64 replies to this topic

[Ernteameise]

The girls tentatively out foraging and enjoying the cricket leg I offered.

I am very happy that these crickets were such a huge success- I ordered 2 more packs at the local pet store so I can keep up with the demand (and I will still vary with egg, chicken and other meat).

 

Edited by Ernteameise, June 19 2023 - 12:38 PM.

[Ernteameise]

So yay!

The Rescue Ants have a new empire to conquer (after they have built up their forces a bit more, of course).

The nest I had ordered from Tarheel Ants has arrived, after it had been stuck in German customs for a few days.

 

I am impressed. This nest looks very nice.

This is a XXL Mini-Hearth which is nearly twice the size of the normal mini-hearths.

 

 

 

 

When this colony has grown a bit more and has at least 50 workers, I will just connect the Tarheel nest to the setup they are currently in and then they can decide themselves when they want to move in.

At the moment, this new nest looks HUGE compared to their current tube setup.

 

 

I just will have to find out myself if this is a good nest for them.

[Ernteameise]

I also got a heat cable to keep the colonies warm in autumn and spring (during winter they will be kept cooler for diapause).

Apart from the acorn ants (who have true hibernation) my other colonies are from Spain or Portugal so they won't do a true hibernation, just a rest period.

I have been told that I must have the most pampered ants in Germany....

 

[Ernteameise]

The heat of summer does wonders for these girls.

Like with my other Messor colony, I just saw a large egg parcel carried by a worker in this colony. Sadly, they had hidden it when I lifted the camera.

 

However, I can see some darkening puppae, so more workers are on the way! The new Tarheel nest next to them might motivate them...

 

Also, like my other Messors, these girls are very organized with sorting their seed.

Just look at this- the seed are sorted into categories!

 

[Ernteameise]

Right, so yes, cricket is a success.

 

[Ernteameise]

Finally managed to get a better picture of their egg and brood pile.

I think they are not doing too bad.

 

 

[ANTdrew]

Looks like a healthy colony to me.

[Yourbasicantkeeper]

So pretty!

[Ernteameise]

Today is Saturday, and this means FEAST DAY for all my girls, since I have time off work and can spend time watching the girls devouring their food.

I got some grasshoppers from the pet store, and tried them out with all my girls today.

The Rescue colony also was very much into the offered grasshopper bits I offered them.

This will give them more protein to grow!

 

 

They even gave some effort in dragging a juicy piece into the cube to serve the queen!

 

[Ernteameise]

Wow, look at this.

The queen has laid another egg parcel.

 

 

I also offered them a new test tube next to this one since the water is quite low by now (hot summer). They can decide themselves if and when the want to move.

Edited by Ernteameise, July 7 2023 - 11:40 AM.

[Ernteameise]

The girls dragged today's dinner (a small cricket) into their lair.

I have several more puppae in there, so I expect more workers soon!

Sadly still no majors, but for that the colony will be still too small.

 

[Ernteameise]

Weekly colony update.

Healthy growing colony.

Readily take their halved crickets.

Lots of eggs and brood.

They are also growing bolder and I can often see them explore their small outworld.

 

[Ernteameise]

Happy little colony, is now taking a small cricket every 2-3 days.

Developing well with lots of brood.

 

[Ernteameise]

Wow what a pile of brood!

 

Still no majors, though.

 

[ANTdrew]

They are officially rescued.

[Ernteameise]

Weekly update:

Still quite a bit of brood in there.

Minor and Media puppae, still no majors to be seen.

They happily take a small cricket every 3 days, though.

 

Also- I noticed some black mold growing on the cotton inside the nest (the queen sits on top). Not sure if this will harm them in some way?

 

[ANTdrew]

Black mold like that is almost unavoidable. I doubt it will harm them, but you could move them to a new tube if it worsens.

[Ernteameise]

Black mold like that is almost unavoidable. I doubt it will harm them, but you could move them to a new tube if it worsens.

Right next to it they have a fresh new tube- it is actually thought as another water source.... not sure if they would move by themselves if it got too bad?

[Ernteameise]

These girls also love their crickets and swarm the fresh crickets as soon as I put them in.

They are also quite inventive for new seed stash ideas (I will have to re-home them to a bigger outworld).

Plus, their test tube is becoming quite gunky, the water is however still clear, and the ants have not moved out, so I guess it might be okay?

 

 

 

[Ernteameise]

And the next update right away:

My Lasius colony has the first workers, so the Lasius moved with their test tube into the smaller outworld box, and the Rescue Messors moved into a bigger box.

This bigger box also as an attached cork nest at the back, where they can stash seed to their heart's content.

When my bigger Messor colony has moved into the ordered custom THA nest, then the rescue ants can have their old acrylic nest.

(big shuffle, shuffle)

 

So here are the new digs: