1787 replies to this topic

[CoolColJ]

Pheidole sp, light red head, dark red body, 6-7mm
I have her in my double test tube modded setup, with a polystyrene foam chamber entrance
in red test tube rack
clump of brood, 3-4 pupa.

 

A few pupa are starting to turn yellow now, so I think nanitics in a week's time, maybe 2 weeks since no heat cable.

Won't need to feed them until 5-6 workers I think.

 

Also noticed a slight crack on the plastic test tube... how it got there I have not idea!?

 

In any case this test tube mod has been successful. The water in the second test tube is only down to 50% after all this time.

There is no mold on the wicking cotton, I can refill it, and the queen and brood have been living and growing just fine in it.

 

 

 

Pheidole Colony F - Banished Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm queen - originally a partner of Pheidole Colony A
8 Nanitics, small clump of brood

 

I opened their test tube up and left it outside,I no longer want them around...

But they aren't leaving the test tube...

[Nare]

That Myrmecia queen is quite a beast - will you keep her in a tubs and tubes setup?

[CoolColJ]

Nare, on 10 Oct 2018 - 10:52 PM, said:

That Myrmecia queen is quite a beast - will you keep her in a tubs and tubes setup?

 

If I do keep one I'll probably end up putting her in my Atom C nest which sits inside a small circular outworld with red dirt.

Although filling the water back up could get dicey when there are workers, and the outworld is only 7cm tall...

 

But thinking of the end game, where there are over 100 of her workers and majors, yeah I have no space to keep these around unfortunately... they would need a decent sized outworld and nest

Especially considering they do hop and jump, and fluon barriers don't stop these girls...

But that would be a couple of years down the track

 

We shall see.. and i will most likely find another 1-2 more of these queens here, as the area near my house ,where I frequent is filled with them it seems.

 

But for now I may use the other remaining queen as trade barter

[DaveJay]

CoolColJ, on 10 Oct 2018 - 11:07 PM, said:

Nare, on 10 Oct 2018 - 10:52 PM, said:

That Myrmecia queen is quite a beast - will you keep her in a tubs and tubes setup?

If I do keep one I'll probably end up putting her in my Atom C nest which sits inside a small circular outworld with red dirt.
Although filling the water back up could get dicey when there are workers, and the outworld is only 7cm tall...

But thinking of the end game, where there are over 100 of her workers and majors, yeah I have no space to keep these around unfortunately... they would need a decent sized outworld and nest
Especially considering they do hop and jump, and fluon barriers don't stop these girls...
But that would be a couple of years down the track

We shall see.. and i will most likely find another 1-2 more of these queens here, as the area near my house ,where I frequent is filled with them it seems.

But for now I may use the other remaining queen as trade barter

I've been wanting Myrmecia nigrocincta, Myrmecia species in general really so I'm looking forward to receiving a queen from Col, thanks mate! At first I will use a tube in a tub set up, I bought some tall tubs with tight fitting lids and am adding ventilation, but eventually I'll move them into aquariums, I have lots hanging around. They'd look great in a 3 or 4 foot tank, I have some that are 20" or 22" tall that will be perfect.
If you watch the videos Col put on instagram you can see the Queen tracking him visually and plotting his death! Very interactive ants I think! I've been attacked by Jumping Jacks and it's no joke but I have been keeping scorpions, centipedes and tarantulas for a few years now so ants don't scare me too much, the scary thing about them is the population explosions I think

[CoolColJ]

Yeah they do have good eyesight, when I had both queens near me at the computer they were both watching me eat and type

And tracking my every move... so I put them into the test tube rack, but I'll open them up today in a tub and tubes for some cricket

I like to keep claustral queens in a sealed test tube for a few days so they know the test tube is their home and it's safe for them, other wise they will hang out in the outworld

[CoolColJ]

Spring 11th October 2018

 

Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant) 10mm queen
Atom C nest inside circular outworld - heat cable fed through expansion port, pressed against nest wall
11 workers, 9 cocoons, some large larvae and a stack of small larvae and eggs

 

10 and 11th worker has eclosed a few days I think.

