5 replies to this topic

[cwalser]

Hi people,

 

I'm a beginner, with a new colony that I think is doing okay. The queen has a nice large batch of eggs, and they've been slowly growing for 2 months now.

 

However, periodically a worker will come to the outworld, wander around for a day or so, and then die. It's happened 4 times now. See pic. I have also seen workers come up and go back down... but are these others actually getting lost? The outworld is kinda large for the colony size at this point. 

 

Is this normal?

 

 

I'm feeding them hummingbird nectar, mealworms and crickets. They have plenty of water.

 

THank you!!

 

 

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[kiedeerk]

Cause is hard to determine but you posted your colony before we suggested that you move your young colony into a smaller more appropriate nest for them.

Your colony is not eve 10 workers and you have them inside a nucleus. They should be inside a mini hearth.

I would move them asap since you are loosing workers this early on which is not normal. after moving them, if they still keep dying, I would change their food source like use sugar+water is safest instead of honey or other source and make sure insect source is pesticide free

[cwalser]

I've been terrified of stressing them by moving them again, and I don't know what a nucleus or a 'mini hearth' are...?

 

Sugar water instead of hummingbird nectar - what is the ratio of sugar too water? 

 

thank you

[Mushu]

Sugar water ratio of 4:1 or 3:1 water/sugar would be fine, I prefer the 4:1. Natural nector is about 80/20 water/sugar ratio. 

 

It's not out of the  ordinary for some workers to die earlier than they would and that is how workers that are about to die behave. They will go to the outworld and die. 2 months 4 workers is not too much out of the ordinary yet, especially if they are spaced apart.

 

Did you wash/rinse the nucleus with water and let it air out before you used it? Although type III THA formicariums shouldn't have the past issues with toxicity I myself prefer to wash anything I use to remove production oils,etc to be on the safe side, just for future reference. Especially vinyl tubing if you use any. They in particular from home depot can have a strong production odor. All these little odors can add up over time, but I don't see it being an issue in your setup or they would've died much earlier than 2 months. 

Edited by Mushu, May 18 2024 - 4:57 PM.

[ANTdrew]

A 1:4 ratio of sugar to water is plenty sweet for ants. A mini-hearth is a much smaller version of the nest you have. Tarheel Ants sell them.

[The_Gaming-gate]

You need to move those ants back into a test-tube. They will die if they remain in that nest. If the ants aren’t even using over two thirds of the nest, it’s too big. You’re ants are stressed out- they have a massive territory they aren’t ready to defend yet. They have to move very far just to cross the nest- this is not healthy. Think of it this way- you put on some shoes the size of a canoe and expect to feel comfortable walking in them. Sure, your feet technically ‘fit’ in the shoe, but it doesn’t mean you’re ready for the shoe. I hate to break it to you, but you need to move those ants in a new nest or they won’t make it to June.