14 replies to this topic

[Zmagz]

So this Camponotus chromaiodes colony had about 15 workers coming out of hibernation and they seemed pretty healthy with a lot of larvae. I decided to move them into a formicarium cause it was getting really hard to feed them in a test tube. They loved the formicarium and the outworld. In 3-4 months they now have about 80 workers or so. They were doing fine but this last week or so they have been acting kind of weird. They completely stopped laying brood and I think they may have ate the brood they had. I've put out lots of food in the outworld but it seems they don't even want to travel to the outworld, they are in like a slow unproductive state. There is a bit of mold around the entrance of the outworld but it's not much and probably harmless. Other than that I have no idea what could be causing this behavior if any of you have any questions of how they are or answers to their problems please let me know!

[rbarreto]

Sounds like they are getting ready for hibernation.

[Zmagz]

Sounds like they are getting ready for hibernation.

They shouldn't be though, Winter isn't for another 4-5 months

[Manitobant]

If you had kept them awake in the winter they could be doing reverse hibernation

[rbarreto]

Sounds like they are getting ready for hibernation.

They shouldn't be though, Winter isn't for another 4-5 months

When did you take them out of hibernation?

[Zmagz]

 

 

Sounds like they are getting ready for hibernation.

They shouldn't be though, Winter isn't for another 4-5 months

When did you take them out of hibernation?

 

March I believe

[Zmagz]

If you had kept them awake in the winter they could be doing reverse hibernation

I did hibernate them

[rbarreto]

How long were they in there for?

[Zmagz]

How long were they in there for?

4-5 months. I also just saw one in the outworld so maybe I should try feeding them different protein?

Edited by Zmagz, July 3 2019 - 8:08 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Smaller colonies such as yours tend to take breaks in eating. I would just wait a little while.

[Zmagz]

Smaller colonies such as yours tend to take breaks in eating. I would just wait a little while.

Oh really? I never knew this, It just kind of scared me since they have no brood either.

[RushmoreAnts]

Queens also take egg laying breaks.

[Zmagz]

Queens also take egg laying breaks.

Yeah I know that, but this is like a super long time. it's been a few weeks maybe almost a month or so

Edited by Zmagz, July 3 2019 - 4:04 PM.

[rbarreto]

Maybe try switching up what you feed them. I used to only feed my F. pallidefulva colony superworms but production really slowed down. I decided to give them fruit flies and they accepted all of them. A few days later I noticed a large new batch of eggs.

[TennesseeAnts]

Queens also take egg laying breaks.

My chromaiodes queens don't take breaks...