16 replies to this topic

[William. T]

I would like to hear what our members would feed their ants if they could feed them that insect. If you could, please reply with why you do it!

Edited by William. T, September 17 2015 - 6:16 PM.

[Crystals]

For feeders I can not have, Dubai roaches & termites would be my preference.  However, they are not allowed in Canada.

 

Springtails would be nice for smaller ants, but require regular work.

 

I currently catch and freeze grasshoppers and spiders.

I buy and freeze crickets, and currently breed mealworms and fruit flies.

[drtrmiller]

Dubai roaches

 

Very exotic!  Also known as dubia—as in Blaptica dubia?

[dermy]

Yeah I wish we could have those here

 

For now I'm happy with my Mealworms, I wish there was a way to breed crickets that was "easy" but sadly there really isn't.

[Crystals]

 

Dubai roaches

 

Very exotic!  Also known as dubia—as in Blaptica dubia?

 

One and the same. 

They can't climb glass/plastic, make no noice, and have no known pathogens that can harm humans.

 

I can't see how they would survive -35C (-31F), even the pest german cockroaches can't handle that.  But the one university did document them reproducing at 10C (50F) (albeit slowly).

 

The only roaches allowed are the german coackroach and one other one that is almost as bad for carrying diseases, allergens, and escaping.

 

The Canadian goverment actually has a list of what they allow IN to Canada - if it is not on that list, it is not allowed without a permit.  Canadian permits are harder to get than the ones in the United States, and require yearly inspections.  They are usually reserved for zoos and museums.

[William. T]

Edited it to allow Dubia Roaches.

[Michaelofvancouver]

Personally my ants enjoy eating spiders the most, and worm/larvae/caterpillar type bugs the least.

[LC3]

I would probably get a low maintenance insect like mealworms for standard protein although if I could get a colony of termites going than no doubt I would choose termites. As of right now I just catch whatever I find (usually small flying insects like small flies or mosquitos). Winter is going to be a problem though XP

[dermy]

Get some mealworms from the petshop, very easy to maintain, just make sure to give them carrot/potato every-now and again.

[drtrmiller]

Pinky mice and goldfish

[Crystals]

For any who are curious - here is a small description on how to culture several common feeders: http://www.formicult...ts-and-feeders/

[Tspivey16]

http://www.aaronpauling.com/

 

or

 

http://www.roachcrossing.com/

 

Above sites showing variety of roaches. I use Blatta lateralis for my Tarantulas so give some of the small ones to my ants. My Aphaenogaster go wild for termites though when I do find some when I am out backpacking.

 

[prettycode]

No fruit flies option? I haven't met an ant yet that won't take another fruit fly. 

[William. T]

No fruit flies option? I haven't met an ant yet that won't take another fruit fly. 

I'm so forgetful! I will add them.

[antmaniac]

At moment I am feeding my ants fruit flies and mosquitoes, catching them using below methods.

• Fruit flies: Drop some rotten apples in a container outside, done.
• Mosquitoes: Bug zapper racket around ceiling and shoes rack outside.

Still waiting for the Pheidole to have a major, then can feed them with grass seeds.

[Huch]

Wax worms should be added too. My ants are finally taking a liking to them, even over spiders

[William. T]

Wax worms should be added too. My ants are finally taking a liking to them, even over spiders

Added them. My ants will eat them sometimes, but they will go to termites any day. But again, every colony is different.