106 replies to this topic

[antsriondel]

Awesome! Also, I just found what I think is your YouTube channel, and nice vids!  Is this it?: https://www.youtube.com/@AntsCali

[AntsCali098]

Yeah it is tysm

Edited by AntsCali098, January 25 2023 - 8:59 PM.

[AntsCali098]

They have been doing great, so many workers have been hatching! Many of the workers are large and future repletes. I even noticed a couple full size repletes in the colony now, and they have about 10 more workers then last update! I think this brood cycle has finished, as there are now some large and small larvae for the next generation.

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[benxixi]

what feeder do you use ?

[AntsCali098]

Liquid feeder or insect?

Edited by AntsCali098, February 2 2023 - 2:42 PM.

[AntsCali098]

Just a little thing I noticed today: the queen has stopped acting as a replete, which means they have enough worker force to cover the repletes. Pretty good sign! Have also basically stopped checking on them except to feed them, so they won't get stressed. I think it's helping them grow.

Edited by AntsCali098, February 9 2023 - 1:52 PM.

[AntsCali098]

What a massive and beautiful replete.

Also, the queen laid another batch of eggs, but getting a shot of it is extremely difficult since they covered a side of the nest with sand so I have to shoot it at an angle. I'll try to get one later and I'll post it here if I do.

Edited by AntsCali098, February 13 2023 - 12:56 PM.

[AntsCali098]

Wow. I noticed some really big workers today, soon to be repletes. They are about 3x the size of the smaller workers. The generation of eggs I mentioned 2 updates ago are now large larvae, and the eggs I mentioned last update are now mostly small larvae. They have plenty of brood, maybe 7 large larvae, 10 small larvae, and 2 or 3 eggs, close to turning into larvae. It remains nearly impossible to get pictures of the brood as it is on the water tower and the glass on that side is now covered with sand. I managed to get a few of the large workers, so I'll post them. This colony's future looks bright and I will connect a 2nd hearth xl to their existing one once they grow out in about 3-5 months. Thanks for checking out my journal!

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[AntsCali098]

Mini photo dump, finally managed to get the queen for the first time in a while.

Edited by AntsCali098, March 4 2023 - 3:32 PM.

[AntsCali098]

Saw a massive cocoon today

[AntsCali098]

The next generation of ants for this colony is well on the way. I'd estimate about 10-15 cocoons in the colony, and there is almost always a batch of eggs. This is one productive queen!

Edited by AntsCali098, March 30 2023 - 6:14 PM.

[Ernteameise]

Great journal.

Beautiful colony and very interesting species.

[Rrar]

Cool ants

[AntsCali098]

Thanks, glad you like it.

[AntsCali098]

Colony is doing good as usual. Nothing that new with them, although they currently have 8ish cocoons and of course some eggs and larvae from this productive queen. I'd like to try to get fruit flies to feed them, as I've heard Mymecocystus mexicanus will hunt them, which seems interesting to watch.

Edited by AntsCali098, April 24 2023 - 10:49 AM.

[AntsCali098]

Feeding day

There hasn't been a lot happening with this colony, although they have been way more active in the outworld. I think they have only pupae at the moment, with many workers to come.

Edited by AntsCali098, May 13 2023 - 9:02 AM.

[Ernteameise]

I love the faces of these ants. They look so alien.

[ANTdrew]

Haha, looks like they’re enjoying that cotton candy.

[AntsCali098]

Hello again

They are doing very well, with a mountain of cocoons.
There are also plenty of discarded cocoon shells in the outworld, cleaning is getting more difficult.

It's an absolute frenzy everytime they get fed! Here they are about 10 minutes after putting it in (it is perky pet nectar absorbed into a piece of cotton).

They still have about half the nest free of workers, so they have a bit of time before I add another mini hearth. Once all of those cocoons hatch, I may add it.

They have ~50 workers

Thanks for checking out my journal!

Edited by AntsCali098, May 18 2023 - 2:25 PM.

[AntsCali098]

They're activity is gradually getting larger and larger, making it hard to clean without sucking up workers with my hoover. Here's some footage I took:


Inside the nest (using handheld microscope)
https://youtube.com/...?feature=share4

They are doing great, and I ordered a fortress for them in April, which still hasn't arrived.

Is this normal for THA fortresses?

Thanks for checking out my journal!

Edited by AntsCali098, May 30 2023 - 5:37 PM.