Spitting and eating

Question
I used to have three minnows that loved any live food I gave them. When I gave one an ant it kept on eating it and spitting it out until I took the ant out. It looked like my minnow liked it alot.I would like any information for futre knoledge.

    Thanks,
       Camille

Answer
Hi Camille,
 Ants contain formic acid which probably burns pretty bad when it is in your mouth.  I wouldn't feed ants to anything.  Creatures which normally eat ants have evolved ways to deal with the formic acid.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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