62 replies to this topic

[Temperateants]

Hi all, after troubling people asking about Crematogaster care, I decided to start a journal, in case I do something wrong, or to ask questions, but on my post. 

Introduction:

I just took my crematogaster out of hibernation, they didn't go into diapause with brood, but now I can count 5 eggs. 

I feed them everyday so far, such as mealworms, boiled beef, and I just got some of these bad boys:

I am using a heating cable.

Hope you guys enjoy this journal!

 

[ANTdrew]

Excellent. I’ll be following this and expecting big things from the colony this year.

[MsTesaAnt]

Hi.  I  hope they do well this year.   I feed my ants boiled hamburger. What type of boiled beef are you feeding them?

[ANTdrew]

My Cremas really like little cubes of beef boiled in a soup. Boiled hamburger would be softer, so I should try that.

[Temperateants]

UPDATE:

I fed my crematogaster the Hydei fruit flies. They devoured it, after carrying it home. Everyone looks pretty fat and happy. After also giving them a lot of heat, (in the high 70s) the queen laid more eggs. There were around 5 eggs in the first post, now I think I can count about 8.

Hi.  I  hope they do well this year.   I feed my ants boiled hamburger. What type of boiled beef are you feeding them?

I feed them what you would consider steak, free of spices. I'm considering just adding a tad of salt or some sort of electrolyte since I read that ants need that sort of stuff. I have caught a Formica and Tetramorium queen near the ocean, and they seemed pretty strong. I think they might have had access to salt water.

[Temperateants]

I'm not sure if these are larvae, since I've noticed that Crematogaster larvae don't actually have that transparent of stomachs. The eggs look bigger though. 

[Temperateants]

Unfortunately, I cannot provide a photo, but I fed my ants a mealworm. I gave them heat all night and throughout the day. The queen laid a new pile of eggs. If everything goes right, then the colony population will easily double or even triple in the coming month.

[ANTdrew]

Now you’re talking!

[Temperateants]

Update: Fed my Crematogaster another mealworm. All of my adult fruit flies died, so I will have to feed them boiled beef. They have enough eggs to increases their population by 4 times now. There are 6 workers. 

[ANTdrew]

Awesome! Just wait until I wake up my Cremas and you see my new nest for them.

[Temperateants]

Update: My crematogaster really enjoy the heat I gave them, which now I provide 24/7 instead of just during the day. Unfortunately, I've had to feed my ants Boiled beef, since all of my mealworms grew up and my adult fruit flies died after laying eggs. Is boiled beef good enough? 

[RushmoreAnts]

They should be fine for now, although it’s best to offer them a variety of protein.

[ANTdrew]

No, not for optimal growth. In the future, either pre-freeze your feeder insects or keep them dormant in the fridge.

[RushmoreAnts]

Or buy more on a monthly basis.

[ANTdrew]

Cremas will eat the beetles, too, if you cut them open.

[RushmoreAnts]

Yes- it would be good if you could breed them as well.

[Temperateants]

Ok, I froze some fruit fly maggots. Would that be fine aswell?

[ANTdrew]

Definitely. Cremas aren’t picky eaters.

[Temperateants]

I fed my ants maggots, and they devoured it. 

Here's a pic of the brood pile, is this a good amount? I woke them in Feburary vacation.

Them struggling to get the maggot back home:

[RushmoreAnts]

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