43 replies to this topic

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2 (C.pennsylvanicus) If I counted right, they are up to 40 workers.

 

 

Queen #3 (C.pennsylvanicus). I can't get a decent picture and they are clumped up, so I'm not sure how many workers there are, but they seem to be doing good.

 

 

 

Queen #5 (C.chromaiodes) are still clumped up in their test tube, but there is always one or more workers hanging out in the AntsCanada nest. Hopefully they will move in soon.

 

 

[TechAnt]

That AC Nest (Which I’m not a fan of for many reasons, but I’m going to point out one), seems a tad too big for Colony #5

[Ants_Dakota]

Awesome progress! hopefully my novaeboracesis will do that good someday!

[TheAntGuy]

Yes they probably aren't going to move into that nest and even if they did it would be too big for them at the current stage.

[Ants_Dakota]

Yes they probably aren't going to move into that nest and even if they did it would be too big for them at the current stage.

I always wait until my test tubes are crowded for camponotus until i move them into a nest. They always seem to be skittish of large spaces.

[KitsAntVa]

The parasites are actually flys surprisingly that take over a Queen make her walk lethargic then kill the queen which in turn makes the larvae of it come out pupate then turn into a fly.

[Skwiggledork]

That AC Nest (Which I’m not a fan of for many reasons, but I’m going to point out one), seems a tad too big for Colony #5

I was hoping with the amount of dirt I put in it, it would be closer to the right size.

i just don't want to buy anything new at the moment, so am trying to use what I have.Really should have jumped on the TarHeel summer sale and got 5 mini hearths.

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2 is between 40-45 workers.

 

Queen#3 is up to around 30 workers.

 

Colony #5 looks to be around 30 workers.

 

 

Definitely too much space in the AC nest, but I'll see how it goes.The colonies all look well fed at least.

Edited by Skwiggledork, October 2 2020 - 4:08 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

I always think the birds eye view of ants in a formicarium is so cool.

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2

Queen #3

Queen #5

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2

 

Queen #3. I moved them back into a test tube in preparation to put them in a mini hearth or mini hearth xl that is coming in a few days.

 

Queen #5. Lots of brood and they've started digging around in the dirt, so might be planning on moving further in.

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2. Definitely lagging behind the others.

 

Queen #2 is now in a mini-hearth and I love it. As usual I've paid the noob tax and bought a bunch of things instead of buy once, cry once. lol

 

Queen #5 is going crazy with brood.

 

 

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2. 34 workers. I don't remember having a die off, but the last time I posted a count I said 40-45,

 

Queen #3

 

Queen #5. So much brood(for a small/young colony). I can't wait to see how they explode. Counted 26 workers. A little less than last count, but close enough that I may have missed a few deaths.

Edited by Skwiggledork, April 27 2021 - 10:35 AM.

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2

 

Queen #3

 

Queen #5

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2

 

Queen #3

 

Queen #5

[Skwiggledork]

#2

 

#3

 

#5

[Skwiggledork]

#2 I decided I wanted to try something since they were getting close to full in the little acrylic nest, so I made a dirt setup inside an aquarium. It's a work in progress, that started with scrap things I had laying about. Got a 2.5 gallon tank for the C.penns with a flat rock as a feeding tray, a Pilea plant and a glass spider for decor. Aquarium is a 10 gallon tank random live and fake plants and 10 cherry shrimp(Neocardina davidi). I hear they breed like crazy, so we'll see how it goes.

 

#3 The mini hearth is getting crowded, so I attached a mini-xl to it. They haven't moved in yet, but there is a few that hang out in it.

 

#5 Moved them into a TarHeel Casita. I think they will be better off in here than the AC nest...once they fill it out a bit better.

 

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2 is doing fine. I keep seeing workers foraging and they did have their brood near the glass a few days ago, but it was a weird angle with the outside tank and just deep enough of a chamber that I couldn't find a way to get a decent photo.

Queen #3 apparently doesn't want or need the extra minihearth. They have stayed in the same one, but are still growing. I put their food in the new one's outworld, so they go through it, but don't want it.


Queen #5 is doing awesome. For some reason today they have moved away from the water tanks and they keep to 2 groups instead of all together.

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2 died while disassembling the terrarium. Hated the look of it and wanted more room for the shrimp that were breeding like crazy.

Queen #3 Moved into Tarheel Labyrinth. I ended up putting a Formica queen and worker I caught a few months ago into the XL minihearth that they didn't seem to want, then she laid a bunch of eggs and we are going into year 3, so she should start really ramping up egg production. The mini hearth dimensions are 3.5"x 1.75" and I thought with how crowded they were a fallen fortress at 4"x4" wouldn't be much of an upgrade or last long being only slightly more than twice the space. The Labyrinth is 5"x7" and I greatly underestimated how much more space that was, but they moved in.

 

Queen #5 is producing a lot of eggs but still has a lot of space.

[Skwiggledork]

Queen #2(C.pennsylanicus) - Not doing much. Maybe some more larvae, but I think they are still mostly hibernating. I see a forager once in awhile, but not a lot of activity.

 

Queen #5 (C.chromaiodes) - Very active and growing fast. finally starting to hang out on more than one level of this nest, but a lot of extra space. I think one of the water towers has been designated as the bathroom area. Looks moldy/dirty. I also have an infestation of book lice(Psocodea) that got bad fast. So far they don't seem to mind each other, but it bothers me. I also need to clean the glass.