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What Protein for Pogonomyrmex?


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#1 Offline Devi - Posted December 27 2020 - 7:48 AM

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Hey guys,

Right now I have loads of seeds in my Pogonomyrmex occidentalis outworld and a liquid feeder filled with honey water.  While this does provide sustenance, I think they would do really good with some protein.  Specifically, make the brood go faster.  Do you guys think that mealworms in the outworld would be good?  I'd obviously watch them to make sure everything went ok.  Would you guys recommend feeding live or pre-killed?  They have 56 workers as of my latest count so I think they'd be good with small prey items.  Thanks guys!


Edited by Devi, December 27 2020 - 7:48 AM.


#2 Offline Devi - Posted December 27 2020 - 8:05 AM

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I think I might just pre-kill some mealworms for them, and put them in their outworld to see if they like it. 



#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted December 27 2020 - 8:17 AM

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Try chopped mealworms. Feeding live insects is not necessary and can actually be problematic for a variety of reasons. I don’t even feed fruitflies live anymore because they’re so prone to having mites. I pre-boil everything for at least 3 seconds.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted December 27 2020 - 8:38 AM

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I just use mealworms. I crush their heads and the Pogonomyrmex take care of the rest, and completely hollow them out within 12 hours or so. They never get sick of them. I've noticed the more protein they are fed, the larger the workers are as well. 


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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis





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