ANTSTORE World of Ants

[sithmaster676]

hi
i have already placed a few other topics but i was just wondering whether i am feeding my colony right.
currently i have been feeding them a variety of flies and also a lot of apples and banana.
is this ok they have plenty of water but have now gone into hibernation.
sithmaster676

[Sced]

hi
Yes there diet seems good, but you should feed them honey water or sugar water as well

[mpir]

I'd say that the most important food for almost all species of ants is sweet or honey water. Proteins (insects) are food for larva. While ants need carbohydrates that is shugar.

While in hibernation this type of food is not important. Otherwise I'd advice you to offer them various mixtures of water and honey. Find out what they like the most.

[NuEM]

Fruits should work as a substitute for honey.

[JimmyVe]

I rather give them honey. but fruits are okay to. if the colony gets bigger you can give them other bugs to. Try some out and find out what they like.

[sithmaster676]

hi all
thnx 4 all the replies i hva another question about my ants if you would not mind answering 4 me plz
i was wondering wot would happen if all my workers died during hibernation would this result in the death of the queen or would she be able to survive until new eggs hatched.
sithmaster676

[mpir]

If you would offer her honey-water and if she would eat it she would probably make it.

[sithmaster676]

hi
tnx 4 the reply ihope it doesnt come down to her bein on her own they will need a lot of food i suppose when they wake up.
and another question wot is the usual life expentacy of an worker ant
Sithmaster676

[mpir]

It is different from species to species. And of course of conditions they live in. A worker ant can live up to 5 years.

The longes life span of a Lasius niger queen in captivity was 29 years. On the other hand the queen of pharoh ant lives only about 3 months.

[sithmaster676]

hi all
thnx for the quick reply i hav antother question if you wouldnt mind anwsering i was wondering if an messor barbarus colony would be able to live in this setup and if so for how long i would also attach the small arena Sithmaster676 [web]http://www.antstore.net/shop/product_info.php/products_id/1146/cPath/39_75/glass-formicariums/glass-ant-display-40x30x1-8cm[/web]

[mpir]

Hard to say. It really depends on how fast your colony grows. I would give it a few years. And if they outgrow it you can attach to it another one just like this.

[sithmaster676]

hi all
thnx for the reply i think i going to keep lasius niger in this tank after all they will properly last longer.
when would the best time be for me to get this as they in hibernation at the moment i dont really want to get them now and they go straight into hibernation. would april time be best ?
Sithmaster676

[mpir]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Keep them hibernating at least till end of March. When will you buy the new tank it is up to you.

[JimmyVe]

Lasius niger is a good species to start with, and if I'm right (if i get the question right) they are indeed in hibernation now, if you want to wait until they are out to buy, it is best that you wait until the end of March.
The thank is okay, but like Mpir sad, it depends on how fast your colony grows. but you can always build on.

[sithmaster676]

hi all
thnx 4 the replies wot i meant by the questuion is that would it be best to get the colony when they come out of hibernation in the wild
Sithmaster676