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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 12:15:14 GMT 1
Hi. I was just wondering is live food dangerous? I remember reading on the website or the fourom that you have to kill and chop up the food you give them. Is this true? And if so why,surely it is more realistic and make them feel more at home if you give a wild worm for example! I know that they are also scavengers but i think it is almost nicer to give them live food? Please give all your thoughts and opinions
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 13:07:13 GMT 1
Hi alex In my opinion its really depending on three things 1 colony species , if your ants are a aggressive species they can usually tackle live insects earlier 2 colony size, i wouldnt try live food to a really small colony of 2 or 3 ants i.would recommend 20+ ants so that you know your not hampering growth by consuming there time but im sure you could do it with less,its your own choice 3 insect species, dont feed you ants spiders for other insects that fight back.try crickets and flies. Also maybe handicap the insect. Eg tear its wings off and for crickets take its back legs off so it cant escape Hope this helps
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Post by Myrm on Aug 6, 2012 16:39:59 GMT 1
ttttt have given some great advice there! The only thing I would say is that I prefer to kill the insects I give to my ants rather than pulling off wings and legs; that is cruel as the insect may suffer a great deal. There are conflicting beliefs on whether insects feel pain. I believe they do. We have all seen ants that are critically injured squirming about on the ground. Are they squriming because they are just trying to get up and move or is it because they are in pain? Who knows? I believe the latter and so I always give my ants freshly killed insects.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 17:14:48 GMT 1
Great teamwork from both of you! great answer
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 18:27:08 GMT 1
Also, another thing it may depend on is if your ants are picky... My rubra colony will swarm, kill and then eat live prey but they ignore killed insects even if I refuse to give them anything for a few days.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2012 20:01:56 GMT 1
Do L. Flavus and L. Niger prefer live or dead prey?
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Post by Myrm on Aug 13, 2012 20:18:24 GMT 1
Do L. Flavus and L. Niger prefer live or dead prey? Doesn't matter
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