Frozen Food

Posts and questions relating to ant diet & nutrition. Let us know what you’re feeding your ants.

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Jadeninja9
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Frozen Food

Post: # 23533Post Jadeninja9
Sun Jun 25, 2017 2:02 pm

Do you need to remove the heads of insects when feeding the ants, even though the insect is already frozen and can't move? If so, why?
Keeper of:
1x Camponotus Hyatti
1x Lasius alienus colonies
1x Tetramorium immigrans

Serafine

Re: Frozen Food

Post: # 23534Post Serafine
Sun Jun 25, 2017 2:32 pm

No, why should you? It's not like you could make it any more dead than it already is.

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Jadeninja9
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Re: Frozen Food

Post: # 23536Post Jadeninja9
Sun Jun 25, 2017 2:53 pm

Serafine wrote:
Sun Jun 25, 2017 2:32 pm
No, why should you? It's not like you could make it any more dead than it already is.
Yeah that's what I was thinking lol
Keeper of:
1x Camponotus Hyatti
1x Lasius alienus colonies
1x Tetramorium immigrans

Serafine

Re: Frozen Food

Post: # 23537Post Serafine
Sun Jun 25, 2017 3:36 pm

If you think you've caught a vampire beetle you might do so - just to be sure ;) :lol:

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idahoantgirl
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Re: Frozen Food

Post: # 23542Post idahoantgirl
Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:24 pm

you remove the head so that it is easier for the ants to get to the insides. I also chop another section to make it easier.
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

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Jadeninja9
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Location: SF Bay Area, California

Re: Frozen Food

Post: # 23543Post Jadeninja9
Sun Jun 25, 2017 7:08 pm

idahoantgirl wrote:
Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:24 pm
you remove the head so that it is easier for the ants to get to the insides. I also chop another section to make it easier.
oh shoot. Well next time I feed them I'll do that lol
Keeper of:
1x Camponotus Hyatti
1x Lasius alienus colonies
1x Tetramorium immigrans

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Jadeninja9
Posts: 732
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:00 pm
Location: SF Bay Area, California

Re: Frozen Food

Post: # 23544Post Jadeninja9
Sun Jun 25, 2017 7:09 pm

idahoantgirl wrote:
Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:24 pm
you remove the head so that it is easier for the ants to get to the insides. I also chop another section to make it easier.
can you feed them the head though, since it's frozen?
Keeper of:
1x Camponotus Hyatti
1x Lasius alienus colonies
1x Tetramorium immigrans

Idahoantguy
Posts: 136
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:48 am
Location: Idaho

Re: Frozen Food

Post: # 23574Post Idahoantguy
Mon Jun 26, 2017 12:04 am

Jadeninja9 wrote:
Sun Jun 25, 2017 7:09 pm
idahoantgirl wrote:
Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:24 pm
you remove the head so that it is easier for the ants to get to the insides. I also chop another section to make it easier.
can you feed them the head though, since it's frozen?
Does freezing them kill any bacteria on them? Also should you pre crush the feeder insects or food?
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans x2

Anything but tetramorium please :cry:

Serafine

Re: Frozen Food

Post: # 23576Post Serafine
Mon Jun 26, 2017 2:25 am

idahoantgirl wrote:
Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:24 pm
you remove the head so that it is easier for the ants to get to the insides. I also chop another section to make it easier.
Yes, cutting them open or squish them a bit is always helpful for young colonies.
Jadeninja9 wrote:
Sun Jun 25, 2017 7:09 pm
can you feed them the head though, since it's frozen?
Yes, I do feed my ants bee larvae and the head is actually one of the parts they're most interested in, probably because the entire brain is basically raw protein.
Idahoantguy wrote:
Mon Jun 26, 2017 12:04 am
Does freezing them kill any bacteria on them? Also should you pre crush the feeder insects or food?
It probably doesn't kill all of the bacteria but to get rid of them all you would have to disinfect it (which would be very bad for the ants because disinfecting agents are usually quite toxic for them).
Also bacteria aren't a problem, the ants can deal with them. As long as the freezing kills any mites that might be on the food it's fine.

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