21 replies to this topic

[B_rad0806]

October 23, 2018: On August 26 I bought this Camponotus Laevigatus colony from Nurbs. It costed $60 to buy. When I bought them they had 5 workers and 3 eggs. They came inside the pencil care formicarium. Ima try not to screw up like I did with my other colony. Luckily he gave me the care sheet for them so most likely I'm not going to screw up. 

https://imgur.com/oN9UcPw

https://imgur.com/Hn1d3Tf

Edited by B_rad0806, September 13 2020 - 9:26 PM.

[FSTP]

looks great!

 

Please review this thread: http://www.formicult...to-post-photos/

[Rstheant]

I also got a colony
Ready for hibernation
6 workers

[B_rad0806]

looks great!

Please review this thread: http://www.formicult...to-post-photos/

Thanks! I’ve been only using the links for the picture.

[B_rad0806]

UPDATE 3-12-19

 

So on the 9th I took them out of hibernation. I started to hibernate them on I think the 1st of December. So they got a good amount of rest through the winter. When I took them out no workers were dead, which relieved me considering I am sort of afraid of hibernating my ants. After I few hours I fed them a cricket and they didn't seem too interested in. Here are a few pics of them.

 

 

[Rstheant]

Nice, I was just checking on mine. Same worker count, except they ate their brood.

[B_rad0806]

Nice, I was just checking on mine. Same worker count, except they ate their brood.

Aww, that sucks. Mine ate their pupa before they hibernated

[B_rad0806]

Little vid I made for them

[B_rad0806]

time lapse of colony feeding

https://www.youtube....h?v=ZQYTmvewz3U

[B_rad0806]

UPDATE 4-6-19

Yesterday one of the workers died   Nurbs told me that the ant got sick. About a week ago it would just stand around outside of the nest. The good thing is that the queen laid TONS of eggs. There is also a pupa that is going to hatch soon. In the pic the queen is covering the eggs but you can see the dead worker and the pupa.

[B_rad0806]

UPDATE: 4-23-19

Earlier this morning one of the pupae hatched bringing the population up to 5 again. Nurbs and others told me that it was a median because of how big the worker is. Currently the colony has 2 pupa and about 10-20 eggs or something. I would think that this would get updated in a few weeks. Here are the before and after pics.

Edited by B_rad0806, April 23 2019 - 6:53 PM.

[B_rad0806]

UPDATE 5/17/19

Just recently this colony has reached 10 workers. They still have lots of more pupa to hatch. I also changed their test tube into a bigger one. This should allow them the have more room so they are not cramped in. Also the other day I fed them a mealworm through the vent. When I taped it I guess the tape hadn't completely stuck. Then when I came home I saw a worker then put it back in. Then I went out to practice basketball and came in to 3 workers gone. I got 1 but I had no clue where the others went. Then I decided to take a shower. When I came back the WHOLE COLONY WAS GONE. Just kidding. I ended up seeing the 2 workers crawling on my backpack. I then got new tape and taped it better. I hope this never happens again. 

[CatsnAnts]

My gosh, you SCARED me there for a second!

[B_rad0806]

Nap! MRAAAAA! I worker just died

[B_rad0806]

Update 8-21-19

​I am extremely disappointed in myself. For 2 weeks in the end of July I never fed these guys. I ran out of food and I needed to save up some money. Then I went on a trip and came back to many dead workers. I fed them a wax worm and I thought they would be fine. Then every worker died. Just a week ago the queen died. Lesson learned: never neglect your ants super badly. Hopefully I can get one of these guys again.

[B_rad0806]

Update 6-5-20

I bought 3 of these guys from someone on Discord. They all arrived with a small pile of eggs. Now this time i'm not going to screw up and kill them after their first year. Hopefully I get good colonies out of these.

[B_rad0806]

Update 6-30-20

2 of these guys have pupae and larvae. The one that doesn't have pupae has a good amount of larvae though. I expect workers in the next few weeks.

[B_rad0806]

Update 7-14-20

This morning one of the queens got it's first worker. The other queens should be getting some pretty soon. 

[B_rad0806]

Update 9-13-20

These guys are doing similar to the last colony I had last year. They all have 4-5 workers and 2 are in pencil cases. Hopefully I can get some sort of formicarium for the tubed one because I've been having to feed them in there.

[BroJack]

How are they doing now? I have several 1st years like yours that are in the fridge now until the end of February or so. I have trouble getting these guys past a second year and it is my hope that I can do it this year.