16 replies to this topic

[KadinB]

I am going to be getting a colony soon and I want to know a bit info on how to keep them and stuff. I am gonna move them into a mini hearth when they get here. What’s the temp for them that they need is one and just some other things I might need to know. I’d ask about more but I’m ver tired and it’s almost 7am and I have been awake since 4am thx to my wrist hurting from my surgery.


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[antsandmore]

I am going to be getting a colony soon and I want to know a bit info on how to keep them and stuff. I am gonna move them into a mini hearth when they get here. What’s the temp for them that they need is one and just some other things I might need to know. I’d ask about more but I’m ver tired and it’s almost 7am and I have been awake since 4am thx to my wrist hurting from my surgery.


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I know you're tired, but if you think you can stay awake a little more, or after you rest a bit, you can check out some of the journals that people have posted. many of them will have people telling others about how they care for it, the ants behavior, and many other things useful for antkeeping.

[Fatatoille]

Feed them like crazy - a good rule of thumb is if the larvae are not eating something then they can be fed more.

Don’t bother with seeds - contrary to what the name suggests, novomessor will rarely bother with seeds and do just fine on insects for protein, sugar water solution or some other liquid carbohydrate source does fine for energy. If you do want to try though, sunflower seed seems to be popular.

Heat them like mad - I keep my own novomessor at quite a high temperature and it shortens the development time to around 5 weeks, I’ve also seen other people keep them around 95F. You won’t notice the difference it makes when the colony is still small, but when they get above 50 workers, it makes all the difference.

Novomessor like it dry - I have had novomessor evacuate a nest when I overwatered it, they cannot stand being in a too humid nest. This can actually be quite helpful when trying to get them to move.

I’m a bit more skeptical about this advice but novomessor seem to do better in grout or gypsum nests compared to acrylic ones, THA would probably be a good choice for a colony of these.

Edited by Fatatoille, July 24 2021 - 7:43 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

Feed them like crazy - a good rule of thumb is if the larvae are not eating something then they can be fed more.

Don’t bother with seeds - contrary to what the name suggests, novomessor will rarely bother with seeds and do just fine on insects for protein, sugar water solution or some other liquid carbohydrate source does fine for energy. If you do want to try though, sunflower seed seems to be popular.

Heat them like mad - I keep my own novomessor at quite a high temperature and it shortens the development time to around 5 weeks, I’ve also seen other people keep them around 95F. You won’t notice the difference it makes when the colony is still small, but when they get above 50 workers, it makes all the difference.

Novomessor like it dry - I have had novomessor evacuate a nest when I overwatered it, they cannot stand being in a too humid nest. This can actually be quite helpful when trying to get them to move.

I’m a bit more skeptical about this advice but novomessor seem to do better in grout or gypsum nests compared to acrylic ones, THA would probably be a good choice for a colony of these.

They are naturally seed harvesters and I feel like seeds would be less of a hassle for some people, especially people like me, who buy large amounts of seeds for birds.

[antsandmore]

 

Feed them like crazy - a good rule of thumb is if the larvae are not eating something then they can be fed more.

Don’t bother with seeds - contrary to what the name suggests, novomessor will rarely bother with seeds and do just fine on insects for protein, sugar water solution or some other liquid carbohydrate source does fine for energy. If you do want to try though, sunflower seed seems to be popular.

Heat them like mad - I keep my own novomessor at quite a high temperature and it shortens the development time to around 5 weeks, I’ve also seen other people keep them around 95F. You won’t notice the difference it makes when the colony is still small, but when they get above 50 workers, it makes all the difference.

Novomessor like it dry - I have had novomessor evacuate a nest when I overwatered it, they cannot stand being in a too humid nest. This can actually be quite helpful when trying to get them to move.

I’m a bit more skeptical about this advice but novomessor seem to do better in grout or gypsum nests compared to acrylic ones, THA would probably be a good choice for a colony of these.

They are naturally seed harvesters and I feel like seeds would be less of a hassle for some people, especially people like me, who buy large amounts of seeds for birds.

