69 replies to this topic

[Otrebor707]

If you transferring to new test tube. The way I do it . I tape them together with blue tape then cover the new one and set a light on old one . I hope your ants do better. Tetramorium Sp e is my first colony since 2018.

[Otrebor707]

If you transferring to new test tube. The way I do it . I tape them together with blue tape then cover the new one and set a light on old one . I hope your ants do better. Tetramorium Sp e is my first colony since 2018.

by doing this you let ants to move what’s healthy and leave behind the bad stuff

[Lillyrose]

If you transferring to new test tube. The way I do it . I tape them together with blue tape then cover the new one and set a light on old one . I hope your ants do better. Tetramorium Sp e is my first colony since 2018.

That's a good way but they would lose access to their outworld and feeders ..and I can't fit two tubes in the box together.... with all the water and being happy in the tube I don't think they'd have moved on their own.

But that's a great way if you have the time and resources.

Do you have a journal on your colony? I'd love to read more about your girls.

[Otrebor707]

If you transferring to new test tube. The way I do it . I tape them together with blue tape then cover the new one and set a light on old one . I hope your ants do better. Tetramorium Sp e is my first colony since 2018.

That's a good way but they would lose access to their outworld and feeders ..and I can't fit two tubes in the box together.... with all the water and being happy in the tube I don't think they'd have moved on their own.
But that's a great way if you have the time and resources.
Do you have a journal on your colony? I'd love to read more about your girls.

no I didn’t make one . I was so excited when I got my first Queen * Tetras sp e * from this forum that I disappeared for almost 3 years . I moved them to a formicarium from THA “Casita” one day I was moving them and the formicarium fell to the ground *screaming internally * luckily only one glass broke and again luckily was the dump side area * empty* I used a glass from a pic frame temporary. The. Order a replacement for $3dlls from THA . We been living in peace since then . No more accidents .

[Otrebor707]

https://imgur.com/gallery/LhPjOHb

[Lillyrose]

If you transferring to new test tube. The way I do it . I tape them together with blue tape then cover the new one and set a light on old one . I hope your ants do better. Tetramorium Sp e is my first colony since 2018.

That's a good way but they would lose access to their outworld and feeders ..and I can't fit two tubes in the box together.... with all the water and being happy in the tube I don't think they'd have moved on their own.
But that's a great way if you have the time and resources.
Do you have a journal on your colony? I'd love to read more about your girls.

no I didn’t make one . I was so excited when I got my first Queen * Tetras sp e * from this forum that I disappeared for almost 3 years . I moved them to a formicarium from THA “Casita” one day I was moving them and the formicarium fell to the ground *screaming internally * luckily only one glass broke and again luckily was the dump side area * empty* I used a glass from a pic frame temporary. The. Order a replacement for $3dlls from THA . We been living in peace since then . No more accidents .

Never too late to start one!
I like your video

[Kaelwizard]

If you transferring to new test tube. The way I do it . I tape them together with blue tape then cover the new one and set a light on old one . I hope your ants do better. Tetramorium Sp e is my first colony since 2018.

Tetramorium sp. E are referred to as T. immigrans.

[Lillyrose]

Sadly we lost some workers. They just kinda fell over and died .. I guess stress.

Happily the queen is a fricken beast egg laying machine. Geeze

[Lillyrose]

It's pink again! Why!!!!!

I don't know what to do. They just got this tube and last time I moved them there was more than a few worker deaths. I don't want to dump them again.

Can I put tubes in the dishwasher?

I think I used tap water and maybe that is the issue... geeze



One thing that amuses me to no end is the queen's habit of building herself a little cave out of brood. Like .. she will surround herself. She's a beast at laying.

I love her so much.

The workers are so much braver now and will eat a lot more. I love watching them take a fruit fly apart.

[ANTdrew]

You can definitely put tubes in the dishwasher. Just leave them there for now. They’ll be fine.

[Lillyrose]

The tube continues to turn pink and red... my other ants have some colors showing up as well, including black. Maybe I keep them too warm? Or maybe my cotton balls have something on them .. I'm really not sure.



I gave the girls a small buffet to try. Some cooked chicken, crushed dog food, and peach cobbler. Interestingly they showed no interest in the cobbler but brought back some dog food and totally demolished the chicken.


You can see some of the dog food here with the brood. I just hope it doesn't mold and if it does that they'll kick it out.



I love the way the queen kinda buries herself in the brood. She seems to enjoy being surrounded by her children.

Also I think a wild ant got in. Either that or the next generation of ants grew a lot!



I found 3 dead workers and was worried this ant was to blame .. but she walked right into the nest and sat on the brood ... so I guess she's not a threat?

She seems to have decided to stay and make them her family... or she is family and just got fed a lot better ... which is possible since I really stepped up how often I'm feeding.

[ANTdrew]

Well fed second generation workers will be way bigger than the nanitics. There is zero chance such an aggressive species would accept a wild worker.

[NoveltyAntsYT]

update?

[Lillyrose]

These girls are amazing... and frankly have probably ruined my expectations of all future colonies.

The queen is a beautiful beast.. a tank of egg laying goodness. She just keeps going.

She builds herself a house out of her brood. It's amazing.

The girls are much less finicky and will now eat crickets, mealworms, termites, roaches, grasshoppers, and regular cooked meat like chicken. They don't seem overly tempted by sweets and will cover all fruit with sand.

They are very skittish though. As soon as I enter the room they start running around a bit and the queen buries herself in the back under brood.

I ended up changing tube because the red water had black spores growing and that didn't seem safe.
I think these girls will be happy when I finally give them a formicarium. Either the Antpartments that Antdrew is making or the Casita from Tarheel... I didn't think they'd get big enough for that this year but Golly they might.



Look at that pile! It's amazing!

[Kaelwizard]

The fruit might be too close to their nest and that may be why the cover it. Especially if it is particularly juicy. Ants will often cover up liquids by their nests to prevent floods.

[Chickalo]

Suddenly, Tetramorium seems much more interesting!  Luckily flights will still be going on in two weeks so I will definitely be looking for some queens

[ANTdrew]

Your Antpartment will be ready when you are. Just give me the word.

[Lillyrose]

Your Antpartment will be ready when you are. Just give me the word.

Does your summer start next week too? Def can meet up sometime next in the next couple of weeks! Oh I'm excited! I probably can't move her yet but I'm excited to get the Antpartments

Edited by Lillyrose, June 7 2021 - 5:22 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Yep. Friday is the last day with students. I could meet up any time.

[AntBoi3030]

Wow! You’ve been doing a great job your ants seem to be growing Nicely. I caught one of these and she has eggs! I am so exited for her workers I just found this journal.