Feeding your ants correctly is one of the most important parts of successful ant keeping. Too little food? The colony will struggle to grow. Too much? You’ll end up with mouldy messes and unwanted pests (ever seen an ant-sized fruit fly invasion? Not fun).
This guide covers everything you need to know about feeding your ants, including:
✅ What ants eat (sugars vs. proteins)
✅ How often to feed them
✅ Providing a fresh water source (yes, ants get thirsty too)
✅ Safe feeding techniques
✅ Common feeding mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Let’s get started before your ants start giving you judgmental looks! 🐜🍽️
1. What Do Ants Eat? Understanding Their Nutritional Needs
Ants require two main food groups:
🥄 Sugars (Carbohydrates) – Energy Source
Think of sugars as the ant version of an espresso shot—it keeps workers active, energetic, and ready to explore their world.
- Common Sugar Sources:
✔ Honey water (a drop of honey mixed with water)
✔ Sugar water (equal parts sugar & water)
✔ Fruit (apples, bananas, grapes—basically anything they can’t peel)
✔ Nectar/honeydew (the natural choice, sourced from aphids in the wild)
🔹 How to Offer Sugars:
- Place a tiny drop on foil, wax paper, or a feeding dish—no one likes a sticky house.
- Avoid direct contact with the nest—sugars + humidity = mould city.
🍗 Proteins – Essential for Colony Growth
Protein is not optional—without it, larvae won’t develop, and your colony will remain stuck in “small business mode” instead of growing into a full-fledged empire.
- Common Protein Sources:
✔ Pre-killed insects (mealworms, crickets, fruit flies—served fresh, of course)
✔ Cooked egg yolk (tiny amounts, no seasonings—ants aren’t into fine dining)
✔ Boiled chicken or fish (unseasoned, because ants don’t need salt-induced heart issues)
Check out our meal worm breeding guide!
🔹 Live vs. Pre-Killed Prey:
- Some species actively hunt (Myrmecia, Iridomyrmex) and will take live prey—these ants are basically tiny lions.
- For most species, pre-killed is best—simply crush the insect before feeding (humanely, of course).
🚀 Pro Tip: Avoid insects from outside—they may carry pesticides or parasites, and your ants aren’t looking for a side order of illness.
2. Fresh Water – A Constant Necessity
🚨 Your ants need access to fresh water at all times!
Even though ants get some moisture from their food, they still require a separate water source to stay hydrated. Dehydration = disaster.
❌ Signs of dehydration:
- Workers appear sluggish (like you before morning coffee).
- Ants crowd around moisture sources (sign they’re desperate for a drink).
- The brood pile shrinks—bad news for colony growth.
Safe Water Sources for Ants
✔ Water test tube setup – A test tube half-filled with water, sealed with cotton so ants can drink without drowning.
✔ Insect water feeders – Small liquid dispensers (basically, tiny ant-sized water coolers).
✔ Damp cotton or sponges – Low-risk hydration method for small colonies.
🚀 Pro Tip: Always check for mould in water sources and replace cotton if it starts looking funky. Learn how to set up a test tube properly here.
3. How Often Should You Feed Your Ants?
Think of ants like tiny bodybuilders—they need constant fuel but in appropriate amounts.
🍯 Sugars (Worker Energy)
✔ Small colonies (20-100 workers): Every 2-3 days.
✔ Medium colonies (100-500 workers): Every 1-2 days.
✔ Large colonies (500+ workers): Daily or as needed.
🦟 Proteins (Brood Growth)
✔ Small colonies: Once or twice a week.
✔ Medium colonies: Every 2-3 days.
✔ Large colonies: Daily or as needed.
🚀 Pro Tip: If your ants devour everything within hours, increase portions. If food sits untouched for 24+ hours, reduce the amount.
4. Safe Feeding Methods (How to Offer Food Correctly)
Feeding properly prevents mould, drowning, and food waste (and reduces the chance of accidentally creating an unwanted mite farm).
🥄 Sugar Feeding Techniques
✔ Use feeding dishes (small bottle caps, foil, or wax paper).
✔ Avoid soaking nest areas—unless you want a sticky disaster.
✔ Consider liquid feeders to keep things tidy.
🍗 Protein Feeding Techniques
✔ Cut insects into small portions for easy consumption.
✔ Remove uneaten insects within 24 hours (ants are clean freaks; they won’t touch rotting food).
✔ Use tongs or tweezers to avoid becoming part of the menu (especially with Bull Ants).
🚨 Avoid feeding ants human food with salt, spices, or preservatives—ants are not food critics, but their digestive systems certainly are.
5. Common Feeding Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
❌ Overfeeding Sugars
🚨 Problem: Leftover sugary food attracts mould, mites, and pests.
✔ Solution: Offer small amounts and remove leftovers after 24 hours.
❌ Underfeeding Protein
🚨 Problem: Lack of protein = slow colony growth and weak workers.
✔ Solution: Ensure regular protein sources, especially for growing colonies.
❌ Drowning Risks
🚨 Problem: Ants drowning in deep liquid food sources.
✔ Solution: Use cotton, a sponge, or a shallow dish to offer liquids safely.
❌ Feeding Toxic Foods
🚨 Problem: Some common foods are dangerous to ants.
✔ Avoid: Salted/seasoned foods, citrus fruits (toxic to some ants), and wild-caught insects.
6. How Do You Know If Your Ants Are Eating Enough?
🐜 Signs of a Well-Fed Colony:
✔ Workers are actively foraging and carrying food back to the nest.
✔ The brood pile is growing, meaning they have enough protein.
✔ There’s some leftover food, but it’s not untouched for days.
🐜 Signs of Hunger or Malnutrition:
❌ Ants ignore food (may indicate stress or incorrect diet).
❌ The colony stops growing (possible lack of protein).
❌ Workers appear sluggish (they may need more sugar).
🚀 Pro Tip: If workers start bringing bits of trash into their nest, it might be time to clean out uneaten food and refresh their setup.
Conclusion: Feeding Made Simple
Feeding your ants doesn’t have to be complicated—as long as you provide a balance of sugars, proteins, and fresh water, your colony will thrive.
✔ Sugars for energy (honey water, fruit, nectar).
✔ Proteins for brood development (pre-killed insects, egg yolk, meat).
✔ A constant fresh water source (test tubes, water feeders, or damp cotton).
✔ Feed at the right frequency (varies by colony size).
✔ Use safe feeding techniques (no drowning hazards or toxic foods).
🐜 Happy ant keeping, and enjoy watching your tiny empire grow! 🐜
