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[rptraut]

Making Water Fountains Safe for Small Ants and How I Mix Sugar/Water 

 

Water fountains or waterers, (is there a better generic name for these) are a convenient way to provide water to small colonies and small ants in particular.  Unfortunately, these are the very ants that sometimes have difficulty reaching the water or wind-up drowning in it when they do.  For a while I solved this problem by putting small pieces of cotton in the base before screwing in the water bottle.  Pictured below is the newest way I'm making it safer for small ants by putting a piece of paper towel over the water bottle and then screwing the base on tightly.  Then I pull away the excess paper towel.  Unscrew the bottle from the base 1/4 turn to let air in.  I squirt some water in the openings in the base to help the ants get the water idea and it's ready to go.  Don't worry if there's some towel sticking out the top, water will wick up and small ants can drink safely there too.  

 

 

 

 

How I make Sugar/Water

 

If you're using the fountain for sugar water, here's what I mix for my ants and hummingbird feeders.  Use any container you want, I use a four cup measuring cup.  I fill it half full with hot tap water (2 cup line).  Then I pour in white granulated sugar until the water line reaches the 3/4 mark (3 cup line).  Then I stir (or shake) vigorously until the sugar is dissolved.  Then I fill the container the rest of the way with cold water (4 cup line).  That gives me a solution of water and sugar at a 3:1 ratio and it's at a temperature that I can use right away.  To feed I usually use an eye dropper and sponge for small colonies and test tubes for larger ones. 

RPT

Edited by rptraut, February 5 2024 - 11:26 PM.

[Yourbasicantkeeper]

Nice!

[Yourbasicantkeeper]

that's smart!

[rptraut]

Thanks!

 

Here's a reprint of an answer to a question about a leaking waterer.   I post it here so the information about waterers is all in one place, for anyone looking.

 

 

 

 

My ants drained all their sugar water again so I just made up a new batch using the paper towel method and I'm trying it now.  Fingers crossed that this will solve the issue.  They do seem to like drinking from the paper towel wicking too, the feeder is covered with ants trying to get some.  What happens if you don't unscrew it a little to let the air in?

 

Hello

I'm sure you'll find the paper towel will slow the flow of liquid and reduce the potential for it flooding out of the feeder, if the bottom feeder is unscrewed properly from the bottle.    

 

I can always tell when I haven't unscrewed the bottom the recommended quarter turn when the liquid doesn't flow out of the feeder.    I can tell because after a day or two there's no air bubble at the top, or it doesn't get any bigger.   When the liquid flows properly, you'll see an air bubble at the top which gets bigger as the ants drink the liquid.   When the bottom is screwed on tight, the wet paper towel acts like a rubber washer, sealing around the edges so water and air can't pass through.   The wet paper towel is dense enough that it's difficult for air to pass through it, which it has to do, if air is going to replace any liquid that passes through the paper towel going the other way.    This increase in resistance compared to no resistance, which is what you have with no paper towel, means it's also more difficult for ants to suck the fluid from the paper towel.   

 

Unscrewing the bottle from the bottom creates a space for air to leak into the bottle and replace the removed liquid.   The more you open the leak the more air is allowed to enter the bottle.   You can restrict the amount of liquid that is dispensed in this way.    Even if ants pile crud against the feeder, you can unscrew the bottom just enough to release the amount of water they would drink in a day.    Unscrewing a quarter turn is my usual setting but unscrew it more or less until you're satisfied.   It shouldn't be too wet under the feeder, but the ants should be able to get all the liquid they want without undue restriction.   

 

Of course, all bets are off if there's a hole in the paper towel.   I have had Tetramorium ants chew holes in the paper towel, but they are the only ones of mine that have done that.    A hole in the towel lets air in unrestricted and acts like there's no paper towel there at all.   I think the reason they chewed the holes was because they weren't getting the liquid fast enough, so flooding wasn't a problem.

 

Recently I've been offering my small colonies sugar/water that has a higher sugar to water ratio.    I've been feeding a starter colony of my bees sugar/water that I make by dissolving as much sugar in hot water as I can.    I'm not sure of the ratio, it might be one part sugar to two parts water, or even less water.   I feed some of my ants granular sugar and they love it.   They also like the higher sugar content of my bee feed.    What I'm suggesting is that if you have ants that can't seem to get enough sugar/water, maybe they just want more sugar.   I've only tried this sugar syrup with my small founding colonies; I hope it gives them a little boost before diapause.  

RPT

Edited by rptraut, September 12 2024 - 1:52 AM.