131 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

That is highly unfortunate. I think increasing ventilation is a good first step. If these are anything like the Camponotus here in America, I would advise against any more filling of the water tower in the nest. Just provide them drinking water in the outworld and let the nest part completely dry out. That should help eliminate the mold.

[Ernteameise]

That is highly unfortunate. I think increasing ventilation is a good first step. If these are anything like the Camponotus here in America, I would advise against any more filling of the water tower in the nest. Just provide them drinking water in the outworld and let the nest part completely dry out. That should help eliminate the mold.

This is a good suggestion.

Yes, I have not refilled the water tower recently and was wondering.

 

The guy who sold them to me, however, said, that they have some of the nest with moisture, since these are ground nesting ants and not wood nesting ones.

I will try and see how I go.

They have plenty of drinking water.

[Ants_Dakota]

I hope you get it solved. I will be following as this has the potential to effect all ant keepers, and knowing how to solve it is important.

[ANTdrew]

I’ve often wondered how adding springtails to THA nests would go. They need quite a bit of moisture, though.

[Ernteameise]

I hope you get it solved. I will be following as this has the potential to effect all ant keepers, and knowing how to solve it is important.

Well, I will keep reporting.

I have checked the nest today, and at least one day after cleaning, I have not seen any further mould.

They also have transferred all the brood into the corner above the water tower to the opposite side of the mould area, and all the adults are sitting on the ceiling above the water tower, as far away from the mould area as possible.

We will see.

[Ants_Dakota]

 

I hope you get it solved. I will be following as this has the potential to effect all ant keepers, and knowing how to solve it is important.

Well, I will keep reporting.

I have checked the nest today, and at least one day after cleaning, I have not seen any further mould.

They also have transferred all the brood into the corner above the water tower to the opposite side of the mould area, and all the adults are sitting on the ceiling above the water tower, as far away from the mould area as possible.

We will see.

 

That may be because of the vinegar but who knows

[Ernteameise]

The colony today.

The ants are still active, but the colony did grow much less than I had expected them this year. Probably due to the mold issue?

The mold issue also seems to have come under control, and no more mold is visible. The air supplied by the nest mate must have helped.

They do however still take some protein, I offered them a cricket today which they checked out.

They will be getting ready for slowing down during winter, since Camponotus are on an internal clock.

 

Edited by Ernteameise, September 27 2024 - 5:13 AM.

[Ernteameise]

These girls still readily take protein.

The other colonies (apart from my one tropical species) have slowed down.

 

[Ernteameise]

Oh, and I still have not really observed any adverse reactions with the book lice in all my formicaria.

I see them scurrying around when I clean up, but they do not appear to actively harm any of the ants.

[RushmoreAnts]

My Tetramorium immigrans colonies have abundant booklice in their setups. They are harmless from my experience, and simply feed off of scraps from the ants' trash pile.

[Ernteameise]

The colony has huddled up for winter time.

 

[Ernteameise]

Right, so these ants have been sitting in their nest for the past weeks and I have not seen any of them come out and I thought they were well and truly in their diapause phase.

However, this evening I had roast chicken for dinner, and I thought I would share with the girls.

This is what happened.

So there is still interest in protein, even if all larvae are in arrested development?