They seem more industrious now, dumping a bit of the rubbish outside the nest.

First time I see more than 1 worker outside the nest as well, peak of 3 at times.

 

Camponotus suffusus bendigensis 17-18mm queen
20mm Test tube with aquarium filter wool dam - heat cable - red film
1 egg

 

Well I think she ate 2 of her 3 eggs.

Perhaps I damaged them during the move, but the one she laid in the nest test tube is still with her.

She keeps it in her mandibles at all times. Very protective of it I guess

Never seen her put it down to get warmth from the heat cable, but she likes the heat cable and stands on top of it.

 

She's also a lot more jumpy than my other queens, even adjusting the red film around her test tube will cause her to skitter around.

Edited by CoolColJ, October 10 2018 - 7:08 PM.

[DaveJay]

CoolColJ, on 11 Oct 2018 - 03:02 AM, said:

Yeah they do have good eyesight, when I had both queens near me at the computer they were both watching me eat and type
And tracking my every move... so I put them into the test tube rack, but I'll open them up today in a tub and tubes for some cricket
I like to keep claustral queens in a sealed test tube for a few days so they know the test tube is their home and it's safe for them, other wise they will hang out in the outworld

I think that was the problem with the Camponotus queen I sent you, she didn't come in a test tube so I put one in a tub for her but she was always roaming around the tub or sitting in a corner instead of hanging out in the tube, the fact that she laid eggs overnight once trapped in the tube shows that too much freedom is not necessarily the best way to keep them. I think she'll do much better with you.

[CoolColJ]

DaveJay, on 11 Oct 2018 - 03:10 AM, said:

 

CoolColJ, on 11 Oct 2018 - 03:02 AM, said:

Yeah they do have good eyesight, when I had both queens near me at the computer they were both watching me eat and type
And tracking my every move... so I put them into the test tube rack, but I'll open them up today in a tub and tubes for some cricket
I like to keep claustral queens in a sealed test tube for a few days so they know the test tube is their home and it's safe for them, other wise they will hang out in the outworld

I think that was the problem with the Camponotus queen I sent you, she didn't come in a test tube so I put one in a tub for her but she was always roaming around the tub or sitting in a corner instead of hanging out in the tube, the fact that she laid eggs overnight once trapped in the tube shows that too much freedom is not necessarily the best way to keep them. I think she'll do much better with you.

 

 

 

Only for claustral queens, they like to be in a sealed nest, as that's how they do it in the wild. Dig a hole and seal up until they have a few workers, before digging back out.

 

For semi-claustrals, I still seal them up for a few days to a week, but then open it up so they can forage, and dump rubbish out etc as they need to be constantly fed.

But the initial sealing up makes them know the test tube is their home.

 

The only one that blurs the boundaries in my Papyrius quieen. She is eating like a semi-claustral, but hasn't laid yet.

I know one person who has had luck going the social parasite route with donated workers and brood from Iridomyrmex ants and she has laid her own eggs and has larvae now

[CoolColJ]

CoolColJ, on 10 Oct 2018 - 9:32 PM, said:

Spring 11th October 2018
 
 
Pheidole Colony C - 2x Phediole sp. red head/black body 7-8mm queens
heatcable
30 workers - 1 major, 1 major larvae pupating
Tons of brood.
 
Hooray I finally got them to move into a fresh new test tube on their own after a day or so!

Didn't even use a bright light....

There were workers hanging out in the new test tube's chamber, more and more over time, so I guess the word spread eventually
Seems like they moved overnight, but a large major larvae that has starting pupating remains in the old test tube surrounded by 10 off workers - I think they can't manage to move it so left it there.....
 
They seem to be really liking the new cotton double chamber setup, the heat cable warmth should be even better trapped inside this chamber setup
Instead of keeping half the brood on the cotton water dam, they have them all sitting on the floor on or near the heat cable.
 
