Ants not accepting protein sources

Questions from those who are just starting or considering getting into the ant keeping hobby. If you’re intimidated or confused by the in-depth posts of the other sections of this forum, feel free to post here, and we'll start from square one!

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PhatGaster
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 2:52 pm
Location: East Lansing, Chicago

Ants not accepting protein sources

Post: # 20357Post PhatGaster
Sun Apr 30, 2017 12:21 pm

I don't have access to crickets or meal worms untill next week so I been offering the colony I captured a few week's back spider legs and other ants but they don't take to it. I also tried emergency protein fix I found online with sugar water and protein powder. I need them to survive the week and I know the Queen needs protien to lay eggs. Any other bugs or protein sources I can feed them? My dorm is pesticide free, I asked. I also boil whatever I find. I just need to survive the week until I can get proper crickets and worms.
Beginner keeper of Prenolepis Imparis and Formica pallidefulva. Would appreciate all the help I can

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Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: Ants not accepting protein sources

Post: # 20358Post Batspiderfish
Sun Apr 30, 2017 12:30 pm

Don't boil the insects (at least until they have plenty of larvae), as this destroys the hemolymph that the adult ants can drink. Freezing should work just as well to kill off any mites or parasites. Protein powder will not work, since only a few ants can digest vegetable protein and none of them can do much with milk protein. The smaller (within reason) and softer the insects are, the better.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.

PhatGaster
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 2:52 pm
Location: East Lansing, Chicago

Re: Ants not accepting protein sources

Post: # 20396Post PhatGaster
Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:35 pm

Thanks thats good info! Ill make sure to freeze them then and avoid protein powder. Thanks. I actually was able to steal some of my friends petstore cricket supply for his rats. Just fed my ants some cricket leg. One colony is enjoying it and tearing into it. The other are alarmed and trying to tear at the cotton to escape. There the same Formica species. Is this normal?
Beginner keeper of Prenolepis Imparis and Formica pallidefulva. Would appreciate all the help I can

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Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: Ants not accepting protein sources

Post: # 20398Post Batspiderfish
Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:55 pm

You shouldn't be feeding colonies inside of their tube, if that is the case. After the first few workers, they need a foraging arena/outworld.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.

xTNxANTMANx
Posts: 416
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2016 9:03 am
Location: Western Tennessee

Re: Ants not accepting protein sources

Post: # 20421Post xTNxANTMANx
Mon May 01, 2017 2:51 am

Yea don't feed directly n the test tube. I found out the hard way with one of my Camponotus subbarbatus and when they were done they moved the cricket leg back up against the cotton...which n return started to mold, turn black, and had to move them. I learned the hard way. I have a post in the Formicarium section how I made super cheap but effective test tube portals. So glad I did too cuz they were a life saver :-)
Keeping:
Camponotus subbarbatus
Formica pallidefulva x2
Formica subsericea x4
Lasius sp
Tetramorium immigrans x2
Dorymyrmex bureni

Founding:
Formica pallidefulva
Unknown sp x2

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