Can you feed your ants dead insects?

[mollySF]

Hello,
I'm considering starting an ant colony, but the idea of feeding the ants living insects (or killing them myself) is very unappealing to me. My local pet store says they sell dead mealworms. Would this, ***** by some meat/seeds be a decent protein source for a Tetramorium colony?
Thank you!

[idahoantgirl]

When they say dead, do they mean freeze dried? Ants don't escpecially like freeze dried meal worms. Here is my suggestion:
Buy a container of mealworms or crickets from the pet store and stick the whole thing in the freezer for a couple hours. This will kill them humanely. Then transfer them to a mason jar and store in the freezer. When your ants need protein take one out, cut it into a couple of pieces with a pair of dedicated ant scissors, and stick it in the outworld. No mess, smell, or watching anything suffer.

[mollySF]

Perfect.

[Hunter36o]

When they say dead, do they mean freeze dried? Ants don't escpecially like freeze dried meal worms. Here is my suggestion:
Buy a container of mealworms or crickets from the pet store and stick the whole thing in the freezer for a couple hours. This will kill them humanely. Then transfer them to a mason jar and store in the freezer. When your ants need protein take one out, cut it into a couple of pieces with a pair of dedicated ant scissors, and stick it in the outworld. No mess, smell, or watching anything suffer.

Roughly how long does it take the crickets to thaw out?

[idahoantgirl]

When they say dead, do they mean freeze dried? Ants don't escpecially like freeze dried meal worms. Here is my suggestion:
Buy a container of mealworms or crickets from the pet store and stick the whole thing in the freezer for a couple hours. This will kill them humanely. Then transfer them to a mason jar and store in the freezer. When your ants need protein take one out, cut it into a couple of pieces with a pair of dedicated ant scissors, and stick it in the outworld. No mess, smell, or watching anything suffer.

Roughly how long does it take the crickets to thaw out?

You don't need to thaw them. They cut easier when they are frozen solid they will thaw in the outworld probably within a half hour

[CampoKing]

All my ants like freeze dried bugs if they're rehydrated with spring water first. After all, ants can't eat solid stuff, just liquids or things that can be chewed into liquid. It's at least worth a test, because the freeze dried stuff from pet stores is super convenient if they like it.