33 replies to this topic

[B_rad0806]

3-17-19

So yesterday I bought a Camponotus Fragilis colony from Nurbs. When I got them they had 8 workers and 3 eggs. They are very active and have lots of energy. They are doing super well with my heating cable and just camp around in the tube under it. Here are the pics



I also made a youtube vid

Edited by B_rad0806, May 15 2021 - 8:52 AM.

[Rstheant]

Use a incubator and heat lamp. They grow MUCH faster, and it’s more natural.

[ANTdrew]

I love the look of this species.

[Rstheant]

ANTdrew, seriously who doesn’t??

[B_rad0806]

Use a incubator and heat lamp. They grow MUCH faster, and it’s more natural.

Use a incubator and heat lamp. They grow MUCH faster, and it’s more natural.

I do but it doesn’t show in the pic

Sry strange glitch on my phone

[B_rad0806]

Time lapse of the colony feeding although they're not that active

https://www.youtube....h?v=ZQYTmvewz3U

Edited by B_rad0806, March 27 2019 - 2:30 PM.

[Xanuri]

Mine are more active in the evening and morning, they do seem to calm down and have "quite time" during the day!

[B_rad0806]

Mine are more active in the evening and morning, they do seem to calm down and have "quite time" during the day!

I filmed this during the night

[Rstheant]

These love Sunburst ant nectar and crickets.

[B_rad0806]

UPDATE 5-8-19

These guys have been growing very fast. It is just worker after worker after worker. Currently right now they are 15 workers. I'm starting to think that the ones Nurbs gave me have like some dwarfism. They seem kinda small to me and other people. Either way these guys should be getting more workers soon as they are producing a lot of eggs and many pupa are developing.

[Somethinghmm]

Maybe not enough protein? I'm Something (Socal) from Discord! *wave*

[B_rad0806]

Maybe not enough protein? I'm Something (Socal) from Discord! *wave*

Oh ok

[YsTheAnt]

Yeah this species doesn't explode until you feed them. Nurbs wouldn't be able to manage 15 colonies of C. fragilis with over 50 workers so he doesn't stuff feed them. For the FASTEST growth however, you should feed them a lot more.

[Rstheant]

I would say from experience if you want TONS of brood, at least 3 times a week, and sugars every other day, or in a liquid feeder.

[B_rad0806]

I would say from experience if you want TONS of brood, at least 3 times a week, and sugars every other day, or in a liquid feeder.

Ok, i've been feeding them twice so far.

[B_rad0806]

UPDATE: 5-28-19

This colony is doing super well. They are currently at around 26-27 workers. I decided to get a v2 formicarium from nurbs because it was hard to feed. When I moved them there were no deaths and it was actually pretty easy. I remembered I had one of Drew's liquid feeders so I put it in there. They are very easy to feed now and they can get sweets whenever they want. I put baby powder along the top so they would not be climbing the roof all the time. I don't expect it to work for very long tho. 

 

[B_rad0806]

Update 9-25-19

Not sure why I have not updated. Just recently these guys hit 50. It has been getting very hard to feed these guys. To make it worse this drank all of their sugar water in their feeder. Yesterday I ordered some PTFE fluon. It will arrive on the 15 of October. Hopefully I can feed these guys soon and they don't die like the other colonies did.

[B_rad0806]

UPDATE 3-2-20

A week or 2 ago I started heating these guys up again after the winter. Over the winter they lost about 8 workers bringing them down to 42 workers. I have been feeding them a lot of proteins so that they will get more workers and possibly some majors. They have a large brood pile of maybe 20+ eggs for last year. One if the larva just spun a cocoon today. 

[B_rad0806]

Update 4-13-20

These guys have gained quite a few workers. All of last years brood has hatched. They are now in the 50's again. They also gained 2 more majors. There are still +10 more pupae that are going to hatch soon. They also have +30 eggs. They should be around 100 workers in the next month or so. 

 

[B_rad0806]

Update 4-22-20

These guys have 58 workers now. Most of their pupae hatched. There is still about 10 left. They also have around 40 eggs. Plus the queen lays a lot. They should have 100 workers in the next 1-3 months.