6 replies to this topic

[FloridaAnts]

Recently, someone was generous enough to give me a Camponotus Floridanus colony(Solenopsiskeeper) for free… due to their “colony size”. Now that I have had them for about a week, and something weird happened last night. All the brood was piled up in the outworld(opposite corner of garbage site) but only the queen, some workers, and small eggs and larvae remained in the nest. The outworld sand is moist(from their moist poop), but they didn’t dig in it. Also, the nest is big enough, and only about 60% full when they put brood in it. They moved back in after I opened the outworld lid for about an hour, but now, they are moving back out again….

Any tips are greatly appreciated

Nest conditions
Humidity: Water one side once a week
Food: Every other day
Light sensitive: Don’t really care about light anymore, but I still cover the nest

[azzaaazzzz00]

Hm, well the only thing I could suggest would be to make the outworld in some way uncomftorble and the nest more heated (or whatever they like more, experiment around)

[FloridaAnts]

I heat the nest to make them go back, the turn it off so pupae don’t get too moist. They have been in a cycle of moving in, out, in out, for the past few days. Mostly majors now sit up their(Newly enclosed) thinking it’s part of the nest.

[UberDuber]

They move brood because they find a more desirable place with better humidity or temperature. So either your outworld is too comfortable, or your nest isn't comfortable enough. Easiest thing to do is just keep your outworld dry, but you may also consider whether your nest is getting humid enough and whether it's the right temperature. If you are heating the nest, it could be too warm, or if you have a light on the outworld, it may be warming the outworld to a better temperature than the nest.

[AntsCali098]

They move brood because they find a more desirable place with better humidity or temperature. So either your outworld is too comfortable, or your nest isn't comfortable enough. Easiest thing to do is just keep your outworld dry, but you may also consider whether your nest is getting humid enough and whether it's the right temperature. If you are heating the nest, it could be too warm, or if you have a light on the outworld, it may be warming the outworld to a better temperature than the nest.

Agreed. Cocoons prefer dryer, hotter environments so your outworld is probably a better place to store the brood than the nest because of humidity, and heat. Larvae prefer more humidity which is probably why they remained in the nest.

[FloridaAnts]

They now bring up one or two cocoons, but overall it’s gotten better. The light doesn’t produce heat, and I onyl what the nest when they move brood up… I will let you know if it happens again, thanks!