116 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

I would perhaps recommend putting the tube in an escape proof container, so you can easily feed her without having to open and close her tube all the time.

[P0rcelain]

i have thought about doing this. i do not know how i would make it escape proof though.

i guess now that she is wingless i could line the top with baby powder?

this probably sounds silly, but idk if this species can jump.

i think i have a tendancy to over think these kinds of things.

which is great if i am doing something big like planning a formicarium build, but not so great when i get stuck being indecisive about something simple.

Edited by P0rcelain, October 18 2019 - 12:39 PM.

[P0rcelain]

another update.

i still have not done anythiing to make feeding her any easier. that said, she is very cooperative and feeding time is very calm and hassle free.

it might be interferring with her laying ability, though. because she still has not laid. next time i get my groceries i will be sure to get some baby powder.

i fed her some tuna with some maple syrup again, because she seemed to really like that last time.

now, onto the fun stuff.

my fully claustral queen has laid her first batch of eggs.

if there was any doubt in the world, wings are no indicator whatsoever of how capable a queen is of laying. lmao.

[Formicoidea]

nice.

[P0rcelain]

ok, fully claustral queen is still going strong.

semi claustral has laid her first two eggs. not clusters. two individual eggs.

i have also bought a container to be her outworld.

the top is lined with vaseline and i have given her the usual meal.

she seems to be living off of it so who am i to judge.

though, i do worry she will not come out to eat. she has not left the tube yet.

i will give updates if anything happens.

[P0rcelain]

i have moved the tuna right over the entrance.

hopefully she goes for it now.

she must be really settled in because she is very reluctant to explore.

[P0rcelain]

she still has not eaten, to my awareness. the tuna is all shriveled up now.

Edited by P0rcelain, October 24 2019 - 5:13 AM.

[Manitobant]

You don't actually need an outworld. Most semi claustral queens (except for myrmecia, ponerines and a few others) can do fine in just a test tube with food placed in it.

[P0rcelain]

the reason why i have opted to use an outworld is because i am worried that feeding her in the test tube has been stressful for her and has hindered her ability to lay eggs.

it involves moving her around a lot and i figure earth quakes every 3 days and food miraculously dropping into her nest is not the most fun.

in fact it is probably quite scary and similar to some kind of natural disaster.

if people do it and it works, then they must have steadier hands than i do. i am sure you will understand when i say i think this is the best way to do it in this case.

[ANTdrew]

I think it’s absolutely best and more natural. Feeding ants in test tubes is just annoying in my opinion. Nobody hand delivers protein and sugars into the nest of a queen in nature, so she will know to go looking for food when needed. Don’t stress too much if she isn’t feeding all the time because she won’t need much protein until the larvae really start growing.

[P0rcelain]

ooooo ok. that makes me feel a lot better.

 

what do you think of her two eggs? will she lay more as she settles into the outworld or is she stuck with just two until her second brood?

[ANTdrew]

Hard to say about egg numbers as I have no experience with your ants. She should lay more if you keep her warm and undisturbed. You should message experienced Australian keepers like CoolColJ for advice if you haven't done so already.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Hard to say about egg numbers as I have no experience with your ants. She should lay more if you keep her warm and undisturbed. You should message experienced Australian keepers like CoolColJ for advice if you haven't done so already.

That's some pretty sound advice, not going to lie; If someone gave this to me I would be in seventh heaven 

[P0rcelain]

Hard to say about egg numbers as I have no experience with your ants. She should lay more if you keep her warm and undisturbed. You should message experienced Australian keepers like CoolColJ for advice if you haven't done so already.

ok. well, i checked quickly because i had to disturb her to clean up her outworld anyway. and she has laid about 2-3 more eggs. so all is well.

 

protip to anyone who plans on using vaseline to prevent ant escapes: don't smother on too much. turns out vaseline falls. very slowly, but it does. the corners of this container moved about 10-20 cms (i suck at judging distance) in the time between posts.

Edited by P0rcelain, October 25 2019 - 3:08 PM.

[Mdrogun]

Vaseline is probably the worst barrier I've ever used  . If it works for your ants, all is good, but you'll probably wanna pick up fluon or do that alcohol-baby-powder thing I see.

[P0rcelain]

yes, i bought rubbing alcohol and some baby powder in case the vaseline sucked. next time i feed her i will quickly switch her to another container with baby powder instead and clean the current one. it is not super urgent.

[P0rcelain]

fresh outworld using baby powder mixture.

i made sure to let all the alcohol fumes escape before i put her in, several hours in advance (let it dry upside down and then flipped it when it was done drying, just to be sure).

i am still a bit paranoid because i `smell baby powder`, though. but i guess that is just me being paranoid because it is baby powder. i guess i am just worried about it messing up her sense of smell or something idk.

i had salmon and honey this time, so tonight she is eating like a queen. (hehehe!)

i was thinking about adding some sticks to her outworld, though i do not think she would really use them.

what do you guys think?

[ANTdrew]

Looks good to me. I recommend offering freshly killed insects to the queen as well. Keep the updates coming.

[P0rcelain]

killed a small fly-like insect i found in the backyard. dipped in honey.

i doubt she will eat it, but i am warming up to the idea at least.

speaking of which, i have been paying a little more attention and she is not eating anything i put in the outworld... but. she also seems to be fine. her eggs appear to be doing well and she is vigilantly protecting them. she is still full of energy.

does semiclaustral mean what i think it does?

to be more specific, she actually does not use the outworld at all. she does not forage, she just remains nestled in with her eggs. she is still way more active than the fully claustral queen. there is a clear different in behaviour.

but she is not foraging.

Edited by P0rcelain, October 31 2019 - 10:24 PM.

[Formicoidea]

speaking of which, i have been paying a little more attention and she is not eating anything i put in the outworld... but. she also seems to be fine. her eggs appear to be doing well and she is vigilantly protecting them. she is still full of energy.

does semiclaustral mean what i think it does?

to be more specific, she actually does not use the outworld at all. she does not forage, she just remains nestled in with her eggs. she is still way more active than the fully claustral queen. there is a clear different in behaviour.

but she is not foraging.

 

At this stage of the colonies development (just eggs) she does not really need protein.

Once they hatch into larvae she should start foraging.

I wouldn't worry if she isn't eating before that point.