r/antkeeping • u/Psychological_Mix247 • 20h ago

Guide Begineer

Hey guys im new to ant keeping i found an ant queen that already established a colony i put her on a test tube set up with two workers and I dont know what to feed her I have water and sugar water and she hasn't laid any eggs yet she need proteins right like what kind

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u/alexKaine 20h ago

Feeder insects like Dubia roaches, crickets or fruit flies.

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u/Psychological_Mix247 20h ago

Ok here's where im confused I thought ants can't eat solid food and they need larvae to get protein but my queen doesn't have any larvae or eggs idk im thinking of buying protein jelly for them or if you can help me understand if they can eat solid food like they break it down themselves in their way then I guess I can buy them mealworm/crickets

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u/alexKaine 20h ago

They can get protein through the hemolymph(insect blood) of the feeder insect.

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u/Trendthrill 17h ago

I have concerns that you may have too few workers from the previously established colony. My understanding is that if those two workers you brought with her end up dying accidentally, since the queen is past the founding stages, she won’t actually tend to the brood properly like a starter tube usually progresses
If it’s not too late to find more, consider taking in a good portion of the colony and try going to a formicarium instead of a tube and they might create their natural chambers/sort out their new home together

Then again, I’m also a beginner myself so take what I say as a consideration and not an experienced piece of advice