 

I think that the mix of diet will probably be ideal... I think that Fatatoilleis just trying to say that the novomessor like proteins more or at least will accept it if I haven't misunderstood.

[TestSubjectOne]

I've tried feeding my Novomessors Drew's seed mix and gotten little response, while they go crazy for insects. Granted, this was when they were only at ten or so workers so I'll feed them some now and update on their response. Honey water and insects works just fine as a diet, though.

[KadinB]

Alright I will take a look at some journals. It sounds like the seeds aren’t really needed so I’m not gonna use any. I will be using a mini hearth for them also. I have my Pogonomyrmex out in my garage and they seem to do great out there and the temps out there can be between high 70s at night and at day it is high 80s-90s and the Pogonomyrmex have done freak in there. But winter is getting close so imma need a heating pad I think for them all and set the hearth on top of the pad and keep it there at all times. So I basically just treat them like Pogonomyrmex but no seeds and a bit more protein. Thx a lot!! This info will be useful!


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[KadinB]

What about stings and bites? I think someone told me that they don’t have stingers and that the bites hurt. Is that right?


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[TestSubjectOne]

They can't sting at all. However their bites are annoying and they will attack easily. They can't pierce skin though, so they don't do much harm, but it isn't pleasant.

[KadinB]

They can't sting at all. However their bites are annoying and they will attack easily. They can't pierce skin though, so they don't do much harm, but it isn't pleasant.

oh alright cool kind of weird that they don’t have stings. They look like a species that should have stingers and would be painful but don’t. Thx!


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[TestSubjectOne]

To update, my Novomessor cockerelli still show almost no interest in seeds. They harvested a couple but the majority of seeds remain in their outworld.

[KadinB]

To update, my Novomessor cockerelli still show almost no interest in seeds. They harvested a couple but the majority of seeds remain in their outworld.

yea sounds like thru don’t need them thx!


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[AlexLebedev]

I am going to be getting a colony soon and I want to know a bit info on how to keep them and stuff. I am gonna move them into a mini hearth when they get here. What’s the temp for them that they need is one and just some other things I might need to know. I’d ask about more but I’m ver tired and it’s almost 7am and I have been awake since 4am thx to my wrist hurting from my surgery.


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Gibe them way more protein than seeds 

[KadinB]

I am going to be getting a colony soon and I want to know a bit info on how to keep them and stuff. I am gonna move them into a mini hearth when they get here. What’s the temp for them that they need is one and just some other things I might need to know. I’d ask about more but I’m ver tired and it’s almost 7am and I have been awake since 4am thx to my wrist hurting from my surgery.


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Gibe them way more protein than seeds

yup I got it now thx!


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Also can anyone tell me how big a colony can get in 4 months to 8 months to a year old?


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[SleepyAsianAnter]

They can't sting at all. However their bites are annoying and they will attack easily. They can't pierce skin though, so they don't do much harm, but it isn't pleasant.

 

I accidentally dropped a novomessor queen on my thigh while tubing her and she pierced skin

[AlexLebedev]

 

 

I am going to be getting a colony soon and I want to know a bit info on how to keep them and stuff. I am gonna move them into a mini hearth when they get here. What’s the temp for them that they need is one and just some other things I might need to know. I’d ask about more but I’m ver tired and it’s almost 7am and I have been awake since 4am thx to my wrist hurting from my surgery.


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Gibe them way more protein than seeds

yup I got it now thx!


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Also can anyone tell me how big a colony can get in 4 months to 8 months to a year old?


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they grow very fast from what I've heard

[KadinB]

I am going to be getting a colony soon and I want to know a bit info on how to keep them and stuff. I am gonna move them into a mini hearth when they get here. What’s the temp for them that they need is one and just some other things I might need to know. I’d ask about more but I’m ver tired and it’s almost 7am and I have been awake since 4am thx to my wrist hurting from my surgery.


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Gibe them way more protein than seeds

yup I got it now thx!


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Also can anyone tell me how big a colony can get in 4 months to 8 months to a year old?


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they grow very fast from what I've heard

yea heard that to but I wanna know how many workers they can get


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