14 replies to this topic

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

So I have recently encountered a problem with my Crematogaster about how I don’t have much food for them but the problem grew to my Formica too…  :facepalm: 

I recently took my Formica out of hibernation and they laid an egg, then a second one, then a third, you get it. Now there is five eggs that have been hanging out in their nest for 4 days now, always the same workers tending to the eggs periodically. So in my Crematogaster journal, a couple of members brought up the fact that they need a good amount of food, and guess what, I need more food for them lol. They already told me about how I can keep frozen insects but I said I couldn’t because of my mom, and there is absolutely zero chance of me talking her into allowing me to keep feeder insects alive or frozen. So now I wanted to ask what things have you given your ants as replacements for proteins. (I am already trying to give them bugs but they don’t accept them all the time)

I also tried to keep a tiny fruit fly culture but it did not work  (n) 

I hope you guys have some advice (I don’t think that there is any replacements for feeder insects  :( )

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, February 1 2025 - 2:49 PM.

[jaysocal]

Some species will eat egg yolk, cooked chicken, etc but it’s not something that can be reliably used for all ants.

The truth is, part of keeping ants is having a reliable food source.

You really can’t just buy a few crickets or mealworms and chop them up?


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[AntBoi3030]

Earlier this month, I ran out of fruit flies for a bit, so I had to feed my Pheidole colony a different diet. I'd give them a mealworm one day, which they were never very enthusiastic about, and then the next day, I would give them some kind of noninsect food. I had success with cooked meats, fish, fish flakes, cooked egg whites, and even bread. The colony did well on this diet and I still try to mix in different kinds of foods.

 

Having diversity in the diet of an ant colony is essential. Perhaps when it warms up, you can collect bugs from outside to feed to your colonies. Until then, I'd recommend feeding them different kinds of meats and other protein-rich foods.

Edited by AntBoi3030, February 1 2025 - 3:41 PM.

[jabasson]

https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Alright, thanks all of you for your help!

 

You really can’t just buy a few crickets or mealworms and chop them up?

I would like to but my mom would freak out, same for the bloodworms. 

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Alright, thanks all of you for your help!

 

You really can’t just buy a few crickets or mealworms and chop them up?

I would like to but my mom would freak out, same for the bloodworms. 

Ant keeping is hard if your family doesn't support it. Are you sure you can't get her to allow some mealworms? If she's willing to listen I can give plenty of reasons why mealworms are safe and okay to keep. 

[ANTdrew]

You could also find dormant insects under logs and leaf litter possibly. Get out in the woods and do some digging. Bugs don’t just disappear in the winter. The bloodworms are a great idea, honestly. They come frozen in a neat package that shouldn’t freak anybody out. Any pet store that sells fish will have them. A tiny cup of mealworms in the corner of your room shouldn’t freak anybody out, either.

[jabasson]

The bloodworms are freeze dried and can be stored in your room, and its normally just used for fish food (like fish flakes almost). If your mom wouldn't be okay with that I don't believe its possible to keep any sort of bug storage to feed your ants (unless stored outside maybe?). At this point wild caught insects supplemented with the meat and egg products as other have suggested seems to be about your only option. 

[rptraut]

Hello OwlThatLikesAnts;

 

Before taking ants out of hibernation, it's important to be assured of a reliable source of food for them.    This is a major consideration when it's still a long time until spring.   Considering your situation, you may have taken your ants out of hibernation prematurely.   

 

Having said that, I have some suggestions for protein alternatives instead of insects.   Since I started keeping ants, I've fed meat products to my colonies.   When offered meat products from the very beginning of the colony's development, they become accustomed to them and readily accept them.   I've often said I could feed them from my dinner plate.    Your parents shouldn't complain if you do that.   I've written in some detail about the meat products I feed my colonies and how I prepare them in this post.

 

Feeding Time at the Zoo - General Ant Keeping - Ants & Myrmecology Forum

 

I can't tell you what types of meat your ants will like, you'll have to experiment.   I've found that small colonies are perhaps the fussiest and some ants do prefer insect foods.   But I've also found that some meats, especially cooked chicken liver and cooked chicken meat are universally accepted by my ants.   Canned dog food, raw ground pork and cooked egg yolk are also popular.   Fish flakes and betta pellets are shelf stable foods that ants will also accept. 

 

You'll find more information on feeding meat products to my ants in this post.

 

Results From Two Feeding Experiments by RPT - General Ant Keeping - Ants & Myrmecology Forum

 

 

 

 

Canned dog food and cooked chicken are always popular with my ants.   Experiment and see what your ants like, they might eat the same thing you and your dog are having for supper!

 

 

RPT

Edited by rptraut, February 2 2025 - 1:05 AM.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

I was actually thinking about buying some fish flakes and yeah, maybe blood worms would work.

I've found that small colonies are perhaps the fussiest and some ants do prefer .

That’s true, I have been feeding my Formica more of a variety of things because of how they are less picky because of how they are a bigger colony, but my Crematogaster on the other hand, they only ate a bit of my dog’s food, the kibble contains eggs so that is probably why, I’ve fed them right from my plate but for now they only like fruit flies and freshly enclosed fungus gnats.

[ANTdrew]

This is what you want. It looks like a little ketchup packet. There’s literally nothing about frozen bloodworms that should freak out even the most entomophobic person.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

That one looks almost like nothing but brown sauce of some sort, but I mean to specify that it is not really how the bugs look but the concept for her about keeping frozen insects in her freezer.

Maybe I can make a tiny fruit fly culture out of this, and keep it in her room where she can’t see it.

[ANTdrew]

You can even raise fruit flies in a test tube:
https://www.formicul...s/?fromsearch=1

[ANTdrew]

Another thought came to me: if it’s cold enough where you live, can you store feeders outside somewhere?

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Another thought came to me: if it’s cold enough where you live, can you store feeders outside somewhere?

That is actually a really good idea, it’s just that idk what I’m going to store

 

Also, my Formica LOVE ground beef

 

there is actually a bigger piece but the workers are busy tearing it to shreds, meanwhile the Crematogaster are very shy…

 

*EDIT*: The Crematogaster is now tucking in because I force fed them 

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, February 2 2025 - 3:30 PM.