6 replies to this topic

[Foogoo]

Do you colonies eat it? I tried one batch once and they never touched it. All of mine are now barely touching BF Blue or Chromerust's food (that I can tell) but going for sugar. Pheidole and Pogonomyrmex will instantly drag away freeze dried bloodworms, though I wonder if they're actually eating it or just hoarding it. I'm thinking of trying another batch of THA juice.

[Miles]

I use it very frequently, and quite honestly, I have never once had my ants reject it. How, and in what quantities, are you mixing yours?

[Myrmicinae]

In my experience, ants initially seem repelled by it, but their attitude changes fairly quickly.  It is then distributed throughout the colony in little time.

[Foogoo]

I use it very frequently, and quite honestly, I have never once had my ants reject it. How, and in what quantities, are you mixing yours?

 

Ok, maybe it's worth another try. My first batch was completely crapped since I didn't have the instructions I didn't know existed. I mixed another batch using the instructions and remember it being nothing special. Do you have any recommendations on how to mix my third attempt?

[Miles]

 

I use it very frequently, and quite honestly, I have never once had my ants reject it. How, and in what quantities, are you mixing yours?

 

Ok, maybe it's worth another try. My first batch was completely crapped since I didn't have the instructions I didn't know existed. I mixed another batch using the instructions and remember it being nothing special. Do you have any recommendations on how to mix my third attempt?

 

I use 2 parts sugar, 1 part protein, and 1-2 drops of oil. I then add distilled water with judgement (the mixture should be a deep pink) and shake until the ingredients mix. I then let it sit for ~10 minutes, shake twice, and feed. This amount normally comes out to make a little less than half of the mixing vial provided.

Woo, 200th post!

Edited by Miles, April 5 2015 - 8:18 PM.

[drtrmiller]

The ingredients listed on the website are "organic seed oils, vitamin mixture, whey protein, and sucrose."

 

If your ants aren't eating Formula Blue 100, there is no reason they would eat this, since many ingredients are shared between the two.

 

Additional critiques:

• Nutritional information for ingredients are not specified on website. 1 gram of "protein" does not contain 1 gram of protein.
• Provided measurements are volumetric, which do not correspond with any nutritional standard of measurement.
• Without a 0.01 gram scale, it will be impossible to measure the "vitamin mixture," because so little is required.
• "Oils" are not miscible in water, and so will separate after a few minutes after being prepared.
• "Whey protein" is not a complete protein source, as it does not contain all the essential amino acids that ants require in their diet.

Again, if your ants aren't eating Blue 100, I'd recommend throwing every natural food at them you can find, and then try the synthetic diets again after some time.

Edited by drtrmiller, April 5 2015 - 8:22 PM.

[Miles]

 

The ingredients listed on the website are "organic seed oils, vitamin mixture, whey protein, and sucrose."

 

If your ants aren't eating Formula Blue 100, there is no reason they would eat this, since many ingredients are shared between the two.

 

Additional critiques:

• Nutritional information for ingredients are not specified on website. 1 gram of "protein" does not contain 1 gram of protein.
• Provided measurements are volumetric, which does not correspond with any nutritional standard of measurement.
• Without a 0.01 gram scale, it will be impossible to measure the "vitamin mixture," because so little is required.
• "Oils" are not miscible in water, and so will separate after a few minutes after being prepared.
• "Whey protein" is not a complete protein source, as it does not contain all the essential amino acids that ants require in their diet.

 

Although the name may be misleading (I believe the "Complete" refers to the supplement as having both protein and carbohydrates, the two essentials, in it), the diet is intended to be fed as a quick supplement, and does not replace all food sources in a captive colonies' diet. Nobody seems to have yet accomplished that, and THA doesn't appear to be interested in doing so. Nowhere is it stated that the supplement is intended for singular use, without any other food sources.

In fact, I found this: "Food supplement for ants.  Not intended as a stand alone food source.  Confirmed to be accepted (via customer feedback) by ant colonies world-wide with over 65+ species!" The article goes on to give more information regarding this topic.

Edited by Miles, April 5 2015 - 8:25 PM.