5 replies to this topic

[MyrmecologyMaven]

I purchased this colony from antopiausa this weekend. They arrived fast and safely. I ordered a 1-5 worker colony and received a colony with no brood, 3 workers (one died), and a healthy queen. Not the best start for such a difficult species but I'm hopeful. I set them up in a tar heel ants mini hearth with a heating cable. Very excited to observe this colony and watch them grow!

 

When the colony first arrived.

 

The colony in the mini hearth.

 

The queens mandibles.

 

A video of the colony.

https://youtu.be/pWB...f0Ec00TwDyDm6R_

 

 

[jabasson]

As someone who bought a 2 worker colony with brood (meaning with cocoons as well), you have a long road ahead of you, unless you really know what you are doing. I finally got what looks like a healthy cocoon after THREE MONTHS (they still have it on the water tower and not the other side of the nest, it doesn't look wrinkled either). Really hoping I finally get my 3rd worker. I think "force feeding" them is a must (put food directly into the nest). I was gonna make a journal on them but I'm gonna wait until they finally start making new workers so its not just a dead end journal. I also don't know if this is what helped but I put blue tack around all my plugs and nest mate thingy to completely seal the nest and keep the humidity inside. A lot of my troubles might come from stress from being in a mini hearth too soon as well. Good luck!

 

Edit: The colony was M. mexicanus, so not same species but similar

Edited by jabasson, February 11 2025 - 11:18 PM.

[kiedeerk]

Antopia is a reputable seller however seller who sells these colonies this late into the season with 1-5 workers and no brood are dying colonies is deceiving the buyers. These are not cheap I would advise people to buy them as early in the season once they get first get their nanitics. You should have waited for new queens or colonies from the upcoming season.

Good luck with these but the chances it recovers is slim to none. Brood cycles even at optimum setting will take 1-2 months I’m not sure your workers will last that long. Should have kept them in test tube with sand instead of moving them into mini hearth. I kept my placadops until 20+ workers before moving into a diy nest

[MyrmecologyMaven]

As someone who bought a 2 worker colony with brood (meaning with cocoons as well), you have a long road ahead of you, unless you really know what you are doing. I finally got what looks like a healthy cocoon after THREE MONTHS (they still have it on the water tower and not the other side of the nest, it doesn't look wrinkled either). Really hoping I finally get my 3rd worker. I think "force feeding" them is a must (put food directly into the nest). I was gonna make a journal on them but I'm gonna wait until they finally start making new workers so its not just a dead end journal. I also don't know if this is what helped but I put blue tack around all my plugs and nest mate thingy to completely seal the nest and keep the humidity inside. A lot of my troubles might come from stress from being in a mini hearth too soon as well. Good luck!

Edit: The colony was M. mexicanus, so not same species but similar

I have kept a few species of Myrmecocystus in my ant keeping journey. I find mini hearths better than test tubes for even tiny Myrmecocystus colonies. I raised a 4 worker placodops colony to a decent size in one. I’m going to be force feeding and heating the nest very well. I’m gonna send antopiausa an email as I think sending out such unhealthy colony is irresponsible as a seller.

Edited by MyrmecologyMaven, February 12 2025 - 8:19 AM.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Antopia is a reputable seller however seller who sells these colonies this late into the season with 1-5 workers and no brood are dying colonies is deceiving the buyers. These are not cheap I would advise people to buy them as early in the season once they get first get their nanitics. You should have waited for new queens or colonies from the upcoming season.

Good luck with these but the chances it recovers is slim to none. Brood cycles even at optimum setting will take 1-2 months I’m not sure your workers will last that long. Should have kept them in test tube with sand instead of moving them into mini hearth. I kept my placadops until 20+ workers before moving into a diy nest

Actually I have trouble with test tubes for Myrmecocystus. I’ve raised a few successful colonies but all have been founded in a mini hearth with as little as 4 workers. I find the queen and worker like to climb around the ceiling and it makes them more secure and raises my chances of a successful colony. I am sending antopiausa an email as I think sending out such an unhealthy colony with no brood cycle is irresponsible as a seller.

Edited by MyrmecologyMaven, February 12 2025 - 8:19 AM.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

I got a reply from antopiausa very fast! I got store credit for the price of the colony. He said he shipped them out with some eggs but I think they ate them during shipping. I hope this colony survives.