The major stands guard near the double chamber entrance, plus a few more workers.
While a few are in the old tube trying to move the large major larvae 
 
 
edit - gave them a helping hand and tapped the larvae towards the test tube opening, seems it was stuck on some water
Now some are pulling it towards the new test tube and others towards the old...

 
I wanted to sell this one recently, but I didn't get interest so I guess I'm keeping them for a while longer
Still some condensation so pics are smeared
 

 

[CoolColJ]

Pheidole Colony A - Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm queen
heatcable
40 workers, first major pupa, second major larvae
 
The final moment has arrived, first major eclose soon!
The longest to eclose major so far, and I think the largest one to date
There is already another large major larvae in the works

They have a big stack of worker pupa, so there will be a surge in population soon
And a follow up stack of eggs

Might be sending this one to Davejay, but I need to see the major first


click to enlarge

Edited by CoolColJ, October 11 2018 - 12:24 AM.

[CoolColJ]

Put one of the Myrmecia nigrocincta queens in a Chinese takeaway style container with red dirt
She was not able to climb the fluon barrier, combined with the smooth plastic

Put in a small semi alive small wood roach, she hasn't touched it yet

She is just exploring and trying to climb, and then did a little jump onto the test tube top

Edited by CoolColJ, October 11 2018 - 2:07 AM.

[CoolColJ]

Pheidole Colony G - 2x Phediole sp. red head/black body 8-9mm queens
16mm test tube - cotton double chamber setup - heat cable
2 nanitics - 4 pupa, small pile of larvae and eggs

 

1 pupa about to eclose

Still dreaming of a triple queen large species Pheidole colony, and nope my current one just went down the gutter...

Even with two nanitics, after few weeks 2 queens got banished to the other end of the test tube

 

Strange, but it seems the lazy queen that did nothing, became the owner of the test tube...

 

The other two queens keep close to the heat cable,
When I moved the heat cable, one of these moved closer to the brood and dominant queen, and boom a fight broke out between them!

 

So I flipped the the test tube to break the fight and kicked the dominant one out.

Used a kebab skewer to hook out that queen until she grabbed onto it and pulled her out!

 

Hopefully I can get a dual queen colony out of this at least,,,,

 

 

edit - dammit that queen that got attacked ihas a damaged antenna

I see a worker cleaning it 

 

I should have acted earlier. I did think to separate the dominant queen out... but too late now

Edited by CoolColJ, October 11 2018 - 5:28 PM.

[CoolColJ]

Well the two queens left in the test tube do get along, but one does have slightly damaged right antenna from the fight.

I saw a worker clean it, so the workers are friendly to these 2 queens.

I should have separated earlier like I had planned to

 

Anyway I will toss out the bad apple queen.... with another worker eclosing soon just as well

 

 

---

 

The Myrmecia nigrocincta queen in the tub and tubes setup has been wandering around trying to climb up the sides.

She did in fact get to the top in one corner, and spent the night standing there!

 

After opening up the container and placing a foil over her test tube she has gone inside it and is now chilling inside.

The wounded small wood roach is still wandering around outside...

 

This queen does seem fairly timid and docile, even when I place my forcep near her she does not attack it, and back away a little, but for the most part does not react much.

 

If you place the container at head height, like it is now, it's quite easy to peer inside the test tube from the front, without disturbing her.

There is a bit of light leak from the bottom and front back so you can still see inside.

[Leo]

Myrmecia need sugar water or honey constantly, after drinking, they will bury the liquids. Replace the liquids every 2-3 days. I use a small square of plastic as a dish, when I have to replace it, I simply flip the plastic around and add sugar water, since the old stuff would have dried and fallen off.

[CoolColJ]

Leo, on 11 Oct 2018 - 11:58 PM, said:

Myrmecia need sugar water or honey constantly, after drinking, they will bury the liquids. Replace the liquids every 2-3 days. I use a small square of plastic as a dish, when I have to replace it, I simply flip the plastic around and add sugar water, since the old stuff would have dried and fallen off.

