83 replies to this topic

[AntsGodzilla]

(Update 2/21/2025)

Literally NOTHING has happened, they still haven't gained or lost any workers. Not much to update on, I'll post more if anything important happens.

[kiedeerk]

Something you are doing is wrong or this colony is just doomed. No new workers for 3-4 months is not normal. The likely culprit is not enough heat. Pogonomyrmex need high heat to thrive. Once I place mine on high heat they explode in numbers. You can check my journal entry on my pogonomyrmex barbatus. They doubled in numbers in matter of 1-2 months.

[AntsGodzilla]

They have a 100F+ heating cable, so it can't be that.

 

Edit:I got the heating cable from THA

Edited by AntsGodzilla, February 22 2025 - 2:34 PM.

[bmb1bee]

They have a 100F+ heating cable, so it can't be that.

Where is the heating cable located? If you just have one part of it touching the front of the tube, it likely doesn't heat the colony thoroughly enough. Best thing to do is make an incubator for a more consistent heating setup. In my experience, an incubator helps a lot with ants that require higher heat, such as Pogonomyrmex and Veromessor. 

[jaysocal]

They have a 100F+ heating cable, so it can't be that.

It’s obviously something, and this is the most likely culprit, so at least take it into consideration. This whole journal is people trying to give advice, and you stubbornly refusing to accept it even though there is clearly an issue.

[AntsGodzilla]

 

They have a 100F+ heating cable, so it can't be that.

Where is the heating cable located? If you just have one part of it touching the front of the tube, it likely doesn't heat the colony thoroughly enough. Best thing to do is make an incubator for a more consistent heating setup. In my experience, an incubator helps a lot with ants that require higher heat, such as Pogonomyrmex and Veromessor. 

 

The cable is on the entire living area of the tube, but I think this is a doomed colony so there's not much left to talk about. 

 

Edit: A large part of the journal is people talking about dirt.

Edited by AntsGodzilla, February 21 2025 - 4:14 PM.

[bmb1bee]

At least try the incubator setup. It'd be useful for future colonies anyway. I got a cheap colony of P. rugosus one February with 2 workers (no brood) and was able to get them to recover with an incubator, as well as frequent protein feeding. I find that using just a plain cable for xerophilous ants like Pogonomyrmex doesn't work that well, while incubators work much better.

[jaysocal]

They have a 100F+ heating cable, so it can't be that.

Where is the heating cable located? If you just have one part of it touching the front of the tube, it likely doesn't heat the colony thoroughly enough. Best thing to do is make an incubator for a more consistent heating setup. In my experience, an incubator helps a lot with ants that require higher heat, such as Pogonomyrmex and Veromessor.

The cable is on the entire living area of the tube, but I think this is a doomed colony so there's not much left to talk about.

Edit: A large part of the journal is people talking about dirt.

They had brood a few months ago. They had 40 workers before that. That sounds more like poor conditions than something inherently wrong with the colony itself. We all make mistakes in this hobby, but you have to want to learn from them.

[mbullock42086]

In the wild their inner chambers are significantly cooler than the surface. 100 in the brood chamber sounds pretty harsh IMO


 should be more like 85, with the surface significantly hotter.  this isn't really possible with your formicarium style, only really possible with soil substrate.

bmb1bee's method really is best.  

[bmb1bee]

They should be able to take upwards of 90 degrees in an incubator without harm.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

I heat my Pogonomyrmex rugosus colony with a heating cable. I wrap it all around half of the mini hearth and the heat spreads through the nest on one side and keeps it warm to the touch. My winters are pretty cold at night (65f), but I heat the room to at least 70f plus the heating cable wrapping keeps them sufficiently warm. An incubator would probably be better but so far (3 weeks of keeping) the colony has grown the larvae they arrived with to a large size, laid 3 big egg clumps, and produced a nice amount of small larvae. If your colony had 40 workers and brood in the past heat is almost certainly the problem. Try out an incubator as bmb1bee suggested, I may purchase a new incubator for more desert ants and desert beetle breeding. Good luck with your colony! Hope you can save your colony.

[AntsGodzilla]

At least try the incubator setup. It'd be useful for future colonies anyway. I got a cheap colony of P. rugosus one February with 2 workers (no brood) and was able to get them to recover with an incubator, as well as frequent protein feeding. I find that using just a plain cable for xerophilous ants like Pogonomyrmex doesn't work that well, while incubators work much better.

Where do you get incubators? Could you give me a link?

Edited by AntsGodzilla, February 22 2025 - 2:39 PM.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

 

At least try the incubator setup. It'd be useful for future colonies anyway. I got a cheap colony of P. rugosus one February with 2 workers (no brood) and was able to get them to recover with an incubator, as well as frequent protein feeding. I find that using just a plain cable for xerophilous ants like Pogonomyrmex doesn't work that well, while incubators work much better.

Where do you get incubators? Could you give me a link?

 

It depends on what you want and need. You can get a good reptile incubator for 100-150$. You may need a smaller (cheaper), or larger (pricier) depending on if you want more space for more colonies or more projects. If money is a problem you can diy one for a lot cheaper. You can find diy guides on reptile forums and reddit.

[AntsGodzilla]

I don't understand how I would keep ants in them.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

I don't understand how I would keep ants in them.

What? If in test tubes you put them inside the incubator and set it to the desired temperature? If in a formicarium you put the formicarium in the incubator? Larger incubator are better in my option because you get more space for more stuff. 

[jaysocal]

I’ve personally had good success keeping test tubes and smaller nests in tubs with heat cable running under part of it. I’ll also usually keep a towel around the top of the tub. It helps keep a more stable temperature with a gradient from one side to the other.

It does take a bit of adjusting to make sure the temperatures are good, but it’s worked well with my Pogonomyrmex and other more heat loving species.

[bmb1bee]

You can make a simple incubator by getting a sufficiently-sized styrofoam box, poking a hole into it, and sticking a heating cable through. The styrofoam box will retain the heat emitted by the cable.

[AntsGodzilla]

Ok thanks for the help everyone! I'll definitely try that out!

[AntsGodzilla]

You can make a simple incubator by getting a sufficiently-sized styrofoam box, poking a hole into it, and sticking a heating cable through. The styrofoam box will retain the heat emitted by the cable.

I got the cable from THA, it's around 120F. Is that too hot? If so, how would I control the temp?

Edited by AntsGodzilla, February 23 2025 - 11:26 AM.

[bmb1bee]

You can buy a thermostat to regulate the heat. I personally don’t use one since my cable seems to remain at an okay temperature, but it would definitely help in keeping the temperature consistent and stable, preventing your ants from being cooked.