57 replies to this topic

[Kunphushun]

Well here we go!  I found a wingless queen (by happenstance at work ((concrete worker))), stuck her in a clean water bottle and brought her home to her new test tube enclosure.  I found the info for the test tube setup here, and added an aluminum foil sheath to keep it dark, and hopefully help regulate temperature.  She didn't much care for the room temp in our house and basically didn't move for a day or two.  So I placed her atop one of my all in one fish tanks, and voila the temperature from the lights on the lid must have been perfect because she has layed a clutch of eggs!  These pictures are less than an hour old at the time of this post! Woo Hoo!  Off and going!

 

 

[dermy]

Looking good, I hear fire ant colonies grow rather quickly

[Kunphushun]

Looking good, I hear fire ant colonies grow rather quickly

 

Thanks.  We really want to watch the ants make their own nest instead of housing them in a man made nest, as this is a biology lesson for our home-schooled kids.  I'm having trouble deciding exactly what kind of formicarium I want to build for her.  Its either going to be a vertical picture frame style nest (that may actually be hung on the wall) with a separate out world, or an aquarium with the back acting like a vertical picture frame nest by securing another pane of glass inside the aquarium creating a 1/4" to 1/2" wide dirt area for them to excavate, and the floor of the tank the out world. 

[Mdrogun]

Are you going to name her? Most people I sell queens to name their first queen.

[Kunphushun]

Are you going to name her? Most people I sell queens to name their first queen.

 

I shall consult with the family, and report back. 

[Kunphushun]

Well the family has affectionately named her Elizabeth Queen of the Ants. As of today she's laid quite a few more eggs, and is tending them every day.  Its been about 10 days since she first began laying.  So I have a few questions.  

 

1.  How long till they begin hatching?

2.  Should I feed her?

3.  Should I boost with some workers from an established colony, and feed them?

4.  What temperature should I be shooting for?

 

Thanks for your help in advance. 

 

[Mdrogun]

1. Some eggs have already hatched. They have turned into larvae. From the looks of it you should have pupae in about 2 weeks maybe 3.

2.You don't have to feed her. Feeding queens though can help them be more successful. If you want to you can.

3.If you were to boost her with anything you should give her pupae. Other workers might not get a long with her and might end up killing her.

4.What temperature are you at right now?

[Kunphushun]

Thanks. They are definitely growing!

If I were to feed her, what would I use? I was thinking a small drop of honey placed in the test tube from a toothpick?

Not gonna boost.

Temp for most of the day is around 82. It drops to 74 at night.

Edited by Kunphushun, November 29 2015 - 10:29 AM.

[AntsTexas]

u will like invicta, found my queens(s) may 29th nice little colony going with multi queens in it to this day....

 

 

i feed them: cat food, honey, sunflower seeds, sugar, and some chicken/turkey

[Kunphushun]

Thanks Texas, but right now its only the queen in a test tube.

[Mdrogun]

Thanks. They are definitely growing!

If I were to feed her, what would I use? I was thinking a small drop of honey placed in the test tube from a toothpick?

Not gonna boost.

Temp for most of the day is around 82. It drops to 74 at night.

1. They are looking really good. Keep doing whatever you are doing.

2. A small drop of honey would be fine. Make sure it is a TINY amount. If you put too much it can mold and harm the queen and brood.

3. I think that is the best decision.

4. I don't think you need to heat her. Maybe at night if you want to. I would not let the temp go above 85 though.

[Kunphushun]

Thanks guys.  

 

Here is a picture from today!  I had to move her and the brood to a new test tube.  The other was nearly out of water.  I hope it didn't stress her too much.  This was post move so all looked good. 

 

[Mdrogun]

She looks great! You should have workers soon. I'm thinking around 2 weeks maybe sooner. Like I said, keep doing what you're doing.

[Kunphushun]

Awesome!  Time to get our formicarium together then.  We've decided against a natural dirt one and will use the How-To's found here to create a picture frame grout formicarium with a betta tank out world.  Ill definitely post pictures of that as well. 

 

The kids and family check on her and the brood everyday asking when she can get a home instead of that tube. lol  

[Mdrogun]

Awesome!  Time to get our formicarium together then.  We've decided against a natural dirt one and will use the How-To's found here to create a picture frame grout formicarium with a betta tank out world.  Ill definitely post pictures of that as well. 

 

The kids and family check on her and the brood everyday asking when she can get a home instead of that tube. lol

Just make sure the formicarium you choose is not too big. You want to make sure the formicarium is just the right size for the colony

.

Edited by Mdrogun, November 29 2015 - 7:12 PM.

[Kunphushun]

Well. I shall research S. Invicta colony size.

[dspdrew]

It's not a matter of how large the colony will get or how large they are on average, but how large your colony is currently. Ants will dig their nests larger as more space is needed. If they have more space than needed, they will store their garbage inside the nest rather than take it out into the out world. Trash stored in the nest usually can't be cleaned out, and also molds because there should be more humidity there than in the out world.

[Kunphushun]

Ah, ok so they are in the test tube right now.  I have decided to do the picture frame style.  I can keep it small for starters, and build them larger and larger as the colony grows. 

[Kunphushun]

This is on a 3x5 index card.  Blue is a hole left in the grout for water.  Pink is the nest obviously.  Would this be too much for them as their first home?  

 

[dspdrew]

I think that would be fine, considering how fast this species can grow.