680 replies to this topic

[RushmoreAnts]

AC doesn’t know the definition of ‘escape’.

[ANTdrew]

Mikey B has kept Crematogaster before, but yeah.

[RushmoreAnts]

Mikey B has kept Crematogaster before, but yeah.

Was the colony a large one like yours?

[Canadant]

I found it nigh impossible to keep these guys in their outworld or formicarium. That's why I went part original nest in a covered outworld. So far so good but it's hard to get an idea how they're doing on the inside. Looking for a bigger outworld now.

Good luck drew. Give these guys a millimeter and its jailbreak central. I'm still finding guys in my door frame about 8 months after my mass outbreak last fall.

To cool to give up on though. Cutest ants for me. Hardy and unique.

Good luck.

[ANTdrew]

Thank you. Yeah, no way I’m giving up on my Divas, heck no. I think they need more outworld space.
By the way, my brother found a new Crematogaster queen at a gas station today. From the time of year, I guess it is ashmeadi.

[FeedTheAnts]

Thank you. Yeah, no way I’m giving up on my Divas, heck no. I think they need more outworld space.
By the way, my brother found a new Crematogaster queen at a gas station today. From the time of year, I guess it is ashmeadi.

Yay, the Valentines were getting lonely being the only ashmeadi in a world of cerasi. 

[ANTdrew]

Am I right to assume ashmeadi?

[FeedTheAnts]

Am I right to assume ashmeadi?

Most likely. My queen was caught in May, and I've never known cerasi to fly this early.

[Canadant]

Drew, I'm going to buy a small aquarium for my crematogastor ants. For the small enclosure that I have now, if I open the lid uts mayhem. They just start pouring over the edge and feeding becomes less enjoyable with unwanted casualties. This small acrylic aquarium is great for my camponotus but not sure about the cremas. it'll look pretty but will they stay?

I usually put a line of packing tape around my edges and that stops the camponotus from escaping. They're so easy to contain but with the cremas I'll need to coat with ptfe (which I have). They could cross that last fall. I'll do a better application this time though.
I'll post a pick of my tape idea for my camponotus and formica ants.

So, do you think I absolutely need a lid? Bummer if I do. I looked at the godmorgon stuff on ikea. They're great but 6 weeks delivery these days and the local branch is closed.

Also, if anyone else in this thread has experience and ideas I welcome that too.

Not to hijack your thread but I know you have experience with crematogastor and this is a high traffic thread in the general ant keeping area. Just thought I'd ask.

Kinda need a new outworld soon though.

Sincerely

Canadant

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[FeedTheAnts]

Mine were contained with a barrier of talc about 3 inches thick. Tape around the edge only became necessary once they hit a few thousand workers. I don't use tape like you do, but actually apply a barrier to the underside as if it were a lip. The adhesive itself is not much of a barrier. 

Edit: Not sure how any of this applies to PTFE btw, I've never used the stuff.

Edited by FeedTheAnts, May 5 2020 - 7:05 AM.

[Canadant]

Mine were contained with a barrier of talc about 3 inches thick. Tape around the edge only became necessary once they hit a few thousand workers. I don't use tape like you do, but actually apply a barrier to the underside as if it were a lip. The adhesive itself is not much of a barrier.
Edit: Not sure how any of this applies to PTFE btw, I've never used the stuff.

I appreciate the response. I had a lot of trouble containing them before. Hmm.....

[ANTdrew]

Thanks for posting. The issue I see is that where the pieces of tape meet, the sticky seam would provide them plenty of a toe-hold. I really think pro-grade lids designed for ants are the way to go. Serafine mentioned some frames designed to put on aquariums in his journal. I want to look into those.

[ANTdrew]

Update 5-10-2020

 

The title of my memoir as a Crematogaster keeper came to me this weekend: Fluon is Not Enough. As Sigyn's population continues to skyrocket, it became basically impossible for me to lift the lid of her outworld without a few ants slipping out - even though there is a thick band of fluon. I went back to the drawing board and designed my own Fort Knox level outworld that looks like this:

 

 

I used silicone to glue a thin rim of plastic a few inches below the lid as a sort of barrier before the barrier. I got the thin plastic from a large poster frame, and it was thin enough that I could actually cut it with scissors. I lined the bottom with fluon. To escape, the ants would have to scale the three inch thick band of fluon, climb 2.5 inches upside down on fluon, then get out of the snug fitting lid somehow. I'm the last person to say that this is impossible, but I think even the Divas will be hard pressed to crack this nut!

 

 

I placed the whole set up with tubing on my newly installed ant shelves. I love how it looks, especially next to my blooming calanchoe.

 

 

In the process, I got a glimpse at Sigyn's brood chamber which is stacked up behind their heat pad. Holy mother of brood!

 

 

 

Here's hoping for at least a few more weeks of no escapees...

 

 

 

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Edited by ANTdrew, March 2 2021 - 9:22 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Holy mother of brood!

You could just say, "Holy Queen!" 

[Canadant]

Nice! You're not whistlin' Dixie!

I see now what you mean about how they're slipping through the cover and the formicarium. They're jammed in there in the photo. These guys can really squeeze like cats if he need to.

Best of luck.

[ANTdrew]

Update 5-12-2020

 

"O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever."

It's been almost 48 hours, and I appear to have Sigyn and her Divas mercifully contained in my DIY outworld. I'm going to dub the thing my Crematogastarium. None of the workers can even reach the upside down rim, and they're not really even trying since crowding is down. I was even able to clean some of the crap out of the Nucleus foraging area because crowding is way down in there, too. It's so much fun watching the workers traverse up and down the tubing leading to the new outpost, and I'm more than happy to see some new graveyards and trash dumps forming up there instead of right next to their brood pile. Some groups of workers have started huddling up in the spaces between the rocks in the outpost, similar to the satellite groupings I see in my yard.

 

It's nowhere near as pretty or neat as something Boog or Dspdrew would make, but if it stops Crematogaster, then that's pretty damn good.

 

I feel like a big weight of Crematogaster crap has been lifted off my shoulders...

Edited by ANTdrew, May 12 2020 - 6:58 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

I'm more than happy to see some new graveyards and trash dumps forming up there instead of right next to their brood pile.

Who but ants would think of putting a cemetery and garbage dump next to a daycare? 

[ANTdrew]

I know. Crematogaster are by far the most slovenly ants I've kept.

[ANTdrew]

Photo Update 5-14-2020

 

Good morning from the desert outpost/ Crematogastarium:

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Edited by ANTdrew, March 2 2021 - 9:24 AM.

[Antkid12]

 Nice! how many workers do you think the colony has?

Edited by Antkid12, May 14 2020 - 4:26 AM.