10 replies to this topic

[Fairyfish]

Is it safe to feed store bought apples to ants? As far as I know pesticides are used on commercial fruit. I was thinking of taking a white pirce from near the middle and avoiding the skin, that should be ok, right? Would spray chemicals penetrate that far into the fruit?

[ANTdrew]

There is no need or benefit whatsoever to feed your ants fruit. There are very real and dangerous risks, however. Stick to nectar or sugar water. Variety is important for protein sources, not for sugars.

[jo16]

I fed my ants a pees of apple from near the middle of the apple, they loved it and they seemed to be fine.

So as long as you don't feed them the skin I think it should be fine. 

[ANTdrew]

I fed my ants a pees of apple from near the middle of the apple, they loved it and they seemed to be fine.
So as long as you don't feed them the skin I think it should be fine.

Reread my post above, please.

[RushmoreAnts]

Yeah, ants don't typically eat fruit in the wild. They get their carbohydrates from plant sap and aphid nectar, both of which are best simulated by, as ANTdrew already said, nectar and sugar water.

[gcsnelling]

I see no reason not to use an occasional bit of fresh peeled apple.

[Fairyfish]

There are a few different thoughts in the replies. It would be fun to see them have something different but if it really does come with a risk of killing them I'll avoid it

[IdioticMouse26]

Yeah, I say just stick with sugar water and nectar. Both safety-wise and convenience-wise. Fruits might rot if you forget to remove them in time.

[ANTdrew]

I see no reason not to use an occasional bit of fresh peeled apple.

Agreed. I have given my ants wild gathered pawpaw and mulberries in the past. Organic store bought fruits would be fine. Feeding non-organic fruit is playing Russian Roulette with your ants, though.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

I would agree with Antdrew on just not taking risks. While also saying, i feed my ants a bit of fruit slice sometimes.
 

I'd say this is a situaiotn where no one should really encourage anyone to take an unnecessary risk with their ants. We have no real control or guarantees when using commercially produced fruits, so the general given advice is right to say,
"don't do that, it's a risk you have no need to take, just use commercially produced ant nectar or your own sugar water mix."


You can however take on all the risks you peronally want to take on, just best not to give it as "good advice" to other people.
I only use organic, and i wash it well, and i've not had any bad incidents. But it is a risk and i'd not suggest others to do it.

[RushmoreAnts]

I also agree. Wild/all-natural fruit is fine; it's just the threat of pesticides from commercially grown fruits.