Any alternatives to feed ants?

Posts and questions relating to ant diet & nutrition. Let us know what you’re feeding your ants.

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FlameofOsiris
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2016 9:09 am
Location: NYC

Any alternatives to feed ants?

Post: # 12855Post FlameofOsiris
Sat Oct 01, 2016 10:13 am

I want to start keeping ants but I have a problem with feeding them. I realize that ants need a source of sugar (fruit) and protein (bugs). I will have trouble with the protein part,
though. My mom won't have me keeping gross insects to feed to my ants unless it's absolutely necessary, so I was wondering if there is any sort of "ant food" I could feed to the ants as a protein alternative. I also saw Mikey's video on the crazy things ants do for sugar, and saw him feed a chocolate bar to his fire ant colony, I was wondering if it would be suitable for a beginner colony

Martialis
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Re: Any alternatives to feed ants?

Post: # 12879Post Martialis
Sat Oct 01, 2016 5:28 pm

FlameofOsiris wrote:I want to start keeping ants but I have a problem with feeding them. I realize that ants need a source of sugar (fruit) and protein (bugs). I will have trouble with the protein part,
though. My mom won't have me keeping gross insects to feed to my ants unless it's absolutely necessary, so I was wondering if there is any sort of "ant food" I could feed to the ants as a protein alternative. I also saw Mikey's video on the crazy things ants do for sugar, and saw him feed a chocolate bar to his fire ant colony, I was wondering if it would be suitable for a beginner colony
This isn't main food, but a supplement: https://tarheelants.com/products/the-complete-ant-juice-ant-food-supplement.
Keeper of

Tetramorium sp.

Crematogaster sp.

FlameofOsiris
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2016 9:09 am
Location: NYC

Re: Any alternatives to feed ants?

Post: # 12924Post FlameofOsiris
Sun Oct 02, 2016 5:04 am

Alright, wet dog and cat food.
Also, my mom woudn't care about having to buy superworms once in a while, those are less gross and ones she could live with if one or two get out.

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Serafine
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Re: Any alternatives to feed ants?

Post: # 13213Post Serafine
Thu Oct 06, 2016 3:34 am

I think most ants won't say no to cooked meat either (especially species like Tetramorium or some Lasius that are used to scavenge the waysides for human food leftovers).
I wonder if ants would eat (half)cooked eggs/egg yolk...
"We should respect all forms of consciousness. The body is just a vessel, a mere hull."

AntsSA
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Re: Any alternatives to feed ants?

Post: # 18328Post AntsSA
Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:23 pm

Mine eat or use to eat omelette or scrambled eggs them they had enough for a while.lol :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Keeping.
lepisiota capensis
pheilode sp.
monomorium queen
2 ponerine queens
Ants SA
:lol: :lol:
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Cale3459
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Re: Any alternatives to feed ants?

Post: # 18353Post Cale3459
Mon Mar 20, 2017 10:55 pm

This is also an option for you. I've taken the suggestion to use cat food chicken rather than food grade chicken due to reduced sodium. This is really only meant to be a temporary substitute so I don't really know what the long term ramifications of using it constantly would be. I use this when I am going to be put of town and need someone to feed my colony and don't trust them to prep a cricket. I've found idiot proofing it for them works best.

http://www.formiculture.com/topic/964-chromerusts-ant-food-recipe-and-ant-feeding-video/
Keeper of:
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
(http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=2686)

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JohnOther
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Re: Any alternatives to feed ants?

Post: # 18355Post JohnOther
Tue Mar 21, 2017 4:07 am

You could just buy one of those fishing nets, go outside and run true some grass. :lol:
Then u can just catch what you need, and you don't have to keep them inside.

Just be careful with mites and stuff!
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Batspiderfish
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Location: Maine

Re: Any alternatives to feed ants?

Post: # 18357Post Batspiderfish
Tue Mar 21, 2017 7:50 am

Feeding off wild insects is ill-advised in areas where pesticide usage is common.
Links:
Rules & Requirements for Identification:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=292

How to take pictures for identification:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=2167

idahoantgirl
Posts: 479
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Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Any alternatives to feed ants?

Post: # 18365Post idahoantgirl
Tue Mar 21, 2017 10:43 am

What I did was I bought a container of live crickets (They are more nutritious than super worms) And then I froze them in doubled up zip loc baggies to kill them. When my colony needs one, I pop one out, break it into three pieces and stick it in their outworld.
Proverbs 6:6-11

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

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