199 replies to this topic

[ZTYguy]

Hello. The fungus is doing great and growing rapidly. Photos coming soon.

[ZTYguy]

Pics. More coming in next update.

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[ZTYguy]

Quick update: Worker explosion. There are over 70 workers now and the fungus is so big now. They are starting to grow it on the top and are super active. I’m so excited for this and hopefully I will be able to get some good photos. 

[Antkeeper_21]

I suspect they will happily enjoy your care and as long you don't interfere with them (too much ) they will thrive to incredible numbers, maybe even a solid million. Good luck finding majors too.

[ReignofRage]

I suspect they will happily enjoy your care and as long you don't interfere with them (too much ) they will thrive to incredible numbers, maybe even a solid million. Good luck finding majors too.

One million workers is feasible for an Atta species, Acromyrmex versicolor only get into the tens of thousands. Also they don't really get majors like what you are thinking of, they are more of just larger polymorphic workers.

[NicholasP]

The first post about your Acromyrmex and the pic gives me a lot of nostalgia to when I had my first Acromyrmex colony.

[ZTYguy]

I will be receiving 15+ queens in a few days and on Sunday I will be going to a spot to collect foraging queens and I will give them fungus. I will also be making a fungus farm that I will show you in a few days.

[Swirlysnowflake]

I will be receiving 15+ queens in a few days and on Sunday I will be going to a spot to collect foraging queens and I will give them fungus. I will also be making a fungus farm that I will show you in a few days.

Who did you buy the queens from if you don’t mind me asking?

[ZTYguy]

Dm me on discord @AntsSoCal#7219

[ZTYguy]

First shipment arrived today. I’ll update once I get them into something.

[ZTYguy]

First shipment is 15 queens which I just dumped into a Petri dish connected to a container of roses and gave them some fungus to start off with. Excited for the next shipment. Photos coming after I eat dinner...

[ZTYguy]

Well definitely just finished dinner. Anyways here you go.

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Edited by ZTYguy, August 4 2021 - 9:30 AM.

[ZTYguy]

This is my accurate representation of both colonies right now. 
https://www.google.c...0YYMHeBZuc7SOmz

[ZTYguy]

Update: Both colonies (main colony & 15 queen founding colony) are doing great. I added 3 workers to the founding colony to help them along and they excepted them. The fungus in both colonies are getting bigger and the brood piles in both colonies are getting larger. The next gen in the large colony I project to be about 60-80 workers. The brood pile is just insane. Anyways I am also getting my second shipment tomorrow so I’m excited. I made some founding formicaria for them and I’ll hopefully get some more colonies going. ZTY out

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[ZTYguy]

Made all founding queens final setups and my large founding colony is taking off now.

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[ZTYguy]

Random update but umm.......I just learned on accident that Acromyrmex go crazy for goldfish. Will be purchasing more fluon on a side note.

Edited by ZTYguy, August 25 2021 - 3:06 PM.

[ZTYguy]

Hello, so far they are doing great. The fungus is about the size of two golf balls and I estimate about 150-200 workers are present in this colony. They continue to cover the lid of the nest box so visibility will be a major issue but luckily the queen’s chamber is nestled right up against the glass so I can see the two royals highnesses anytime. The brood piles are so big now that it spills over every other day. Yesterday I saw a worker fidgeting with the pile and trying to prevent spillage. Here are some photos I’ve taken since the las5 update in no particular order...

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[ANTdrew]

Wow!

[ZTYguy]

Update: Not much has changed. I have uploaded a few videos on Tiktok about these guys under the name SoCalExotics10. The fungus has grown in slight amounts but the worker count is probably at about 250-300 workers.

[Max_Connor]

Is there any info on what species this fungus is and how it affects organisms? Can they grow it to a size of a fungus forest when they reach thousands?