15 replies to this topic

[cooIboyJ]

Hey guys, my dad took me and my siblings to the pool last night and we caught thirteen queen ants (we think they are probably dark rover ants) and since we only had one test tube left and we knew for sure that they are polygynous we decided to put all of them in our last test tube and I have a couple of questions
1. I want to know around how fast they will grow and if I will need a nest really soon 2. I want to know is they will be able to escape a hobby lobby quick cast nest with the glass held by magnets and if it will be better to go with an all in one setup. (I will also be posting a topic in the id section with more pics)

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Edited by cooIboyJ, July 23 2024 - 8:55 AM.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

Yes they seem like Brachymyrmex and they are indeed polly. To answer your 1st question ": they are capable of growing rapidly depending on environmental factors and food consumption" but they do seem slow at the start. Also they are tiny making it easy to escape if you make any slip ups in making the nest. I would personaly keep them in a tubs and tubes set up with a floun barrier.

 

[cooIboyJ]

Do you think it would be fine for their outworld to be an airtight container with some holes stuffed with cotton on the sides?

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

those holes should be a little big then but it should work.

[cooIboyJ]

How light sensitive are brachymyrmex?

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

I have never personally kept them but it seems that Formicinaes witch they are seem to be more light sensitive.

[Artisan_Ants]

How light sensitive are brachymyrmex?

I once had a B. depilis colony (the died of thirst) but when I shined light on the queen, she wasn’t too stressed and remained calm. She didn’t move her brood around and stayed close by to her brood. She was also a singular queen so we can’t say that all Formicinaes are sensitive to light. This species might randomly eat brood (when not stressed) so I recommend to checkup on them 1 week or above and no less than a week. Although the egg thing may not be a problem since you have multiple queens in one setup. Good luck!

[cooIboyJ]

I have noticed that when i do check up on them the queens don't move to much; they all just mostly sit there.

Also do brachymyrmex need to hibernate?

Edited by cooIboyJ, July 23 2024 - 8:54 AM.

[Artisan_Ants]

I have noticed that when i do check up on them the queens don't move to much; they all just mostly sit there.
Also do brachymyrmex need to hibernate?

Need hibernation. I did my hibernation last year very late (for about 1 1/2 month) and by only B. depilis queen with no eggs survived but I recommend much more (about 2 - 3 months of hibernation starting in September or Novermber; remember to not do it to early, nor too late).

[cooIboyJ]

Where should I put the ants when its time for their hibernation?

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

I put my ants in a wine cooler and then put them in my garage

[ANTdrew]

Does this species even need hibernation?

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

Does this species even need hibernation?

digging into it more i found they don't need hibernation.

[Artisan_Ants]

Does this species even need hibernation?

digging into it more i found they don't need hibernation.

Thought Brachymyrmex needed hibernation. Thought I read it somewhere.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

 Apparently not: "Brachymyrmex patagonicus do not need hibernation, and will keep growing year round."

 

https://www.formicul...ation-diapause/

[ANTdrew]

Just let them cool down naturally at room temp during the winter months. They won’t need anything more than that.