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Feeding maple syrup to my ants

Started By TwistyPunch , Feb 10 2025 1:36 PM
#sugary liquids

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#1 Offline TwistyPunch - Posted February 10 2025 - 1:36 PM

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Hello, I am wondering if I can give pure (not corn syrup based) maple syrup to my Camponotus colony. If so, should I dilute it? To what percentage? Can I put it in my byFormica liquid feeder? I've heard honey ferments and shouldn't be put in a gravity assisted feeder. Does maple syrup do the same thing? How long does it last in the feeder until I should change it? Thanks for any insights/answers!

Edited by TwistyPunch, February 10 2025 - 6:22 PM.

Ant wishlist:
Odontomachus monticola

Oecophylla smaragdina

Atta Cephalotes

Mystrium camillae

Pheidole Noda

#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted February 10 2025 - 2:54 PM

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Any sweet liquid can ferment if given time. This is how alcohol is made. Honey ferments a little quicker because it has naturally occurring yeasts present in it that activate as soon as water is added. Sugar water will be much cheaper for you to use. Mix it in a 4:1 ratio water to sugar.
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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.

#3 Offline TwistyPunch - Posted February 10 2025 - 3:35 PM

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Another sugary liquid related question: Does more water in the sugar water solution (making water more and more increased in the ratio) cause the sugar water to keep/stay good longer, or vice versa? Or is there no difference at all.
Ant wishlist:
Odontomachus monticola

Oecophylla smaragdina

Atta Cephalotes

Mystrium camillae

Pheidole Noda

#4 Offline mbullock42086 - Posted February 10 2025 - 4:14 PM

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Raw maple syrup actually looks superior to honey, to me.  I might start using that instead, seems to have way more amino acids than honey.


  raw honey is still pretty good though, despite being mostly fructose.

 


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#5 Offline TwistyPunch - Posted February 10 2025 - 5:03 PM

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Do you know if syrup stays good longer than honey or sugar water? Right now I'm trying to find out what sugar source stays good for the ants the longest, so when I'm traveling my friends don't have to make sugar mixes as often.
Ant wishlist:
Odontomachus monticola

Oecophylla smaragdina

Atta Cephalotes

Mystrium camillae

Pheidole Noda

#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted February 10 2025 - 5:11 PM

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The best thing in that case is byFormica Sunburst nectar. It is specially formulated not to ferment. It is definitely worth buying.
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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.

#7 Offline TwistyPunch - Posted February 10 2025 - 5:42 PM

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Where can I get it cheapest? (Including the shipping costs) I get free shipping on Amazon, but I know that a couple different websites sell it.
Ant wishlist:
Odontomachus monticola

Oecophylla smaragdina

Atta Cephalotes

Mystrium camillae

Pheidole Noda

#8 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 11 2025 - 1:10 PM

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Where can I get it cheapest? (Including the shipping costs) I get free shipping on Amazon, but I know that a couple different websites sell it.

It is sold on amazon here: https://www.amazon.c...39308248&sr=8-2
That is probably the cheapest place for you.


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#9 Offline TwistyPunch - Posted February 11 2025 - 6:18 PM

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Thanks! I will definitely look into Sunburst. It seems like an awesome sugar alternative!
Ant wishlist:
Odontomachus monticola

Oecophylla smaragdina

Atta Cephalotes

Mystrium camillae

Pheidole Noda
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