33 replies to this topic

[B_rad0806]

Update 4-29-20

The other day I took a count of how many workers there are. There are about 64-67 workers. Most of their pupae hatched. They also have like 100 eggs with them. These guys are doing super well.

[B_rad0806]

Update 7-26-20

These guys are doing pretty good. They have 100 workers and over 100 eggs. I moved them into a bigger setup because it was super hard to feed in their old setup. Now that they are in their new setup I can feed every day and they will grow WAY faster than they did in their old setup.

[jasond1979]

Did u notice a change in size when u started feeding them more?

[B_rad0806]

Did u notice a change in size when u started feeding them more?

Definitely, they are growing very nicely now that I can feed them without a problem. I've been feeding them bloodworm soup and a full mealworm every 2-3 days. My next update should be coming soon. 

[Ants_Dakota]

I would move them into a formicarium now, if you want. They would like that. Also, awesome colony! Wish i had one that big!

[B_rad0806]

Update 9-20-20

These guys are doing great with around 150+ workers. Feeding and heat really is the key for this species. They also gained more majors putting them at 5. Sadly the oldest major of this colony died. It lived to be a year and 4 months old. These guys also have around 40-50 pupae and 30 larvae. The formicarium that they are in should last them another 6-12 months. Once they get to a good size I will probably move them to a THA nest. So far so good  

Edited by B_rad0806, September 20 2020 - 8:01 AM.

[B_rad0806]

Update 10-20-20

Just recently these passed 200 workers. They still have around 50+ eggs of all types just sitting around so they can probably get more before I take them off heat.

[OhNoNotAgain]

I had the weird problem of fraggles eating their brood when I took them off heat.

Curious if anyone else has seen that problem.

 

Anyway bloodworm soup... good idea for dinner.

[B_rad0806]

I had the weird problem of fraggles eating their brood when I took them off heat.

Curious if anyone else has seen that problem.

 

Anyway bloodworm soup... good idea for dinner.

Last year mine just let their brood sit around. Nothing changed about them during winter. Also yes bloodworm soup is these guys favorite meal. After this picture was taken literally every worker had a full red stomach haha 

[B_rad0806]

Update 2-8-21

Just put these back on heat a week ago. Over winter they lost around 30 workers. So they are still at around 200-230 workers. They have a ton of larvae that will pupate soon so those workers will quickly be replaced. They also have 10 majors too.

[jasond1979]

Great job raising these guys.  You might want to try fruit flys mine love them, also my colony I kept on the heat all winter long and they kept reproducing no let up.  I have mine in a THA Phalanx and they are at a bout 200 plus individuals.   This is a great ant I think for a beginner but heat is the key for this species.  Also they really try hard to escape they can walk up almost any wall, even Fluon if it isn't evenly applied.   I've lost a couple that got squashed when I closed the lid on them.

[B_rad0806]

Great job raising these guys.  You might want to try fruit flys mine love them, also my colony I kept on the heat all winter long and they kept reproducing no let up.  I have mine in a THA Phalanx and they are at a bout 200 plus individuals.   This is a great ant I think for a beginner but heat is the key for this species.  Also they really try hard to escape they can walk up almost any wall, even Fluon if it isn't evenly applied.   I've lost a couple that got squashed when I closed the lid on them.

Yeah I dropped in fruit flies yesterday and they completely ate them up. I am working on a culture of them so I'll be able to feed them a heck ton at a time.

[B_rad0806]

Update 3-15-21

So I counted the workers this morning and they actually have like 160-170 workers which is much less than I expected but that should not be an issue. About 2 weeks ago I took on the challenge of feeding them every single day. I have been feeding them 1 cut up mealworm. 2 weeks later it is working very well. They have about 110-120 brood of all stages and are getting new workers every day. 3 new majors hatched bringing the major count to 13. This colony is going to shoot up in numbers very soon. The queen has also laid about 40-50 eggs in the last 2 weeks also. 

[ANTdrew]

Daily feeding is best for all my ants as well. Nice colony.