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How often should I refresh the food in an enclosure?

food feeding

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#1 Offline drawpositive - Posted August 5 2021 - 7:44 AM

drawpositive

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I have several founding colonies --3 in small formicariums and 3 still in test tubes. (For reference, the enclosures are kept with a temperature range of mid 70's to mid 80's) I've been feeding them each a bit of honey/honey water and a piece of boiled insect every week.  They ants always have access to fresh water.

 

After about 2 days, the honey water dries  up and the insect piece looks dry.  

 

Should I be concerned that their food becomes dry?  Or not, since they have access to water?  Are ants interested in dry sugar/dry meat?  I ask because I could imagine that the dry meat may be difficult for them to chew or cut.

 

Should I be giving them a refresh on their food more often?

 

 



#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 5 2021 - 7:47 AM

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Most ants will not eat anything that is dry. You may want to renew their food more often. A little protein every other day or so and constant access to sugars in a liquid feeder would be the best, in my experience.
  • TestSubjectOne, drawpositive and zA-Z0-9 like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.





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