7 replies to this topic

[Socalfireants]

I've been feeding my colonies crickets so far and its time for a change. I don't like meal worms because ants leave the exoskeleton of the worm and makes alot of trash. What about those white fat worms that look like maggots sold at pet stores? Or will my ants get stuck in those, they are kinda gooey

[Mads]

You mean waxworms? They will probably enjoy them, just don`t overdo it with them, as they do create quite a mess if the ants don`t clean them all up.

 

Mads

[dermy]

If your talking about waxworms they are kind of complex to breed but if your talking about just buying a few every now and again then it shouldn't be too bad. Although based on reptiles, they are more of a treat item [don't know if that applies to ants or not]

[Mads]

It`s not that they are difficult to breed, the problem is containing the larvae and harvesting them. The ones you buy in pet stores are fed a special diet that makes them considerably larger than they would normally grow, they are always washed in a bleach solution to keep them from spinning cocoons. Normally waxworms will spin a silk cocoon around themselves, but this is undesirable for people wanting to use them as feed items. 

 

Mads

[Socalfireants]

Thanks. there's only a few choices for store bought feeder insects around here. Crickets, mealworms, waxworms, but fruit flies are too small for my large colonies

[Crystals]

There are many types of feeders out there, some of which are quite easy to raise yourself for cheap/free.

 

Here is a list of the most common feeder insects that are usually cultured - http://www.formicult...ts-and-feeders/

It is possible to catch wild insects like spiders and stuff, but freeze them before feeding to kill any parasites.

 

Possibilities:

Fruit flies

Mealworms

Superworms

Springtails

Wax worms

Silk worms

Termites

Aphids

Blue bottle flies

Flour beetles/larder beetles

Isopods  (Sowbug, Pillbug)

Roaches

Firebrat (silverfish)

Bean beetles

Cricket

Locust

Freshwater snails

Microworms

Whiteworms

Earthworms

Gammarus
Stick insects

Phoenix Worms (Black Solider fly)

 

You can also try little bits of table scraps as a treat.  Most of my colonies loved cooked chicken.

[Socalfireants]

I'm afraid to feed wild insects because of the large amount of pesticides around my area

[Crystals]

I'm afraid to feed wild insects because of the large amount of pesticides around my area

Yeah, in that case I would stick with insects you buy or raise yourself.

 

I find crickets too smelly, and I hear roaches do very well, lots of protein, fast growing, and easy to raise.  I raise quite a few mealworms.  I tried a few others on and off.