15 replies to this topic

[BCAntKeeper]

This journal is about a single Tetramorium queen I caught in July 2020. Here are some pictures of the queen just after capture and the colony a few months later.

 

 

They have maintained 500-1000 workers for the past year or so and seem quite healthy. I have noticed some interesting behaviours such as moving things around and rejecting certain foods off and on. This year they are accepting everything I give them but are not growing as fast as expected. This started last summer. During the stage that they were growing faster, I saw the occasional fight between workers, and a few died as a result. Quite a few died during hibernation this year as well. Other than an unnatural living space, I try to give my ants ideal conditions and not skimp any aspect of their care, so I am guessing the queen may just have weak genetics. I am new to ant keeping though so opinions would still be appreciated. 

 

Here are some pictures from this year (the last picture makes the colony look smaller than it really is).

 

[ANTdrew]

What temperature are they kept at? What are you feeding them?

[BCAntKeeper]

What temperature are they kept at? What are you feeding them?

They are kept in a room that is 25-26°C and fed mainly insects/spiders for protein. Also, a tray with seeds and nuts is available at all times. I feed them a wide variety in each of these categories and always make sure they have as much as they want. I also give them some bread, meat, pet food, egg etc. They have access to sunburst, maple syrup, and honey for carbohydrates. I try to make sure none of these foods have chemicals that can harm the colony.

[UTants]

How is your colony so big? I tried to keep tetramorium immigrants but they still were a small colony even after months. They died in hibernation though.😔

[BCAntKeeper]

This colony is slowly getting bigger at the same rate that it has been. I can't post my video for some reason, but I will try and find a way to do it in the future.

Edited by BCAntKeeper, July 22 2022 - 9:03 PM.

[BCAntKeeper]

Taken out of hibernation yesterday. They are doing well and are busy cleaning their nest.

[aznphenom]

I don't heat mine and I don't hibernate mine and mine are big and healthy. I am actually in the process of moving them to a new nest. I would be happy if they stay around 1k. I don't like forever exponential growing species

[BCAntKeeper]

Interesting how my colonies behave so differently year after year despite the same care. This year 30% of the workers have been living in the outworld even though they have plenty of room in the nest. They only retreat when I remove their food.

[DRpepper]

 

What temperature are they kept at? What are you feeding them?

They are kept in a room that is 25-26°C and fed mainly insects/spiders for protein. Also, a tray with seeds and nuts is available at all times. I feed them a wide variety in each of these categories and always make sure they have as much as they want. I also give them some bread, meat, pet food, egg etc. They have access to sunburst, maple syrup, and honey for carbohydrates. I try to make sure none of these foods have chemicals that can harm the colony.

 

 sounds like the queen is just bad. or possibly you are lacking in their care in some way. food and heat seems covered. What about water

[ANTdrew]

You’re responding to a year old post…

[BCAntKeeper]

This colony just hit 3 years old and they are well over 5K now. There is about a teaspoon of brood in the nest, which they are not far from outgrowing. A slight improvement from the last few months but the queen still isn’t much of an egg layer. They do eat multiple insects per day in addition to a liquid feeder and a big seed/nut tray in their outworld most of the time.

[AntsCali098]

My colony just...doesn't grow. They've been at 50-60 workers for a while I can't figure it out. Nice colony though, would love to see some pics.

[BCAntKeeper]

Put into hibernation last weekend. 

[Invix]

This journal is about a single Tetramorium queen I caught in July 2020. Here are some pictures of the queen just after capture and the colony a few months later.

IMG_0836 copy.JPG
Tetramorium After First Hibernation.JPG

They have maintained 500-1000 workers for the past year or so and seem quite healthy. I have noticed some interesting behaviours such as moving things around and rejecting certain foods off and on. This year they are accepting everything I give them but are not growing as fast as expected. This started last summer. During the stage that they were growing faster, I saw the occasional fight between workers, and a few died as a result. Quite a few died during hibernation this year as well. Other than an unnatural living space, I try to give my ants ideal conditions and not skimp any aspect of their care, so I am guessing the queen may just have weak genetics. I am new to ant keeping though so opinions would still be appreciated.

Here are some pictures from this year (the last picture makes the colony look smaller than it really is).

DSC_3671.JPG
Screen Shot 2022-05-28 at 7.36.14 PM.jpg

One of my tetra colonies is a year old and about that size but they already have alates some how

[BCAntKeeper]

Taken out of hibernation last weekend.

[ANTdrew]

That’s a very long diapause for a species that doesn’t even really need one!