Making Water Fountains Safe for Small Ants and How I Mix Sugar/Water
Water fountains or waterers, (is there a better generic name for these) are a convenient way to provide water to small colonies and small ants in particular. Unfortunately, these are the very ants that sometimes have difficulty reaching the water or wind-up drowning in it when they do. For a while I solved this problem by putting small pieces of cotton in the base before screwing in the water bottle. Pictured below is the newest way I'm making it safer for small ants by putting a piece of paper towel over the water bottle and then screwing the base on tightly. Then I pull away the excess paper towel. Unscrew the bottle from the base 1/4 turn to let air in. I squirt some water in the openings in the base to help the ants get the water idea and it's ready to go. Don't worry if there's some towel sticking out the top, water will wick up and small ants can drink safely there too.
How I make Sugar/Water
If you're using the fountain for sugar water, here's what I mix for my ants and hummingbird feeders. Use any container you want, I use a four cup measuring cup. I fill it half full with hot tap water (2 cup line). Then I pour in white granulated sugar until the water line reaches the 3/4 mark (3 cup line). Then I stir (or shake) vigorously until the sugar is dissolved. Then I fill the container the rest of the way with cold water (4 cup line). That gives me a solution of water and sugar at a 3:1 ratio and it's at a temperature that I can use right away. To feed I usually use an eye dropper and sponge for small colonies and test tubes for larger ones.
RPT
Edited by rptraut, February 5 2024 - 11:26 PM.