 

 

I just have raw honey there all the time.

[DaveJay]

Leo, on 11 Oct 2018 - 11:58 PM, said:

Myrmecia need sugar water or honey constantly, after drinking, they will bury the liquids. Replace the liquids every 2-3 days. I use a small square of plastic as a dish, when I have to replace it, I simply flip the plastic around and add sugar water, since the old stuff would have dried and fallen off.

They do seem to like sugar water, both the worker I found and the Queen I bought with the Camponotus drank until their gasters looked swollen, now I just see them sip occasionally. Also, both killed the crickets but otherwise left them undamaged, I guess they stung them to kill them. I suppose without larvae they don't need the protein so much.

[CoolColJ]

DaveJay, on 12 Oct 2018 - 01:50 AM, said:

 

Leo, on 11 Oct 2018 - 11:58 PM, said:

Myrmecia need sugar water or honey constantly, after drinking, they will bury the liquids. Replace the liquids every 2-3 days. I use a small square of plastic as a dish, when I have to replace it, I simply flip the plastic around and add sugar water, since the old stuff would have dried and fallen off.

They do seem to like sugar water, both the worker I found and the Queen I bought with the Camponotus drank until their gasters looked swollen, now I just see them sip occasionally. Also, both killed the crickets but otherwise left them undamaged, I guess they stung them to kill them. I suppose without larvae they don't need the protein so much.

 

 

 

They drunk a lot of honey at first and then haven't touched it much since, they have enough in their bodies to last a while.

The injured roach has hidden herself under the foil against the glass of the test tube, and I'm sure the queen can see it

 

I've seen the same thing with the Rhytidoponera queens, ate a lot of protein to start to lay eggs, but since then haven't touched any.

I guess till larvae show up.

 

Also I noticed the food going moldy in R.aspera test tube even if it's well away from the water.. the humidity is so high it just does

 

 

Spring 12th October 2018

 

 

Pheidole Colony G - 2x Phediole sp. red head/black body 8-9mm queens
16mm test tube - cotton double chamber setup - heat cable
3 nanitics - 3 pupa, small pile of larvae and eggs

Third nanitic has eclosed.

Both queens friendly with one another, workers have have been claimed, things looking good.

 

I removed and released the "bad apple" third queen... dug her a hole and put her in and covered it up. Good luck!
She may or may not found her own colony, her gaster is quite bloated, so she should have enough food to do so.
But it's been raining and will continue to do so for a while, and it's cold.
But it will warm up next week.

 

If she founds a colony in that spot, nice I always wanted a Pheidole there, if not, tough luck...

Edited by CoolColJ, October 11 2018 - 6:11 PM.

[Leo]

Queens tend to be really timid and don't take any proteins. Then come the larvae and they will attack anything she sees moving. Her aggression-O-meter goes from 3 to 60 in a second.

[CoolColJ]

Spring 11th October 2018

 

 

checked up on my ants in the my ghetto incubator

 

Double black Iridomyrmex queens 8mm
20mm test tube - in styrofoam and heat cable incubator
100 eggs!

 

RIP, the third queen is dead... I found her in 3 pieces, head, thorax and gaster, guess she got attacked by the other two...

I see some small larvae, but not as developed as I hoped.

 

 

Nylanderia sp. 6mm - 5 queens
16mm Test tube with aquarium filter wool dam, cardboard floor substrate - in styrofoam and heat cable incubator
20+ eggs?

I see a couple of wings inside, only one queen remains fully winged.

There is one single stack of eggs on the far left side of the test tube stuck on the glass near the water dam.

 

One looks after the brood directly, the winged one next to her, and the rest chilling on the cardboard substrate.

Edited by CoolColJ, October 11 2018 - 8:40 PM.

[DaveJay]

This is why polygamy will never take off as a lifestyle!