Queen Feeding

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

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AngeredFlame850
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 8:31 pm
Location: New Jersey

Queen Feeding

Post: # 34333Post AngeredFlame850
Mon Mar 05, 2018 7:23 pm

I have had my queen ant for almost 8 months now and her previous eggs have all failed to reach pupae stage. I am pretty sure that she is either Formica Fusca or Subsericea (both fully claustral) but I am beginning to think that her "wing energy" is probably gone by now. She has a new batch of eggs now (hopefully they will turn into workers) and I am wondering if I should feed her and what to feed her. Currently I am giving apple slices, which she seems to be eating but I don't know if I should give her some protein too.
Formica Sp. E queen - 0 workers, batch of eggs
On the look for more queens...

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antnest8
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Re: Queen Feeding

Post: # 34334Post antnest8
Tue Mar 06, 2018 5:45 am

considering that the eggs and larvae need protein to grow i would say yes
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https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
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idahoantgirl
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Re: Queen Feeding

Post: # 34337Post idahoantgirl
Tue Mar 06, 2018 9:57 am

give her a small (emphasis) piece of store bought insect a section of mealeworm would do. or a fruit fly
Proverbs 6:6-8

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.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

CherrieEvolved
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2017 7:39 am
Location: Seattle

Re: Queen Feeding

Post: # 34340Post CherrieEvolved
Tue Mar 06, 2018 11:12 am

I am a strong proponent of feeding queens. They are skinny after hibernation as well. She needs honey or something similar for energy. I recent fed all of queen ants that came out of hibernation, just honey. They all ate a few drops. Most of them started laying shortly after, 5 out of the 8. I didnt realize how small their gSter were until after i fed them. They were starving.
After giving yours honey, give her some easy to eat protien. I am a fan of cut up meal wroms, as it is very easy for them to get to the goodies.
Keeper of:
Formica Sp
Myrmica Sp

Founding:
4x Formica Sp
1x Camponotus Sp

AngeredFlame850
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Location: New Jersey

Re: Queen Feeding

Post: # 34361Post AngeredFlame850
Tue Mar 06, 2018 9:04 pm

Thx for the help! I couldn't go out and buy any feeder insects so I decided to give her a small piece of chicken(boiled) and she loved it. :lol:
Formica Sp. E queen - 0 workers, batch of eggs
On the look for more queens...

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zoolantz
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2018 3:19 pm
Location: GTA

Re: Queen Feeding

Post: # 34440Post zoolantz
Sun Mar 11, 2018 7:22 pm

Good to hear that your Queen loves chicken. I’m having the same problem. I wonder what should I feed my queen and four workers for protein. My wife wouldn’t allow me to keep worms in the house.

Is boiled chicken better than beef or pork?

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antnest8
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Location: Detroit, MI

Re: Queen Feeding

Post: # 34447Post antnest8
Mon Mar 12, 2018 5:36 am

if the queen has workers experiment by placing different meats out and see what they take to
(when you said worms you meant meal worms right :) )
Some of My Informative Sheets
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
Includes :
  • Ant Care Sheets
    Queen Hunting
    How To Identify Ants
Goal is to become #2 poster on the forum

Delphie
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2016 1:40 am
Location: Castlegar, BC

Re: Queen Feeding

Post: # 34481Post Delphie
Tue Mar 13, 2018 11:33 pm

Some of mine will eat some chicken cat food, and most of them liked the inside of MacDonald's chicken nuggets. :lol:

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