Affordable Protein
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Affordable Protein
I now have my second colony of ants, a lasius niger colony. They do not fall into the category of harvester ants, and therefore will most likely need proteins that are not seeds. There are the options of other insects or protein jellies, but are there any other affordable ways to supply ants with protein? Maybe there is a specific food that ants like that may be available around the house?
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Re: Affordable Protein
Even harvester ants eat insects/meat. Nothing you can buy is going to be more affordable then just buying bulk crickets. Look for a place online that sells bulk crickets. The place where I buy them costs $5 Canadian for 100 - 1” crickets. That’s like $3 American for 2 years worth of food and it’s proper food for them.
I really don’t see how buying human food is going to be cheaper than that.
I really don’t see how buying human food is going to be cheaper than that.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
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Re: Affordable Protein
American source -https://flukerfarms.com/crickets-live-feeder-insects/
Canadian source -http://www.supercricket.ca/index.html
The American place is a little more expensive, but still reasonable. If you live in Europe I’m sure they have these online dealers as well.
Canadian source -http://www.supercricket.ca/index.html
The American place is a little more expensive, but still reasonable. If you live in Europe I’m sure they have these online dealers as well.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
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- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2019 3:14 pm
- Location: UK
Re: Affordable Protein
Okay, thank you. Do you keep live crickets or do you freeze them or preserve them in any other way?
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Re: Affordable Protein
I order 100 then place the whole box inside the freezer. I don’t even open it. Then after a few hours or whatever I transfer the frozen crickets into a container with a lid. Then every time I need ant food I pull out a couple crickets and from them in the outworld. Extremely easy, care free way to feed ants.
If you have small colonies you don’t really need 100, but could order less or order smaller sizes. They will last pretty much indefinitely in the freezer.
If you have small colonies you don’t really need 100, but could order less or order smaller sizes. They will last pretty much indefinitely in the freezer.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
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- Posts: 106
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2019 3:14 pm
- Location: UK
Re: Affordable Protein
Thank you for the reply. I will consider buying crickets.
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- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:51 am
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Re: Affordable Protein
And if you really can’t buy anything then I would just collect bugs from your yard. That’s not really recommended though because you don’t know if those bugs have been exposed to toxins or mites or whatever.
Another option is giving them meat, fish or poultry; cooked or raw. But all that human food is hit or miss. Ants never refuse crickets or fruit flies unless of course they just don’t want food.
Another option is giving them meat, fish or poultry; cooked or raw. But all that human food is hit or miss. Ants never refuse crickets or fruit flies unless of course they just don’t want food.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
Re: Affordable Protein
You can also farm your own meal worms.
Search YouTube for how tos.
But I started years ago with a tub of worms from the pet store, some oats, a few empty peanut butter jars, and an old pair of pantyhose.
Search YouTube for how tos.
But I started years ago with a tub of worms from the pet store, some oats, a few empty peanut butter jars, and an old pair of pantyhose.
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Re: Affordable Protein
Okay, thank you. My colonies are currently small, but I will consider buying crickets soon.
Re: Affordable Protein
Crickets for Ireland anyway are the cheapest option but boy do those guys know how to smell bad in a matter of minutes. I decided to keep darkling beetles and bought two boxes of superworms from two different stores to lower the chance of them coming from the same gene pool. They do not smell and are extremely easy to keep. And best part is all you need is oat meal, potato skins and some fruit which works out well because they are generally in the house anyway.
You just have to let them pupate, separate the pupae so they can develop and charge (harden after then pupate) then you have a constant supply. Outside of that you can feed your ants cooked chicken, ham, beef etc. Lasius Nigers are by far a good ways away from being picky in my experience. Mine have also loved having crushed pumpkin seeds so seeds are not actually out of the question either.
Personally however I find keeping a feeder species like darkling beetles is the cheapest option in the long run.
You just have to let them pupate, separate the pupae so they can develop and charge (harden after then pupate) then you have a constant supply. Outside of that you can feed your ants cooked chicken, ham, beef etc. Lasius Nigers are by far a good ways away from being picky in my experience. Mine have also loved having crushed pumpkin seeds so seeds are not actually out of the question either.
Personally however I find keeping a feeder species like darkling beetles is the cheapest option in the long run.
Research is important before during and even after you have established a colony. There is always time to learn and to listen to others experiences. Live by this and your ants will thrive. Fail to do so and your experience may be brief.
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