5 replies to this topic

[Deanmontague]

Hi guys

Recently took my colonies out of hibernation. Camponotus are pretty lifeless but my niger colony is active.

Last year summer time I bought some store crickets live and froze them and left them there and I just defrost cut up and feed these to my ants. They seemed okay for my Niger colony but this one after hibernation they don’t want.

Question is how long can you keep frozen bugs before they stop being nutritional for them, I know they should have a varied diet but they reject almost everything I give them. I just gave them some tiny bits of cooked chicken today and they’ve taken that back in and rejected the cricket leg in place of it

[ANTdrew]

Crickets left in the freezer too long will dry out to the point ants won’t eat them anymore. I suggest getting a new batch.

[Manitobant]

Not to mention if you do take it out it will rot very quickly and will be undesirable to the ants.

[TwistyPunch]

Good to know. Do you know about how long the time frame is for a batch of frozen crickets to become undesirable to the ants?

[ANTdrew]

I’d say about three months. RPT shared the great tip to freeze the crickets in water to prevent any freezer burn.

[TwistyPunch]

@ANTdrew I saw another one of your posts that says dubia roaches keep longer in the freezer and they are also more nutritious. About how long will the Dubias last before the ants don't want them? Does a deep freezer make a difference? Also, is there a thread that includes the information on how to freeze insects in water to prevent freezer burn?
Thanks!

Edited by TwistyPunch, February 12 2025 - 6:22 PM.