92 replies to this topic

[Ants4fun]

Hard to say what happened, but sorry it didn’t work out. Did they all die? Or just the queen? Did they have access to water? How often were they watered? Anything might have pesticides that you gave them? Ussually when all the ants die at once, might be a sign of poisoning or lack of hydration.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Or they may have been to cramped, that is always a possibility  

[Ants4fun]

Not really, nest was plenty large. And they wouldn’t spontaneously die immediately from being a little cramped.

Edited by Ants4fun, March 1 2020 - 9:17 AM.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

ok, I didn't know, but you're probably right 

[RushmoreAnts]

Hard to say what happened, but sorry it didn’t work out. Did they all die? Or just the queen? Did they have access to water? How often were they watered? Anything might have pesticides that you gave them? Ussually when all the ants die at once, might be a sign of poisoning or lack of hydration.

They all died, seemingly at the same time. They were watered twice a week. They didn’t have a test tube, but the whole nest was at least damp.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

The whole nest? That opens up a possibility of a mold outbreak... 

[RushmoreAnts]

It spread through capillary action, of which I had no control. I had no idea how much water it would take to hydrate the nest, so I experimented. Also, there was no trace of mold in the nest.

Edited by AntsDakota, March 1 2020 - 3:15 PM.

[Ants4fun]

Do you have an essential oil diffuser? I’m guessing it’s some kind of poisoning.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I would wager it's some kind of poisoning too. They're tough gals, but poison is they're utter doom...

[RushmoreAnts]

No, no diffusers. I hate the smell. But poison was my first thought as well. Not sure what it could’ve been, though.

[RushmoreAnts]

They're tough gals

I'd actually call them more sensitive. 

[Ants_Dakota]

Perhaps it was the outworld you were keeping them in. I remember a weird smell when i looked at them. Did you clean your rocks before you put them in? Also, could it could be the baby powder dust? I would recommend removing the formica colony form the other world and boiling the rocks for a while before drying them out to put back in. You might want to invest in aquarium rocks instead of those ones you have right now, as they were probably made for fake flowers, and not make for anything alive. Aquarium rocks are more smooth and will have nothing that will kill anything on them, and will work a lot better if you boil them(i have a feeling if you boil the other ones, they might loose their color)

[TennesseeAnts]

I would say it's the honey that killed them. I've had that happen to several of my colonies.

[ForestDragon]

yeah honey is strange... it can say organic and yet not be I've had colonies die of that before 

[RushmoreAnts]

Perhaps. That was one of my first thoughts.

[RushmoreAnts]

Perhaps it was the outworld you were keeping them in. I remember a weird smell when i looked at them. Did you clean your rocks before you put them in? Also, could it could be the baby powder dust? I would recommend removing the formica colony form the other world and boiling the rocks for a while before drying them out to put back in. You might want to invest in aquarium rocks instead of those ones you have right now, as they were probably made for fake flowers, and not make for anything alive. Aquarium rocks are more smooth and will have nothing that will kill anything on them, and will work a lot better if you boil them(i have a feeling if you boil the other ones, they might loose their color)

I actually closed the Formica’s test tube and stuck it in the heated Lasius container. Although I’ve never had any baby powder related deaths before.

[RushmoreAnts]

UPDATE #004 

Friday, March 6th, 2020

Update 1 of Page 3

 

Lasius neoniger

The LAI'SO REPUBLIC

First Appearance Update #001

 

Crassica doubled her egg pile. She might even have a couple larvae. 

 

 

Alata still has no eggs.

 

Formica subsericea

The EQUAN ALLIANCE

First Appearance Update #002

 

The queen laid a few eggs, and I believe she may even have a larva!  After being heated for a week, they freak out even more. 

 

 

NEW!

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

The NOVA ORDUM

 

I received two queens from UtahAntShop. They were in perfect condition upon arrival and I'm completely satisfied!  Not to mention they were only $30.00 a piece. 

 

 

Colony 1 has a worker and 3-4 eggs.

 

 

Colony 2 is just a queen. Sorry for the poor quality; the tube has lots of condensation. 

 

[Ants_Dakota]

I like it. Glad to see that the colony i gave to you is succeeding(i hate it when i sell a colony that fails)

Also, that is a lot of eggs that that lasius queen has. Was that the one i sent?

[RushmoreAnts]

Yes, it was.

[RushmoreAnts]

UPDATE #005
March 13th, 2020
Update 2 of page 3


Lasius neoniger
The NJ'NAENON of the LAI'SO REPUBLIC
First appearance Update #001

Crassica has a couple larvae! I saw a couple dark fecal pellets in the midst of all those eggs........





Alata is dead.


Formica subsericea
The EQUAN ALLIANCE
First appearance Update #002

Unfortunately, these have passed away. I fed them a piece of earthworm, and the queen was dead the next morning. Some how the worm most have been toxic........



Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
The NOVA ORDUM
First appearance Update #004

Nothing's changed for these. Colony 1 still has a few eggs, while colony two still has no eggs.


Colony 1:

Colony 2:



NEW!
Lasius americanus
The AMA'KERATUS of the LAI’SO REPUBLIC

Received this queen from Ants_Dakota. She had a larva upon arrival, but I can't seem to find it now.......

Edited by AntsDakota, March 13 2020 - 6:45 AM.