Dry cat food for Laius Niger?

[boreynorthwind]

Hey! So I currently own a small colony of Lasius Niger (Queen, one worker and lots of brood). I was wondering if it is okay to feed them dry cat food as a protein source. If so, is there a specific type of cat food that ants eat.

[JoeHostile1]

You should feed them bugs as a protein source because that is what they naturally eat. I’ve offered dry cat food to my Lasius colonies they never touched it. The only ants that I have that were interested in it were my 10k plus tetramorium colony. I think they are only interested in food that is not bugs is if they are very hungry because I noticed they were going to town on the cat food until I dumped a large amount of crickets in there. Then they stopped taking the cat food and took all the crickets instead.

It’s also possible that only large colonies can eat dry cat food because the worker ants have trouble chewing solid food and they can use their larvae to chew the cat food for them.

[Hunter36o]

Oh, I did not know they would eat dry cat food. I was under the impression they would only eat it if slightly moist but that turned me off as dog food can mold quick when moist so I assume the same goes for cat food. Mental note taken

[PAants]

Interesting. In the wild, I've always found ants go crazy for dry dog food. I've not tried feeding it to a captive colony, though.

[LasiusSapien]

don't know about the dry stuff but my lasius niger go mad for the jelly from wet dog/cat food

[antnest8]

I think certain species have there prefrences (makes sense because food is one of the main factors that creates new species). in general I think that species of the myrmecinia family seem to be less picky on what they eat while formicadia is very picky.

(sorry for spelling errors)

[Hawkeye]

Hey! So I currently own a small colony of Lasius Niger (Queen, one worker and lots of brood). I was wondering if it is okay to feed them dry cat food as a protein source. If so, is there a specific type of cat food that ants eat.

In general, ants prefer wet food, but give it a try?

[antnest8]

I know lasius outside mu house like dry dog food. But captive colonies are sometimes more picky (probably because they are smaller)