33 replies to this topic

[jo16]

I'm new to ant keeping and I gest got a tetramorium immigran ant colony, it has around 35 workers and they seem eager to explore so I have a few questions. 

how many worker ants should they have before I give them an out world?

I have some extra small mealworms is one a day to much? 

Is it a good thing if my workers are moving their larva?   

Edited by jo16, February 11 2025 - 7:12 PM.

[SporadicSausage]

Depends, I'm guessing they're quite small as they're tetra, you can just stick em in a tub whenever you want really. As long as the entrance to the tube itself is almost fully enclosed the ants will appreciate the added freedom. Many people might suggest that keeping ants in tubes until the tube is jam packed is best for the ants but at the end of the day ants by nature need to explore so it wouldn't hurt giving them more room. Again just remember to almost completely cover the entrance so that there's only a small opening so they don't feel over exposed. You could also keep a cover over the tube so they have somewhere dark to reside. Alternatively you can just keep them in the tube and wait for the colony to expand a little more. Ants don't like having too much space when the colony isn't large enough, hence why it's good practice to ensure the tube entrance is well covered. As for feeding, just observe how quickly they get through the mealworm but I imagine a couple times a week should suffice. I'm not an expert though so anyone else with a second opinion would be helpful 😂

[Ants_Dakota]

Depends, I'm guessing they're quite small as they're tetra, you can just stick em in a tub whenever you want really. As long as the entrance to the tube itself is almost fully enclosed the ants will appreciate the added freedom. Many people might suggest that keeping ants in tubes until the tube is jam packed is best for the ants but at the end of the day ants by nature need to explore so it wouldn't hurt giving them more room. Again just remember to almost completely cover the entrance so that there's only a small opening so they don't feel over exposed. You could also keep a cover over the tube so they have somewhere dark to reside. Alternatively you can just keep them in the tube and wait for the colony to expand a little more. Ants don't like having too much space when the colony isn't large enough, hence why it's good practice to ensure the tube entrance is well covered. As for feeding, just observe how quickly they get through the mealworm but I imagine a couple times a week should suffice. I'm not an expert though so anyone else with a second opinion would be helpful

There is little to add, this is on point. I usually introduce my colonies to an outworld immediately after they get nanitics in order to keep the test tube as clean as possible (ie. not stuffing food in there that gets all over the tube and molds). You can view an example of what outworlds I use for my ants HERE.

[ANTdrew]

There is nothing really to be gained by not giving a colony an outworld once they get nanitics. Worst case scenario is that they wouldn’t use it until they’re ready.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

1: no such thing as too much/too big an outworld. The nest can be too big, and that can lead to bad situaitons, but the outworld can't get too big for them.
If the nest space is too big, they don't like it, they want a cozy tighter space, so if we put them in too big a nest, they might start using their trash to fill up the empty space they don't like. And keeping their refuse to rot where they sleep and raise the babies is unhealthy. While the "outworld" is just open space, so they will ignore/retreat from it back into the nest,  if they do not like it. You can hook up all the outworld you can provide space for. Just don't hook up too much new nest until they are filling up the current nest space well.

 

 

2: Just keep an eye on their food supply. Don't assume to put more food in on a schedual, but look to see how much they still have first. If we give them too much insect too fast, some of it could start to go to rot in their nest, again that is unhealthy for them to live with such refuse where they eat and sleep. Seeds can store a long time, it's ok if they keep a pile of those around, but bug parts and other such things start to rot fairly quickly. So best to keep watch and not give them too much too fast.

3: generally speaking from my own ants,  workers move the larvae around regularly. With the main brood pile being moved back and forth between the hottest and most humid parts of the nest a few times over 24 hours. With there being two main brood piles for my ants(pogonomyrmex occidentalis). One pile is the feeding larvae, the other is late stage larvae done feeding and pupae. It's the late stage/pupae pile they tend to move around the most.

[jo16]

 

this is my set up, I think they generally like it.

Have any suggestions?

for some reason the picture is upside down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by jo16, February 12 2025 - 4:04 PM.

[jo16]

Oh sorry about the picture.

don't know why it did that?

[ANTdrew]

Cut a cardboard tube in half and cover the tube for darkness.

[jo16]

Ok thanks

[jo16]

do you think that the wet cloth in the jar is a good idea for the hydration? 

Is it enough hydration?

Edited by jo16, February 12 2025 - 7:01 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Remove it. The ants will get their hydration from the test tube.

[jo16]

Ok thanks

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

as suggested, a darkness cover for their nest tube, and no need for the outworld humidity source. Their in nest humidity is all they need.

 

[jo16]

How often do I need to change the sugar water? 

[Ants_Dakota]

How often do I need to change the sugar water? 

This depends on how you offer it to them. You can give them a test tube filled with sugar water, and this will last for weeks. A piece of tin foil or test tube feeding insert will only keep sugars good for a day or too. A liquid feeder will keep it good for a few weeks, although warm weather will cause it to flood if it is kept there for much longer.

[jo16]

thanks

[rptraut]

Hello jo16;

I give my small colonies separate pieces of sponge saturated with fresh sugar/water and water every day when I feed them protein. Check out my journal (RPT’s Journal) as well as some of my other posts. When a colony gets too big for the sponge method, I use a small test tube plugged with cotton that they’ll empty in 3-4 days. As the colony grows larger I use larger test tubes. Small pieces of sponge on a small tray can also be offered to founding queens the same way. If they don’t want it - at least you gave them the opportunity. Good Luck!
RPT

[jo16]

could any one id these for me, the more black one is the comin one that's apart of the colony, the other one I found in the same colony but there was only one of them.     

[Ants_Dakota]

could any one id these for me, the more black one is the comin one that's apart of the colony, the other one I found in the same colony but there was only one of them.IMG_20250206_124317327.jpg    

That picture is far to grainy to result in a solid ID. Your best bet is to view the list of ants native to your state here: https://antmaps.org/?and then google each one and compare them.

[RushmoreAnts]

could any one id these for me, the more black one is the comin one that's apart of the colony, the other one I found in the same colony but there was only one of them.IMG_20250206_124317327.jpg    

Younger workers have lighter colored exoskeletons. They look like the same species, except the younger one had its abdomen amputated and will die within a few days.