Is it okay to feed my ants feral ants

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

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merkantur
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:22 am
Location: Singapore

Is it okay to feed my ants feral ants

Post: # 18569Post merkantur
Mon Mar 27, 2017 5:01 pm

I have been feeding my colony the ghost ants infesting my kitchen(having feral ants in your home is normal for the tropics) for awhile in large quantities and although I know they aren't very nutritious but it works well with my small colony and their size have doubled. My family won't let me keep mealworms and my pheidole colony is pretty small so they can't handle food much larger than them.

Is it alright for me to continue feeding them the feral ants?

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Jadeninja9
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Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:00 pm
Location: California

Re: Is it okay to feed my ants feral ants

Post: # 18572Post Jadeninja9
Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:09 pm

Well I mean, I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure there is a risk of diseases and parasites transferring from the feral colony to your captive colony. You could still do it, there just would be a chance of your colony contracting a disease or getting parasites from them.

idahoantgirl
Posts: 479
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Is it okay to feed my ants feral ants

Post: # 18576Post idahoantgirl
Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:52 pm

merkantur wrote:
Mon Mar 27, 2017 5:01 pm
I have been feeding my colony the ghost ants infesting my kitchen(having feral ants in your home is normal for the tropics) for awhile in large quantities and although I know they aren't very nutritious but it works well with my small colony and their size have doubled. My family won't let me keep mealworms and my pheidole colony is pretty small so they can't handle food much larger than them.

Is it alright for me to continue feeding them the feral ants?
I agree with Jadenninja9. Would your family let you but a container of live crickets and then freeze them? That is what I do.
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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merkantur
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:22 am
Location: Singapore

Re: Is it okay to feed my ants feral ants

Post: # 18623Post merkantur
Tue Mar 28, 2017 6:49 am

idahoantgirl wrote:
Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:52 pm
merkantur wrote:
Mon Mar 27, 2017 5:01 pm
I have been feeding my colony the ghost ants infesting my kitchen(having feral ants in your home is normal for the tropics) for awhile in large quantities and although I know they aren't very nutritious but it works well with my small colony and their size have doubled. My family won't let me keep mealworms and my pheidole colony is pretty small so they can't handle food much larger than them.

Is it alright for me to continue feeding them the feral ants?
I agree with Jadenninja9. Would your family let you but a container of live crickets and then freeze them? That is what I do.
My colony is currently too small to even handle crickets. The largest things I can feed them are fruit flies and I do so on alternate days.

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Batspiderfish
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Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: Is it okay to feed my ants feral ants

Post: # 18629Post Batspiderfish
Tue Mar 28, 2017 7:54 am

Fruit flies are all the colony needs at this point. Feeding them wild ants is risky.
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

JackPayne
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2017 2:28 am
Location: Australia,NSW,Wollongong

Re: Is it okay to feed my ants feral ants

Post: # 18654Post JackPayne
Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:05 pm

With feeding crickets to your colony, simply feed a leg and not the whole cricket for you colony, take some initiative and try and get a little imaginative :D :)
Hi I'm Jack, How are you? TeamNativeAnts!

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