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Queen Feeding

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 7:23 pm
by AngeredFlame850
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.

Re: Queen Feeding

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 5:45 am
by antnest8
considering that the eggs and larvae need protein to grow i would say yes

Re: Queen Feeding

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 9:57 am
by idahoantgirl
give her a small (emphasis) piece of store bought insect a section of mealeworm would do. or a fruit fly

Re: Queen Feeding

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 11:12 am
by CherrieEvolved
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.

Re: Queen Feeding

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 9:04 pm
by AngeredFlame850
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:

Re: Queen Feeding

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2018 7:22 pm
by zoolantz
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?

Re: Queen Feeding

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 5:36 am
by antnest8
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 :) )

Re: Queen Feeding

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 11:33 pm
by Delphie
Some of mine will eat some chicken cat food, and most of them liked the inside of MacDonald's chicken nuggets. :lol: