6 replies to this topic

[Antperson31]

Hello all, 

 

This journal is going to be about 4 Camponotus queens that I have caught, I am also new to ant keeping so any suggestions are appreciated.

Currently I believe 3 out of 4 of the Queens have brood in some stage with the one I's most hopeful for has at least one larvae. I do plan on giving these colonies their own separate journals if they make past the founding stage, which I definitely hope they do. I currently have them in test tube setups covered with tinfoil to block the light, I also have a heat cable over all of their setups to help them develop quicker (as I have heard Camponotus develop quite slowly) the Heat cable also helps them stay warm in my Basement which is quite cold. I believe they are Noveborancensis due to the kind of red abdomens although I am not completely sure (Here is the Ant ID request if you're interested https://www.formicul...pm/#entry239668). Anyways, for now that's all but I'll make sure to update this sometime late next week when I check in on them again.

 

 

Note: first two images are of the first queen third is of the second, fourth is of the third and so on.

 

Thanks,

Antperson31

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Edited by Antperson31, June 9 2024 - 1:13 PM.

[Stubyvast]

Nice! Looks like C. Modoc, although not sure. Hope they get past the founding stage! If you're sorta new to ant keeping, I'll give you some tips:

 

A. Keep them moisturized. Test tube set-up is great.

B. Once the first workers arrive, connect the test tube to an outworld so they can forage. It doesn't have to be too small, just big enough for them to wander around a bit. Keep the outworld dry so they don't nest in it. 

C. Camponotus are usually fully claustral, meaning they rely on muscle tissue (and, fun fact, some parts of their brain) to feed their larvae. You won't need to feed her until the first workers, who are called nanitics, arrive. 

E. Camponotus brood typically take around a month and a half in ideal conditions to grow to full worker. Don't worry too much if they seem to take a long time. 

 

I dunno if you know that stuff or not, just putting it out there in case you wanted to know anything.

Good luck!

[Antperson31]

Hi all,

 

It's that time of week again! Which means even more photos of the queens. Also thank you Stubyvast for the great advice although I do have one more question, what do you think I should feed them? As I am not exactly sure, although I know you should feed some sort of sugar for the first meal I don't know if I should feed them Sugar water, Honey water or some other food. Anyways, the pictures of the ants are attached below and their nanitics look quite close to arriving!! Similar to last time the first two images are of the first queen, second two are of the second and so on. Unfortunately it seems as if the 4th queen is either unfertilized or has   decided not to lay eggs , although 3 out of 4 queens is really good in my opinion. Sooo, that's it I guess see you next week.

 

 

 

Thanks,

Antperson31

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[GOCAMPONOTUS]

I feed mine and sorts of liquid sugar. Mostly honeywater.

[Antperson31]

Hello all,

 

 

Exciting news!! Three of my four queens now have nanitics!! I have moved them into tubes in tubs setups and I have fed them all sugar water for their first meal. Like usual the photos of the queens below are in this order: first two pictures are of the first queen, second two are of the second and so on. Fortunately the fourth queen finally decided to lay and has brood now so it should be another week or so until she has nanitics. Also, sorry about my slight lateness as I had a really tiring weekend and I kind of just relaxed for the entirety of late Sunday. Also if any of you have any name suggestions for the colonies I am all ears!

 

 

Thanks,

Antperson31

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[Antperson31]

Hi all,

 

It's been a bit since I posted in this journal, so I will do a quick recap of what has happened the past few months:

All four of the colonies did end up developing Nanitics, although I unfortunately lost the fourth colony as they had been nesting outside of the testube, so I attempted to move them into a formacarium (thinking that they didn't like the testube) but I believe that the stress of moving them was too much.

 

The other three colonies have continued to develop though with the 1st colony having the most workers by far by the beginning of winter here. I then put them into my cold basement to "Hibernate" a couple of weeks before Christmas.

 

I have recently taken them out of Hibernation/Diapause as I have read they only need around three months to hibernate, and the weather around me is beginning to get warm enough that the basement will no longer stay cold enough for Diapause. I could also kinda just tell that they were beginning to wake up as when I was checking on them they seemed to be more active then they were in the colder winter months.

 

Due to the fact that they haven't really fully woken up yet (and because I would like to find a better phone camera to use than my particularly old phone) I have decided not to include pictures in this post. I will definitely post pictures within the next week or so, once I figure the camera situation out.

 

I also should have some Sunburst ant nectar on the way, although I do still have a bit of sugar water left over from last fall (do not worry it is somehow not yet moldy) so I will be feeding them that for the time being. I also intend upon going to my local reptile store at some point to get them some insects to eat, but for now they seem to be fairly happy with chicken and walnuts. If you have any other ideas on possible protein sources (or carb sources)for them I am all ears.

 

I do also intend on beginning to post more frequently again as school wraps up and the ants begin to become more active, so you can look forward to more updates about these girls!

 

Thank you,

Antperson31

[rptraut]

Hello Antperson31;

 

You have the perfect opportunity to get your young Camponotus colonies onto a diet that contains mostly meat products.   This makes food preparation and cleanup much easier, especially as the colonies get bigger and eat more.   You'll find details in the link below about a Camponotus pennsylvanicus colony that I only fed meat products to for an entire season.   

 

Results From Two Feeding Experiments by RPT - General Ant Keeping - Ants & Myrmecology Forum

 

 

 

The link below provides details on food preparation and presentation.   

 

Feeding Time at the Zoo - General Ant Keeping - Ants & Myrmecology Forum

 

Try feeding meat products to your colonies.   I think you'll find they like them, and so will you.

RPT