ANTSTORE World of Ants (F)  >> English forum (F)  >> Questions for beginners (F)
Click to view full story of "Ants don't eat protein jelly"

DAVEY_E_185: Ants don't eat protein jelly (23. Jan 2010 21:28)

Hi there,

I wonder if anyones might know if there would be any reason why my ants ( L asius niger) may not be eating the protein jelly? I received them recently and the queen and workers arrived with eggs. I have been changing the jelly every 48 hours but I have never seen them interested in it. But tonight I put a small piece of cooked chicken in, and then half of the workers were continously taking the meat to the queen and the eggs. They continued to ignore the protein jelly beside them. I am also worried that I might have tried the meat too late, and the eggs may be harmed in some way.. Is there anyway that I would know?

Thanks for your help :)

baumarkthammer: Re: Ants won't eat protein jelly (24. Jan 2010 02:46)

Small colonies mostly don´t eat protein jelley, the bigger ones sometimes, too.
It´s easyer and cheaper to feed insects. Lasius niger take all sorts of dead insects and eat a lot.
When the eggs are harmed they just die and the queen lays new ones. Meat is not the best thing to feed, insects are simply better i think.

insanebe: Re: Ants won't eat protein jelly (24. Jan 2010 18:16)

protein makes up a very very small amount of the ant colonies diet, try a fruit fly.

SteveUK28: Re: Ants don't eat protein jelly (25. Jan 2010 16:40)

Yes even my large colonys dont much like the jelly.. dont know why.. they would much rather meat and insects. Try your local pet shop you may be able to get a few crickets cheap, or ebay... If you dont want to keep them alive.. you can chuck them in the freezer and take them out when u need them :)

JimmyVe: Re: Ants don't eat protein jelly (25. Jan 2010 20:17)

Yep, go for the real stuff. :D

MorbidMike: Re: Ants don't eat protein jelly (27. Jan 2010 20:32)

Perhaps you could dissolve some of it into sugarwater... maybe that will work. (Also I don't know if it will create 'dangerous' chemicals for the ants or something, probably not but who may know?) Otherwise... crickets and fruit flies are always a solid choice! Just remind to also give them some fresh water and sugar water to drink, those are very important as well.
And do not worry too much about this species... they really are easy to keep and the only way you could kill them quickly (by accident) is by dehydration.