Feeding slings dead harvester ants?!

[lord lionheart]

Just got my vial of ants for my son's ant farm from Uncle Milton. Every single ant is curled up and dead. The ants came in a vial with no source of food, moisture or pinholes. The ants took 3 days to get delivered. Surely there should be pinholes or moisture??
My question is if I can feed the dead ants to my 1" slings. They are harvester ants around 1/8" - 1/4".

 

[Jester]

They probably won't eat food that has been dead for a while.

I wouldn't try it just to be on the safe side. You have no idea what those things could have been eating, or not eating. They might not have any nutritional value anyways.

 

[webbedone]

Throw em out they are low on protiens and highly acidic chances are you slings wont even touch them. Plus god knows where they been and what/ who handled them.

 

[Le Wasp]

I'd guess no. Too much formic acid.

Sucks that they didn't provide ventilation for the ants though.

 

[JODECS]

not a good idea for me....jst throw them away to be safe...

 

[lord lionheart]

Thanks, I tossed them. Just seemed a shame they died for nothing