Every ant colony requires affection and attention from the keeper. An effective antkeeper takes care of their colony, and provides regularly food and water. They also ensure that the arena or nest is free of parasites.
What should I feed the Ants?
Like all creatures living on Earth depend on food and water for survival. The majority of Ant species are omnivores that is, they eat everything that are digestible. They get their nutrients from the plant kingdom, as well as other animals or insects. They are also adept at using their environment to nourish their own colony members and themselves.
Protein
The colonies of live ants spend great deal of time collecting insects, as well as other items they believe are rich in protein. Protein serves as the basis of the colony, satisfying the basic requirements for growth and expansion. Protein is fed to queens and larvae. The larvae are fed pieces of chewed-up food by workers, providing the necessary nutrients to develop into adult insects. They are unable to digest solid food , but only as liquid. Although they do have mandibles that can chew their food, they are unable to not consume it because of a filter inside their mouths. The food that is solid isn’t sufficient to pass through the mesh. Adult ants don’t require protein in the same manner as larvae do. The queen however requires a steady supply of protein in order to produce eggs and lay eggs. This is a demanding task which requires protein as well as carbohydrates.
A typical woodland ant colony (Formica polyctena) will consume up to 6 million of liters or 28 liters of insects in the course of a year. This is a testament to the hardships other insects go with the ants as neighbors. Their food sources are not restricted to specific categories, however, they will eat anything they are able to kill and consume alive or dead.
Carbohydrates/Sugar
The adult ants aren’t able to grow so they don’t require protein in the same way as queens and larvae. However, since employees spend their day and nights at work, they require energy sources: carbohydrates. The more simple they are to consume, the more nutritious they will be.
Ants are fond of sugar and they will always opt for sugar when they are required to replenish their reserves. Sugar can be consumed in various forms, however the liquid version is certainly the most effective. Examples include honey, syrup or water heated , then combined with sugar. Sugar water is easy to make by mixing water and sugar in equal quantities. The amount of sugar can be adjusted to create various thicknesses of the liquid. However, the more sugar you add, the greater chance of ants being trapped and dying.
There are many ways of feeding your ants with liquid sugar. One example of a simple method is to fill the test tube and then plug it in with cotton. The ants can absorb the sugar water through the cotton, without drowning. Another option is to put the sugar water into capsules of some kind and putting it the area where insects hunt (if you already have one). If you’re feeding your ants viscous liquids, an aluminum foil could be used as an ant-proof plate.
If you are looking to alter your sugar consumption, consider offering your ants different kinds of fruits. They are a natural source of sugar which certain species might like.
Ants actually require water
As humans like us, ants require water for survival. The majority of colonies can live in a dry environment for short time however, a deficiency of water is fatal. The wild ant colony receives its water from the ground they traverse on. The tropical ants that live in trees, collect the morning dew onto leaves. Because water is vital for the survival of ants, it is essential to provide them with a reliable and continuous supply of it.
In normal circumstances, ants “drink” through the nest’s walls where the moisture collects. This is among the main reasons why ytong nests are so popular with the antkeepers as they absorb the water and distribute it throughout the nest.
Apart from a well-watered nest An external source for water will always be an ideal idea. This can be easily solved by filling the test tube and placing an unwashed cotton ball on the end. Why not mix the energy requirement with it and then put sugar water in it instead?
