106 replies to this topic

[AntsCali098]

I'm sure they'll be fine. Just don't get the naked pupae. Here's a little photo dump:

[ANTdrew]

Probably just a seasonal phase. Perhaps this species lays off the heavy growth as a way of conserving energy during the hottest months in the desert? I know my Crematogaster tend to take a break around this time as an example.

[BleepingBleepers]

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.

As an inexperienced keeper myself, I can only say so much, but watch your temperatures, don't run them too hot IF you are. Some people burn out their queens by keeping it on the high side. I also voiced concerns on certain things in my journal, including diet that could benefit even the honeypots. Maybe double check on a possible cooldown period? But even I'm still researching on that a bit, but just a friendly thought. We're both learning

 

Hope nothing is wrong though, love the journal and close up shots man. Best wishes to you and your awesome colony here.

[AntsCali098]

Thanks for the replies. I'm thinking it's a seasonal phase, even though it's still hot. Maybe just the ants having an internal clock. Another possibility I thought of is the queen had been laying like crazy, so maybe she's taking a break.

Probably just a seasonal phase. Perhaps this species lays off the heavy growth as a way of conserving energy during the hottest months in the desert? I know my Crematogaster tend to take a break around this time as an example.

Never thought of them conserving energy, maybe it's that.

Edited by AntsCali098, July 24 2023 - 4:30 PM.

[AntsCali098]

Colony is doing great now, counted approximately 70 workers. They are getting pretty packed in the bottom chamber, but still have plenty of room in the above chambers to expand.



I've noticed that this species is very clean, and has a neat trash pile in the corner of the outworld, smartly farthest from the nest.



I've also noticed that they are calm. Some of my colonies run around the nest and outworld wildly when I move their nest around, while in the Myrmecocystus, they don't care all to much. It's interesting how different ants' "personalities" can be.

In other news, the queen laid a fresh batch of eggs recently, I got a nice picture with the handheld microscope:



Thanks for checking out my journal!

Edited by AntsCali098, August 3 2023 - 3:07 PM.

[AntsCali098]

Here's a photo dump including pictures from the microscope and macro lens:



https://youtube.com/...o?feature=share

(Had to upload this as a video because of the upload size cap)

[Yourbasicantkeeper]

noice! I subcribed to your youtube channel! I hope it becomes big!

[AntsCali098]

Thank you 

[AntsCali098]

Nothing much has happened, they have more eggs and larvae but that's about it. He's a YouTube short I got today (it seems like the queen has an egg hanging off of her gaster often lol):

https://youtube.com/...4?feature=share

[100lols]

Looking good! What do you give them that makes them red? Sugar water with food coloring or do you use byformica with food coloring?

I’ve never colored my feeders, I only have green food coloring but I might try it out lol.

[AntsCali098]

I use perky pet hummingbird nectar. A lot of people use it, just make sure you mix it with 4 parts water, not 3 parts like it says. My ants love it and it's nice that it makes their gastars red.

Its also nice because the bottle lasts a long time (:

Edited by AntsCali098, August 19 2023 - 8:20 PM.

[100lols]

Oh sweet I have some of that! Thanks

[AntsCali098]

Decided to leave a little no picture update. I know I haven't said anything on here for a while, but don't worry they're doing completely fine, just not that eventful. They haven't been growing amazingly fast and I'm trying to feed them more, as I think it might be my fault for under feeding a bit.

I bought some organic food coloring and attempts to color some sugar water and make the repletes different colors, but they are surprisingly picky with sugars. The only thing I can get them to go for consistently is the red nectar. They barely take sugar water at all, and although they go for the honey I can tell they like it a lot less than the nectar.

They have maybe increased a few workers since last update, but nothing much has been happening. I'll keep you guys updated.

[ANTdrew]

Try some Sunburst.

[AntsCali098]

I think this colony is getting ready for winter, as they seem to only have larvae now. I know they do not hibernate but tend to slow down. They still haven't grown much, I guess I'll have to wait till spring to actually see their growth.

Here's a photo dump:

Thanks for checking out my journal!

Edited by AntsCali098, November 9 2023 - 5:55 PM.

[100lols]

Awesome pictures as always! You’re so lucky they haven’t mucked up the glass like mine have lol.

Did they slow down around this time of the year last year as well?

[AntsCali098]

Awesome pictures as always! You’re so lucky they haven’t mucked up the glass like mine have lol.

Did they slow down around this time of the year last year as well?

Well, I got them in December of last year, so this is like the first full winter I've had them. I don't remember them slowing down that much January-Febuary, but that's towards the end of winter so we'll see what happens this year.

Thanks for the comments

[AntsCali098]

Still no growth unfortunately, but the queen likes to hang out closer to the glass now, so I am able to get photos of her 

 

 

Heres some repletes as well

 

 

[ChenZ]

Great photos! My colony was doing well with tons of brood and 100+ workers until the queen suddenly died last week 

[BleepingBleepers]

Great photos! My colony was doing well with tons of brood and 100+ workers until the queen suddenly died last week 

Yikes...sorry to hear that...