17 replies to this topic

[BugFinder]

The name of this stuff reminds me of Blue Magic in American Gangster, lol.

 

Anyway, I've been thinking about buying some of this to try, and before doing so I wanted to see if anyone else has used it and what they think of it. It appears I have to cook it on the stove and store it in the refrigerator until consumed.  Is that really worth it?  How is this better than seeds and bugs and the occasional apple slice?

 

I'm particularly curious about the experiences of those who have used it during vacations or extended trips away from your ants.

 

Thanks for your comments.

Edited by BugFinder, December 27 2014 - 1:27 PM.

[dean_k]

Some of members here use them, including me. Their journels show the uagage and effectness of Blue 100.

 

I read that harvester ants love Blue 100 especially, so I doubt you will go wrong with it.

 

My Myrmica colony used to accept Blue 100 until they, for some unknown reason, decided to reject it firmly. But I have few videos when they accepted it.

 

 

[Gregory2455]

Pogonomyrmex love this stuff. I suggest it for Pogonomyrmex.

[Mercutia]

Well, you don't have to cook it on the stove. A microwave works fine. And if you want it in liquid form, you don't need any heat at all.

 

I like it mostly because it's convenient and lasts a really long time. During the winter I have some colonies I don't hibernate so going outside and catching bugs to feed my ants gets kinda hard what with the snow on the ground. I'm lazy and it's just super easy once it's prepared. Best part is I don't have to worry about it going bad in their setup as long as their is ample ventilation. It has anti-fungal properties which means that I can leave it in their outworld without fear of it going bad or spoiling.

[Crystals]

Quite a few people use it because they have little or no access to insects for part of the year.

Myself, I live in Canada where I have snow for 7 months of the year and the pet stores here only carry crickets and mealworms.  As far as protein goes, I like to offer a variety.

I was given a small sample, which I used with everything else I normally offered.

 

One of my fussiest colonies really likes Aqua 300.  This colony rarely excepts mealworm or cricket, so in winter I am in a bit of a bind... 

 

I can see this being used in a science lab, where they often prefer to use something that can be made and stored in a fridge until it is needed.  I happen to know several people whose spouses would do back flips if they brought more insects into the house. 

[BugFinder]

Thanks for your info/opinions.  I bought some today so we'll see how much of a hassle it is to cook it up.  I also bought some freeze dried meal worms.  Does anyone use freeze dried bugs for food?  Any opinions for or against that?

[dean_k]

I once used Zoo-med cooked mealworms. My ants liked it fine. But my major issue with those was they went bad too fast. With live mealworms you can let them live for months and select few for breeding.

 

Edit :

 

Ants cannot eat dried protein. Their food must have enough moisture for them to digest. Dried mealworms won't work unless you soak them in water long enough.

Edited by dean_k, December 28 2014 - 6:29 PM.

[Mercutia]

I once used Zoo-med cooked mealworms. My ants liked it fine. But my major issue with those was they went bad too fast. With live mealworms you can let them live for months and select few for breeding.

 

Edit :

 

Ants cannot eat dried protein. Their food must have enough moisture for them to digest. Dried mealworms won't work unless you soak them in water long enough.

To add to this, the freeze drying process also makes the fats and certain proteins denaturize so it's not a food source I would recommend. I'd probably recommend cooked chicken over freeze dried mealworms.

[drtrmiller]

Thanks for your info/opinions.  I bought some today so we'll see how much of a hassle it is to cook it up.  I also bought some freeze dried meal worms.  Does anyone use freeze dried bugs for food?  Any opinions for or against that?

 

Mercutia touched on this.  I won't go into the science, except to say that freeze-dried insects will go untouched by most ants.

 

I wish you much success with your Blue 100.  The instruction booklet that now comes included with each order should answer most of your questions for how to prepare it.  

 

If you need additional help, many in this community have experience using it, and I and they would be happy to assist you :~)

[BugFinder]

So even if I use Blue 100, in the interest of varying their diet, a tiny piece of cooked chicken that is left over from dinner will work well?  That should be easy enough, I eat alot of chicken.  Now that I think of it, I guess most dinner scraps would work well, yes?

[drtrmiller]

You're fine adding various proteins, but do keep in mind that if your ants hoard bits of chicken or other meats, they will produce a putrid smell the longer they go uneaten.  When using Blue 100, you may only want to introduce other food sources every 5-10 days.  Any more is not necessary.

 

Finally, when using Blue 100, do not introduce alternative sweets (sugar water, honey, etc.).  The fewer competing food sources, the more effective the product, and less waste you will have.

 

Here are the latest instructions, if you want to read in advance of receiving the product:

 

http://www.byformica...ormula-help.pdf

[Gregory2455]

Pogonomyrmex rugosus LOVED freeze dried meal worms... Only tried it once though.

[Mercutia]

If you find them hoarding like drtmiller says, simply do not feed them until their food stores dwindle. Also if you are feeding them protein from your table scraps, try to make sure there is very little to none salt. While some ants don't mind, it is not very good for the majority of them. Rinsing your table scrap with water helps get rid of excess salt. Try and take a piece of the meat away from where it has been seasoned. Other herbs and spices may act as a deterent to ants.

 

EDIT: ALSO, remove any uneaten food from the outworld within 24 hours. Formula you can keep in their almost indefinitely but other protein sources will go bad very fast.

[dspdrew]

Pogonomyrmex actually like their food dried out.

[BugFinder]

Here are the latest instructions, if you want to read in advance of receiving the product:

 

http://www.byformica...ormula-help.pdf

 

Thanks!  I downloaded those instructions to reference when the product arrives.  Thanks for all your help!!

[Gregory2455]

Yeah... Most desert harvester ants (Veromessor, Pogonomyrmex, Aphaenogaster) actually feed dried food to larvae, which in turn regurgitate liquid food for the adults! 

[drtrmiller]

Indeed, Pogonomyrmex, as well as many ant species, will hoard bits of Blue 100, which will dry out, and then be fed to larvae.

 

The problem with freeze-dried insects, in my opinion, is that the fats seem to become rancid by the time you open the package, and most ants do not like the way they smell.

[Gregory2455]

Pogonomyrmex do I guess. Or at least Pogonomyrmex rugosus do...