106 replies to this topic

[AntsCali098]

Lovely repletes

Edited by AntsCali098, June 30 2023 - 1:39 PM.

[AntsCali098]

The move into the fortress has been completed.

I got a desert canyon fortress which looks incredible, you can't even tell the glass is there.

There is still about half the colony in the outworld, and the queen and others are in the nest.

If you didn't know, you must move the repletes manually with honeypots, and this was my first time trying, it went well and I only popped one replete who actually seems to be doing fine.

Here they are, I'll update when they've fully moved.


Thanks for checking out my journal!

[Yourbasicantkeeper]

that's so cool!

[Ernteameise]

The move into the fortress has been completed.

I got a desert canyon fortress which looks incredible, you can't even tell the glass is there.

There is still about half the colony in the outworld, and the queen and others are in the nest.

If you didn't know, you must move the repletes manually with honeypots, and this was my first time trying, it went well and I only popped one replete who actually seems to be doing fine.

Here they are, I'll update when they've fully moved.
PXL_20230703_170353948.jpgPXL_20230703_170345933.jpgPXL_20230703_170334929.jpgPXL_20230703_164536158.jpg

Thanks for checking out my journal!

Wow this looks amazing!

Your colony is very lucky.

Good job on the move, too.

 

And not to self- for my new custom nest I need to get it with museum glass.

[AntsCali098]

Thank you (:

This isn't even museum, it's standard!

[AntsCali098]

From microscope

[Ernteameise]

Awww, look at the faces!

[antsriondel]

From microscope
2023_07_03_12_21_51_258.png2023_07_03_12_21_18_056.png2023_07_03_12_21_35_649.png

You make keeping Myrmecocystus look easy. Incredible colony.

[AntsCali098]

Thanks all for the support 

Edited by AntsCali098, July 3 2023 - 4:18 PM.

[AntsCali098]

They're in!

 

Unfortunately, my phone broke so I couldn't get as good pictures as I usually do but I did my best. Here are a few.

 

 

I also caught a new worker, just hatched. The workers helped her out, I wish I was able to catch them on camera, but here she is moving for the first time

 

Edit: The 2nd picture is upside down oops

Edited by AntsCali098, July 6 2023 - 3:13 PM.

[Ernteameise]

Awesome!

[BleepingBleepers]

I just wanna say that those are in insanely insert-profanity nice close up shots. Makes me wanna whip out my DSLR with that expensive macro lens I have tucked somewhere.

 

I was thinking about getting honeypots as well when I got my CA02, but didn't know anything about it other than what they look like on those nature documentaries haha.

[AntsCali098]

I just wanna say that those are in insanely insert-profanity nice close up shots. Makes me wanna whip out my DSLR with that expensive macro lens I have tucked somewhere.

I was thinking about getting honeypots as well when I got my CA02, but didn't know anything about it other than what they look like on those nature documentaries haha.

Thanks! Surprisingly I simply use a clip on lens, works great.

I would definitely recommend giving Myrmecocystus a shot in the future, definitely my favorite I've kept. I'm sure there are plenty of care guides out there on them.

[BleepingBleepers]

 

I just wanna say that those are in insanely insert-profanity nice close up shots. Makes me wanna whip out my DSLR with that expensive macro lens I have tucked somewhere.

I was thinking about getting honeypots as well when I got my CA02, but didn't know anything about it other than what they look like on those nature documentaries haha.

Thanks! Surprisingly I simply use a clip on lens, works great.

I would definitely recommend giving Myrmecocystus a shot in the future, definitely my favorite I've kept. I'm sure there are plenty of care guides out there on them.

 

Yeah I'll check them out more.

 

I got one coming in 2 weeks along with the Mini Hearth XL, will start a journal on that. Think it'll be my last ant species to get. Wanna give myself some breathing room considering how they start off rather low maintenance but things pick up once the colony gets bigger and bigger. Trying not to bite off more than I can chew. I might even consider lowering the temperature to the low end of the gradient if it gets to be too much.

 

You guys are definitely getting me pumped up!    I would imagine honeypot ants are the medium-fast growers and carpenters are the slow growers. I'm so curious to see the difference between them other than the repletes.

 

I WAS hoping one of them would become more active during the day, but I also heard carpenters become way more active after 100+ so I can't wait to see that.

 

Anyhow, best of luck to your colony and continue with those super close up shots, those are so f'ing neat!

[AntsCali098]

Deleted

Edited by AntsCali098, July 8 2023 - 9:02 PM.

[AntsCali098]

I'll be able to get my regular camera (just the lens with my phone) repaired soon, so definitely more of those shots coming. Thanks for the compliments!

You are right about the growth rates, mexicanus grow a bit slower than say navajo due to their size.

Camponotus are definitely slow growers, especially species like vicinus and us-ca02. They'll grow a lot faster at 100+ though, it just may take awhile with ca02.

Edited by AntsCali098, July 8 2023 - 9:02 PM.

[AntsCali098]

I walk into the ant room today, and I notice the queen of this colony with an egg hanging off her gaster. I was able to quickly grab light and my macro lens to get a couple shots:


As I am sitting here writing this, she still has it just hanging off her gaster. Come on workers, help her out a little!

In other news, in the new fortress they seem to be accepting food less often, leaving nectar out and even putting trash in. They eventually eat it after a couple days, I guess they just eat when they're hungry.

I also got some nice close ups from the handheld microscope, here's a little photo dump:

https://youtube.com/...?feature=share4

(Had to upload to yt since Files were too big for formiculture for some reason)

Thanks for checking out my journal!

[BleepingBleepers]

Nice journal and close ups. I saw some of your youtube videos.

 

 

Btw, how are they sticking sand to the glass? Or is that because it's so humid in there that the sand sticks?

[AntsCali098]

I think its just from humidity, maybe they use saliva I'm not sure.

 

Thanks again for the complements 

[AntsCali098]

Something (might) be wrong with them, I'm a bit worried. The brood production has been slow, and some of the pupae failed to make cocoons. I don't know if it's just me, but the queen also looks a bit skinnier.

I haven't changed the feeding at all, maybe this is just them slowing down a bit as it gets later.