7 replies to this topic

[alwayslearning]

In the past, I killed a couple colonies moving them from the tube to a formicarium before they reached a considerable number.

I think it is a pretty natural feeling for us, newbies, even when advanced keepers always discourage to do so.

 

Anyway, is there a common rule across species, linked to when we should move the colony? Like, when they reached at least 40 workers, in these particular months, before or after hibernation, etc. Any advice will help. I’m trying to put as many notes as I can to avoid hurting other colonies in the future. 

 

[ANTdrew]

This won’t help, but it depends on the species and what you’re moving them into. Moving a colony alone is not enough to kill them. Ants are not faerie beings.

[alwayslearning]

Mmmmm! Everything helps...

 

I have had bad experience with Camponotus Fragilis and Pogonomyrmex californicus.

And terrible experiences with Myrmecocystus Mexicanus, which is particularly sad since I love the honeypot ants and similars.

 

So, for Camponotus, do you have some advice? Or is it still to wide to have a general idea.

 

Thanks for helping me. 

[ANTdrew]

You can move Camponotus out of a tube when they have 15-20 workers. I would ONLY advise using a THA mini-hearth or comparable diy formicarium. No plastic.

[DDD101DDD]

Personally I kind of just eyeball it, I put the nest they're currently in next to the one I plan to move them into, and if it looks like they'll fill 3/4th or more of it I move them. Also you should take a nest's depth into account too.

Edited by DDD101DDD, July 4 2021 - 2:07 PM.

[alwayslearning]

And that's why I should keep asking, hahaha.

I don't know why I thought those (like https://tarheelants....ts/mini-hearth)were not good and the best ones were the concrete (like the ones that you find by dozens in AliExpess, https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001159682183.html)

 

I'm not a fan of plastic ones either. I like the acrylic nest for photos, but I did not have good experiences with them.

I never tried 3D printed ones...

 

Thanks a lot! 

 

 

You can move Camponotus out of a tube when they have 15-20 workers. I would ONLY advise using a THA mini-hearth or comparable diy formicarium. No plastic.

[ReignofRage]

If you are okay with the style, you can use tub and tube setups. For first generation or later colonies, people use containers that can only fit one to two test tubes and usually make a plaster floor that has molded divots for test tubes to set in. For medium to large species, they can be put into a one to two test tube sized tub and tubes set up after their first generation, or for smaller species you should wait until their test tube gets pretty full*. This also can be glorified and you can make tub and tube setups that have ten plus tubes if you colony really gets that big. This thread goes over the type of formicaria I'm talking about.

 

*This tends to make you run into the issue of it becomes annoying to feed due to worker rushing the cotton. Refrigerating the colony for 5-15 minutes can make feeding a numerous, small sized ant species way easier to feed.

Edited by ReignofRage, July 4 2021 - 3:54 PM.

[Formiga]

I've moved both my 2 Formica Fusca colonies away from their 20ml syringes (I couldn't find test tubes anywhere around) when there were around 5 or 6 nanitics and both colonies are doing fine.

 

I've moved them because the syringes don't hold much water (that's my main criticism of them!). They were running dry of water, while already having some mold on the cotton, so I've decided to move them.

 

They are in acrylic (or plastic?) aquariums the size of my open hand, as outworlds. Both colonies moved very fast out of their syringes, in less than 24 hours. Little moisture and a very wide and exposed entranced might have encouraged them to move out quick and easy.

One colony has a formicarium attached (too big for them but they are ok) and with 5 nanitics they explore the outworld for food; and the other colony is inside a vinyl tube attached to a 2.5ml water syringe inside the outworld. They've locked themselves in with sand pebbles and barely come out but they seem to be ok inside working on their brood.

 

I have 5 more queens that are still waiting for their 1st nanitics and I will move them as soon as they are around 5 or 6. Not many and I would prefer a larger number of them, but their syringes are running out of water and in an outworld setup I can manage that better and not stress them, so I think this is the best compromise for them under these circumstances.

Edited by Formiga, August 28 2021 - 2:34 PM.