Day Express Shipping: Shipment protection applies to all orders, including 2-day express shipments, so you are automatically covered for the duration of transit, even if the insects are in transit for longer than overnight shipping.
How to Ensure Your Insects Arrive Safely
- Live Arrival Guarantee Applies to All Orders with Shipment Protection: The live arrival guarantee is applicable for any live insect order as long as the shipment is received on the first delivery attempt, and shipment protection is active.
- If your insects do not arrive alive, please contact us within 2 hours of delivery with photographic evidence of the insects' condition to qualify for a replacement.
Refunds & Replacements
Refunds
If your insects arrive dead or in poor condition, and the shipment is covered by Shipment Protection, we will issue a replacement or a refund for the cost of the insects (excluding shipping).
- Note: We do not offer refunds for shipping costs due to the nature of live insect shipping.
Replacement
In cases of dead-on-arrival (DOA) insects, we will ask for photographic evidence of the condition of the insects upon delivery. Once confirmed, we will send a replacement order at no additional cost (subject to availability).