16 replies to this topic

[AntsCali098]

I have decided to continue making journals about some of my species. I don't love making and updating journals, so this one may have 1-3 month gaps. This Camponotus CA02 colony has been a joy to keep. I bought her from nurbs about 4 months ago and the queen had 6 nanitics. They are now down to 4 because a couple workers died. I am really not certain why they would die after such a short time. The queen got her first workers in about 2 months, which I believe is normal for this large species. The colony now has a nice pile of about 10 small larvae, but I think the colony is slowing down a bit as we go into fall. They also have a few eggs, and the queen is a very good egg-layer for camponotus. I expect them to get more workers in around a month or a bit more. Pics below

 

The queen

 

A couple workers

 

The brood

Edited by AntsCali098, August 13 2022 - 7:02 PM.

[AntsCali098]

Update 8-25

 

They are really slowing down as hibernation approaches. I don't think they'll get any new workers until then, still small larvae.

[ZTYguy]

Where did you hear that they hibernate.

[AntsCali098]

Oh, I assumed they did, since most camponotus do. Also, they are showing signs of preparing for it

[ZTYguy]

Oh, I assumed they did, since most camponotus do. Also, they are showing signs of preparing for it

Keep them heated. They don’t heed it.

[AntsCali098]

Okay

[AntsCali098]

Update 9-14

 

Welp, this queen lost her workers, hopefully she'll get more. They are growing crap slow, and still have small larvae. I need a heating cable so I can heat this queen more efficiently, all I have is a heating mat and not really a dark undisturbed place to put it.

[AntsCali098]

Mini-update 9-22

I'm really not sure what's up with this queen, still with small larvae. she's had them for about 2 months

[Dan_Not_Found]

If you haven't already, I would recommend keeping her on heat 24/7 especially over winter, if all you have is a heating pad (which is what I use) then just put ~15% of the testtube on it. The only exception would be the really hot days (like the past few weeks) where temps can go well over 85+ F. Right now, I would recommend giving a small drop of honey and maybe a little protein as well to help her restart. Hope I can help 

[AntsCali098]

If you haven't already, I would recommend keeping her on heat 24/7 especially over winter, if all you have is a heating pad (which is what I use) then just put ~15% of the testtube on it. The only exception would be the really hot days (like the past few weeks) where temps can go well over 85+ F. Right now, I would recommend giving a small drop of honey and maybe a little protein as well to help her restart. Hope I can help

Thanks for the advice! I wasn't heating her when it was too hot, but since it's cooling down I'll consider putting her on the heating mat. I've also been feeding her. The larvae look pretty healthy

[AntsCali098]

Still small larvae. I don't know what's up I gave her more heat today

[Ant-nig321]

feed her protein foods,because it could help her larva grow more.

Edited by Ant-nig321, October 9 2022 - 3:45 AM.

[AntsCali098]

This queen unfortunately died. I fed her and moved her to a new tube, but she died a few days later. She had been struggling for a while after the death of her workers. I'll never know why the larvae never grew, I had her on heat and everything

[Txx2114]

If you try again try hibernating them I have a colony and this is going to be my second hibernation with them I’m still an inexperienced ant keeper these are my first ants I just decided to get into the hobby when I first got them like 2 years ago from antscanada I had gotten them with about 20 workers already in June and then come around November I noticed they were starting to slow down and their eggs turn yellow which is a sign of hibernation currently there are maybe 50-100 around I have them connected with a mini hearth and xl hearth I have some majors too I think you can definitely see the size difference not too much information on this species so it’s very hard to get info on them

[Txx2114]

Late October- early February is there hibernation I think u can even go up to March or just see when they start waking up mine
When they are start to wake up gradually give them heat and proteins and I would say watch how much you feed them protein don’t feed them too much because if they don’t eat it they seem to be lazy and don’t take out the trash so mold can grow other than that they are pretty easy to maintain just sugar water and water and you’re all seat

[Ant-nig321]

This queen unfortunately died. I fed her and moved her to a new tube, but she died a few days later. She had been struggling for a while after the death of her workers. I'll never know why the larvae never grew, I had her on heat and everything

Sad to hear that

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[AntsCali098]

Late October- early February is there hibernation I think u can even go up to March or just see when they start waking up mine
When they are start to wake up gradually give them heat and proteins and I would say watch how much you feed them protein don’t feed them too much because if they don’t eat it they seem to be lazy and don’t take out the trash so mold can grow other than that they are pretty easy to maintain just sugar water and water and you’re all seat

I've heard that they don't hibernate because they are desert ants. That being said, I do hibernate my other camponotus