10 replies to this topic

[Someone]

I have formicas. Sometimes I see some ants that are shaking in place or their movements are very sharp and awkward. Is it some kind of sickness or a sign that I'm doing something wrong? I'll attach a video of one shaking if I can.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

No, nothing is severely wrong with them but my Formica used to do that, especially the queen, I believe it is some kind of stress response, like how when my Formica did not have a towel under their nest to keep vibrations down. Is there anything that dampens vibration under their nest? That might be the problem because Formica reacts to the slightest of vibrations.

[Someone]

Ok, I see. I've never noticed anything like that happen to the queen. There is a couple rubber bands that wrap around the formicarium to dump the vibrations and they stand on a wall shelf. But I might put something else under. By the way, an unrelated question. I had them for a little less than a year and after I put them into the formicarium, I didn't put any substrate. The floor became quite nasty in the place of arena they're taking their trash and dead bodies too. What kind of substrate could I add, and should I?

[Zeiss]

Ants will twitch on occasion, which it sounds like yours is normal. Formica also have quick movements in general. I wouldn't really say it's a stress response.

 

There are signs of bad movements when their nervous system is being damaged, which will follow with a bunch deaths. These are very different from what you are observing, so don't worry.

 

As for the outworld, you can clean it when it gets too dirty. You could add whatever you want for substrate, just don't add too much or they might want to nest there instead.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

With or without a substrate, the outworld will just need to be cleaned regularly to remove the refuse from time to time.

I never let the trash pile get too big in mine as it could lead to creating a great habitat for unwanted critters (mites/parasites) in the colony.

Also some ants(cocoon spinners generally) will need a bit of loose substrate around to help the larvae spin their cocoon properly. Anything will do, bit of sand or some saw dust or whatever as long as it's clean/chemical free.

For ant nests on a shelf, i am using blu-tack to both keep them in place(earthquake country here) as well as dampen vibrations.
If being shaken off the shelf is not an issue where you live, i'v also had good results from using a washcloth/handtowel as a vibration absorber.
I just ultimetly went with an option that tries to get a bit of both in one go.

[Someone]

Ants will twitch on occasion, which it sounds like yours is normal. Formica also have quick movements in general. I wouldn't really say it's a stress response.

 

There are signs of bad movements when their nervous system is being damaged, which will follow with a bunch deaths. These are very different from what you are observing, so don't worry.

 

As for the outworld, you can clean it when it gets too dirty. You could add whatever you want for substrate, just don't add too much or they might want to nest there instead.

It does look like some nervous system issue. Here is the link to the video: https://drive.google...?usp=drive_link.

 

I do clean the outworld, however it's quite hard because Formicas have very good sight, are very aware of what's happening around and are very fast. Especially because some trash sticks to the ground, so I think with substrate cleaning might be easier

[Someone]

With or without a substrate, the outworld will just need to be cleaned regularly to remove the refuse from time to time.

I never let the trash pile get too big in mine as it could lead to creating a great habitat for unwanted critters (mites/parasites) in the colony.

Also some ants(cocoon spinners generally) will need a bit of loose substrate around to help the larvae spin their cocoon properly. Anything will do, bit of sand or some saw dust or whatever as long as it's clean/chemical free.

For ant nests on a shelf, i am using blu-tack to both keep them in place(earthquake country here) as well as dampen vibrations.
If being shaken off the shelf is not an issue where you live, i'v also had good results from using a washcloth/handtowel as a vibration absorber.
I just ultimetly went with an option that tries to get a bit of both in one go.

Yeah, I'm worried about mites too as I encountered them once and therefore don't know if it's better to have substrate or no.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

1. Just DON’T keep Formica in acrylic nests, there are reasons why because of the formic acid they spray just does not do well in acrylic setups, I don’t remember what but I remember that you should not.

 

2. I know the nest you are using and you have too much space in the nest, there are little slots where you can put a piece of paper or plastic to close the upper part of the nest off. Too much space in a nest can give your ants stress.

 

3. That problem looks concerning to me and I think it is something serious, could it be a pesticide problem?

[Someone]

1. Ok, I didn't know about Formicas and acrylic nests. I'll consider buying a different one for them. 

2. Yes, don't worry about that. I've closed off the other floors right away, however because of bad moisturizing system they were able to access 2 more. They are still pretty dense in them now.
3. I don't think so, I hope not. All the big ants there now are from pupae implanted by me since last summer, the beginning. After they were born, the queen produced one generation of her own workers which are much smaller. I've only seen this issue in a few of the implanted workers, however the majority of them are still alive, it is very rare now and there are not many new bodies anymore. Maybe it is some acclimatization issue

[Someone]

1. Just DON’T keep Formica in acrylic nests, there are reasons why because of the formic acid they spray just does not do well in acrylic setups, I don’t remember what but I remember that you should not.

 

2. I know the nest you are using and you have too much space in the nest, there are little slots where you can put a piece of paper or plastic to close the upper part of the nest off. Too much space in a nest can give your ants stress.

 

3. That problem looks concerning to me and I think it is something serious, could it be a pesticide problem?

Do you have any advice on what kind of nest would work betterfor them?

[ANTdrew]

More absorbent nests made of hydrostone or other gypsum plasters would be best. Ytong would also be absorbent.

Edited by ANTdrew, March 25 2025 - 4:59 PM.