58 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

The key to thriving colonies is a variety of protein, so it’s hard to pick one best source. Dubia roaches are a great value for the price. All my ants devour them.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I occasionally give mine wheat-grass mixed with sugar (the wheat-grass is obviously juiced)

[Thunder_Birds]

I occasionally give mine wheat-grass mixed with sugar (the wheat-grass is obviously juiced)

Oh wow, haven’t heard of that one

[Thunder_Birds]

The key to thriving colonies is a variety of protein, so it’s hard to pick one best source. Dubia roaches are a great value for the price. All my ants devour them.

Sweet, thanks for info! Good to know.

[OhNoNotAgain]

I'm going to try what someone was using, Gerber chicken with gravy or turkey with gravy baby food (meat is first ingredient).

I've tried with some or all of my colonies: bloodworm soup (fail), mealworms (good), frozen crickets (fail), fruit flies (some do, some don't), chicken (fail), egg yolk (sorta), lamb (good), cooked shrimp (good), fly pupae (some interest), fly spikes (interest). Have some roaches in tubs and will try them at some point. My Pogonomyrmex, by the way, ignore springtails.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, March 7 2020 - 9:36 AM.

[Thunder_Birds]

Oh wow! You have tried everything! Good for you man. So, I sounds like mealworms, fruit flies, lamb, and cooked shrimp were the most successful, interesting. Thank for sharing!

[ponerinecat]

Meat in general (like mammal or bird) is surprisingly effective. 

[Ants_Dakota]

The key to thriving colonies is a variety of protein, so it’s hard to pick one best source. Dubia roaches are a great value for the price. All my ants devour them.

We don't have roaches here, so do you think that a cricket or a caterpillar would work?

[ForestDragon]

 

The key to thriving colonies is a variety of protein, so it’s hard to pick one best source. Dubia roaches are a great value for the price. All my ants devour them.

We don't have roaches here, so do you think that a cricket or a caterpillar would work?

 

you can order dubias online and breed your own if that's an option for you

[Ants_Dakota]

 

 

The key to thriving colonies is a variety of protein, so it’s hard to pick one best source. Dubia roaches are a great value for the price. All my ants devour them.

We don't have roaches here, so do you think that a cricket or a caterpillar would work?

 

you can order dubias online and breed your own if that's an option for you

 

ahh. I guess i didn't realize that. Thanks!

[RushmoreAnts]

PetSmart has roaches. You could buy some there.

[Ants_Dakota]

PetSmart has roaches. You could buy some there.

Really! In all my time there getting my fish(i literally know everyone there )I never saw them!

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Although, the topic should be more specific because there isn't one universally accepted food by ants...

[AntaholicAnonymous]

I like to feed my ants the usual cricket meal worm thing but I also give them raw chicken when I cook something.
They also LOVE tuna and I like to give them a raw egg occasionally.

I'd be careful with raw egg tho depending on how you serve it it can end in a disaster don't serve it in half the eggshell its a deathtrap.

[Zeiss]

I don't know if someone said this already (because I didn't bother to read every post), but there isn't one kind of protein ants all like.  Variety is a great idea, except when you have specialists.

[ANTdrew]

I second that. I pointed it out in an earlier post up above. This is why I actually advocate catching insects outside, but only from safe areas far from agriculture or TrueGreen/ Chemlawn fanatics.

[RushmoreAnts]

I feed mine from both sources. Flies, mosquitoes, and spiders from outside, and fruit flies and meal/super worms from PetSmart.

Edited by AntsDakota, March 10 2020 - 12:23 PM.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

A big part of my ants diet are the insects that fly in the terrarium in the summer.

The bright light above the tank makes all sorts of insects fly in there. Especially when they smell fresh apple in there but little do they know they are tonight's dinner

[RushmoreAnts]

Having the ants do the killing must be pretty convenient for you.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

Yea convenient til the hornets come through.
that's when I get to be on the hunt. lol