11 replies to this topic

[invicta]

What type of seeds would you usually feed a young harvester ant colony?

[Shaye]

I have never kept a single Pogonomyrmex queen or colony that did not immediately accept raw sunflower seeds. You can buy a bag at your local sprouts.

Edited by Shaye, August 12 2017 - 10:21 PM.

[dspdrew]

Almost any small seeds used for human consumption except sesame seeds. I've never heard anyone say their harvester ants liked sesame seeds.

[MrWeather]

will 4 years old sunflower seeds do? I still have a pouch of sunflower seeds kept in a dry place for 4 years.

[Scrixx]

Almost any small seeds used for human consumption except sesame seeds. I've never heard anyone say their harvester ants liked sesame seeds.

 

I've noticed that too. I've given four different Pogonomyrmex subnitidus which have workers sesame seeds and they've ignored them even though there's nothing else to eat in their outworld. 

[Shaye]

will 4 years old sunflower seeds do? I still have a pouch of sunflower seeds kept in a dry place for 4 years.

Were they cooked or seasoned? Most are.. The bag I get is without shells, and clearly labeled 'Raw'.

Almost any small seeds used for human consumption except sesame seeds. I've never heard anyone say their harvester ants liked sesame seeds.

 
I've noticed that too. I've given four different Pogonomyrmex subnitidus which have workers sesame seeds and they've ignored them even though there's nothing else to eat in their outworld.

Same for me.

[MrWeather]

 

will 4 years old sunflower seeds do? I still have a pouch of sunflower seeds kept in a dry place for 4 years.

Were they cooked or seasoned? Most are.. The bag I get is without shells, and clearly labeled 'Raw'.

 

Almost any small seeds used for human consumption except sesame seeds. I've never heard anyone say their harvester ants liked sesame seeds.

 
I've noticed that too. I've given four different Pogonomyrmex subnitidus which have workers sesame seeds and they've ignored them even though there's nothing else to eat in their outworld.

Same for me.

 

the sunflower seeds are for planting not for consumption yet.

[Shaye]

Should be perfect then! Sunflower seeds aren't the only seeds that they will accept, but I think they accept them more readily than others.

[MrWeather]

Should be perfect then! Sunflower seeds aren't the only seeds that they will accept, but I think they accept them more readily than others.

well I gave it both sunflower seeds and grass seeds but it chose to keep pulling on the cotton....

[Shaye]

Lmao, sometimes they are stubborn. I would suggest putting her away for a day or two (in a dark area) and seeing if she has settled by then.

[MrWeather]

Lmao, sometimes they are stubborn. I would suggest putting her away for a day or two (in a dark area) and seeing if she has settled by then.

she's semi claustral tho...

[Shaye]

Lmao, sometimes they are stubborn. I would suggest putting her away for a day or two (in a dark area) and seeing if she has settled by then.

she's semi claustral tho...

I didn't mean to imply that you should leave her there, but if she is not settling then you should likely give her a day or two to get used to her new home. Semi-claustral does not mean that she needs access to an outworld immediately. It just means that she will readily accept food before getting her first workers.

Edited by Shaye, August 13 2017 - 8:53 PM.