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TexTech's Cephalotes texanus Journal

Started By TexTech , Jul 21 2021 2:31 PM
cephalotes cephalotes texanus texanus turtle turtle ant cephalotes varians varians texas texas ants turtle ants

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8 replies to this topic

#1 Offline TexTech - Posted July 21 2021 - 2:31 PM

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As some of you know, I've been taking care of some Cephalotes texanus (Texas Turtle Ants). Here's my experiences with them!

 

 

7/21/2021

 

This is a rather small colony that I found. Only 1 queen, 3 workers, 4 soldiers, and a decent brood pile. I plan on moving them to another setup soon, instead of this crappy temporary setup.

What I've noticed about this species is that they do not like a lot of humidity. They really love dryer places! I'm sure their hard exoskeleton (really tough like the Attinines) makes it easy to retain their moisture! 

I haven't tried feeding them yet, but I will see what they like as soon as I get them in a proper setup. 

 

 

208565165_507851670328237_15924591387706

 

More updates later as events happen.


  • Kaelwizard, TestSubjectOne, Antkeeper01 and 1 other like this
Keeping:
Cephalotes texanus-1
Neoponera villosa-1
Myrmecocystus mexicanus-1
Atta texana-4
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis-1
Pogonomyrmex barbatus-1

#2 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted July 21 2021 - 4:17 PM

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these ants never cease to amaze me :lol:


  • TexTech likes this

1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489

#3 Offline ANTS_KL - Posted July 22 2021 - 12:01 AM

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Me want. Now.

Sent from my CPH2201 using Tapatalk
  • TexTech likes this
Young ant keeper with a decent amount of knowledge on local ant species.

YouTube: https://m.youtube.co...uKsahGliSH7EqOQ (It's pretty dead. Might upload again soon, don't expect my voice to sound the same though.)

Currently kept ant species, favorites have a star in front of their names (NOT in alphabetical order, also may be outdated sometimes): ★ Camponotus irritans inferior, ★ Ooceraea biroi, Pheidole parva, ★ Nylanderia sp., ★ Paraparatrechina tapinomoides, Platythyrea sp., Anochetus sp., Colobopsis sp. (cylindrica group), ★ Crematogaster ferrarii, Polyrhachis (Myrma) cf. pruinosa, Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) laevissima, Tapinoma sp. (formerly Zatapinoma)

Death count: Probably over a hundred individual queens and colonies by now. I cannot recall whatsoever.

#4 Offline TexTech - Posted July 24 2021 - 1:49 PM

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Update!!

 

7/23/2021

 

I fed them a bit and also they had a few more workers and soldiers eclose!

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216864317_199985005417096_56083913123930211781957_343111423943693_27581984657151

 

7/24/2021

 

I finished making their new formicarium! It took a while as I had to make sure it was from the same tree as them (Just a precaution, not necessary, but I wanted to! Makes them feel more at home) They've moved in and have started carving out pieces of the wood that I've already cut! Which is fine, it's just at a part that I can't take good photos of. 

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214049824_343002660804515_24405357187735

213806985_885553258837998_30411359875512


  • CatsnAnts and antsinvirgina like this
Keeping:
Cephalotes texanus-1
Neoponera villosa-1
Myrmecocystus mexicanus-1
Atta texana-4
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis-1
Pogonomyrmex barbatus-1

#5 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted July 24 2021 - 3:26 PM

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That’s really cool! Awesome setup!
  • TexTech likes this

Spoiler

#6 Offline ANTS_KL - Posted July 24 2021 - 4:11 PM

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DID THEY EAT?! DID THEY EAT?!

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  • TexTech likes this
Young ant keeper with a decent amount of knowledge on local ant species.

YouTube: https://m.youtube.co...uKsahGliSH7EqOQ (It's pretty dead. Might upload again soon, don't expect my voice to sound the same though.)

Currently kept ant species, favorites have a star in front of their names (NOT in alphabetical order, also may be outdated sometimes): ★ Camponotus irritans inferior, ★ Ooceraea biroi, Pheidole parva, ★ Nylanderia sp., ★ Paraparatrechina tapinomoides, Platythyrea sp., Anochetus sp., Colobopsis sp. (cylindrica group), ★ Crematogaster ferrarii, Polyrhachis (Myrma) cf. pruinosa, Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) laevissima, Tapinoma sp. (formerly Zatapinoma)

Death count: Probably over a hundred individual queens and colonies by now. I cannot recall whatsoever.

#7 Offline TexTech - Posted July 24 2021 - 6:01 PM

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DID THEY EAT?! DID THEY EAT?!
Sent from my CPH2201 using Tapatalk

Yes,they did eat!
  • Antkeeper01, ANTS_KL and antsinvirgina like this
Keeping:
Cephalotes texanus-1
Neoponera villosa-1
Myrmecocystus mexicanus-1
Atta texana-4
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis-1
Pogonomyrmex barbatus-1

#8 Offline TexTech - Posted January 26 2023 - 8:05 AM

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A little update, The colony is still doing good! I moved them to a bigger setup. I'm going to post the best "how to keep Cephalotes texanus" within the week with pictures. 

The colony has about 70-80 workers due to a die-out, but they are recovering. The queen isn't in her egg laying season since it's somewhat cold here in Texas right now. 


  • VenomousBeast likes this
Keeping:
Cephalotes texanus-1
Neoponera villosa-1
Myrmecocystus mexicanus-1
Atta texana-4
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis-1
Pogonomyrmex barbatus-1

#9 Offline Jonathan5608 - Posted August 6 2023 - 6:14 AM

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Update
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Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: cephalotes, cephalotes texanus, texanus, turtle, turtle ant, cephalotes varians, varians, texas, texas ants, turtle ants

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