ANTSTORE World of Ants

[DAVEY_E_185]

Hi there,

I wonder if anyones might know if there would be any reason why my ants (Lasius 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]

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]

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

[SteveUK28]

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]

Yep, go for the real stuff.

[MorbidMike]

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.