The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

Hello everyone, I’m a new ant keeper with a 2 month old colony of lasius niger.

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post!

They are currently living in a sandwich style formicarium filled with sand and connects to an outworld via tube. I can’t see inside their nest but as far as I know, the queen is still alive. Two or three workers will come out regularly to escape/look for food but seem uninterested in any food I offer.

So far I’ve tried:
Protein syrup
Sugar water
Honey water

Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!

Hello there,

There could be different reasons:

1. If you live in a temperate region they should now be in hibernation and they have a sort of "internal clock" that tells them when to slow down their metabolism to prepare for winter.

2. It could also be that since they're only a two months old colony they may be eating but little amounts.

And also, how much concentrated is the sugar water you provide them? And do you offer them the protein syrup not diluted?

We have warmer winters here so I don’t think that’s it. I’ve tried protein syrup with and without water and I don’t think they have eaten it. Would there be any way to tell if they are eating?

There are 3 ways that I am aware of: if you see them eating, then they are eating; if you see their gasters extended when they weren't previously, then they are eating; and if the colony ends up growing in size (and they are past the nanitic stage), then they are eating. Hope this helps.

Ok they seem to like honey!
Thanks!

AntFarmer7 wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 07, 2018 10:18 am

We have warmer winters here so I don’t think that’s it. I’ve tried protein syrup with and without water and I don’t think they have eaten it. Would there be any way to tell if they are eating?

If you want you could try to mix a tiny drop of syrup with concentrated sugar water (with concentrated I mean adding sugar until the water becomes like a syrup), thus making it more appetizing.

How often should I feed them? Also, should I offer them water in addition to the protein syrup/sugar water?

AntFarmer7 wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 09, 2018 10:47 am

How often should I feed them? Also, should I offer them water in addition to the protein syrup/sugar water?

Water must be always available to them. What I usually do is to place a test tube filled with fresh water in their outworld so they can drink from it anytime they want.

As for feeding, considering your colony is still very young, I'd say a drop of honey and a little amount of proteins every 7 days should be enough for now (I guess you don't have more than 30ish workers?).