177 replies to this topic

[CallMeCraven]

10/7/16 

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Really thought one of the works was removing the queens wings finally. It was riding up on top of them at least..

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Since the "big move"...it looks like the brood size has doubled. There are times I see a whole lot of workers (10+) and other times I see very few (3). Never entirely sure where things go or what they are doing. I come up with, "EVERYONE'S DIEING!" theories then see action the next day. They seem to be doing fine otherwise. Woke up in Silent Hill 29 degree fog this morning so maybe hibernation time is a'comin' sooner than I thought. Was at Petsmart and they sell "Flightless Fruit Flys" in the jar container thing. Got me thinking to simply buy the container and drop it in the tank and how to prevent some things when doing that though...

 

Pretty simply......

The idea is to take a straw and reduce the opening to the fruit flys to try and minimise the risk of flys escaping. Not sure how they would escape... The whole concept of insects in an open container is something that's hard to get over. Thoughts, opinions, concerns? What have people done in the past?
 

The fruit fly containers work really well at containing the flies inside. The best way I have seen of feeding these flies to your ants is to put a container like a large tupperware into the freezer until it is cold. Then dump some flies from their container (make sure to tap on the lid before opening) into the cold tupperware. The sudden chill from the tupperware will stun the flies so they aren't jumping everywhere. Then put the flies and tupperware back into the freezer for a few minutes to quickly kill the flies. They are then ready to feed to you ants! Humane way to treat the flies, easy food for your ants, and no risk of having escaped flies everywhere.

 

I think that worker just wanted a free ride around the brood area. Lazy bum lol .

Edited by CallMeCraven, October 7 2016 - 7:57 AM.

[sgheaton]

The queen doesn't leave that "brood room." I've seen her in the chamber below once before but they have since plugged up the three entrances with sand. I mean it was/is a safe chamber in the whole rock mass already. They felt the need to "close the entrances" though. Goobers. 

I can't get over "open container+Insects." I was watching the fruit flies bounce and jump around their container thing at Petsmart. I just picture fleas jumping off and don't want that with these "flightless fruit flies." Last thing I want is a flying insect in my gaming room. I was told it was fairly interesting to watch the ants hunt down the active flys so I would keep them alive (?). I had some crickets for them but they were massive in comparison. I just head-chopped those for easy gooey-guy access. 

 

Is it a bad idea to give them 50 flies? Should it really be somewhat controlled in a 5/every week kind of fashion like you described? I realized in my picture description I am exposing the ants to the fruit fly food...mash..pellet thing that's in their container. Don't know if that's good for ants so using the method you described separates that possibility. Alright....Something to think about.

[T.C.]

Funny*  I had a problem with fruit flies getting IN my test tube, and trying to lay their eggs? I had sugar water in their so that's why they tried to come in? Once they realized they were stuck they laid their eggs?

[sgheaton]

I need to determine how/what I'm going to do. A grasshopper every once in awhile during summer - sure. A house fly whenever I get them - why not. I didn't start this thinking I would end up raising a group of feeder flys/mealworms for the ants. I really thought it would be a piece of candy, honey, small piece of meat kinda thing. Maybe some seeds. Should have known insects would have been a part of it as well. Doing the liquid feeders though I haven't seen them on it since day one. 

[CallMeCraven]

I need to determine how/what I'm going to do. A grasshopper every once in awhile during summer - sure. A house fly whenever I get them - why not. I didn't start this thinking I would end up raising a group of feeder flys/mealworms for the ants. I really thought it would be a piece of candy, honey, small piece of meat kinda thing. Maybe some seeds. Should have known insects would have been a part of it as well. Doing the liquid feeders though I haven't seen them on it since day one. 

If you do go the route, I would suggest starting with meal worms. They are super easy to keep, and don' take a lot of care or space. 

 

http://www.backyardc...raise-mealworms

 

This is the basic concept, but on a fairly large scale meant to keep up with chickens. I've seen this done in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid that the guy kept in the closet. He just checked it once a week and replaced the potatoes. The trick this link suggests by placing a potato half, waiting 10 min, and then pulling it up to gather the larvae also works really well. You probably go even smaller than the 5 gallon, he was feeding a pretty voracious bearded dragon.

Edited by CallMeCraven, October 7 2016 - 2:38 PM.

[sgheaton]

10/11/16 - Ants

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Updated pictures. 

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Think she got angry because in the first photo the queen is out. Second shot she has retreated into the tunnel..cover..entrance thing. 

I'll have to raise up some mealworms I suppose. Found a cricket in my garage this morning, and while I don't like things I find around MY house (simply for the the fact of I know I have sprayed chemicals around) I put it in the freezer for a maybe. 

[sgheaton]

10/28/2016 - Pre-Hibernation Plan

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Haven't updated in awhile, figured I should document things. Got home from work yesterday to see a couple of workers out in the "food area". Took it as a sign to bring on the feast! Gave a black-cricket I found (cut in half), a piece of cat food, and some sunburst. Saw 5 picking at the cricket and some on the liquid feeder. They...haha..were pulling the legs apart full spread eagle trying to rip it clean free. Bugs are so freaggin' weird/gross/cool. There was plenty of "good gooey parts"....oh well.

 

Formicarium is moist - watering has been super easy in that regard. I'm hoping that "given this smorgasbord of food" they will eat and stock up a ton because I'm going to move the entire tank from my upstairs room into the basement on Sunday. I believe that the temperature of a Colorado basement will be sufficient in slowing down these ants for a little. I don't know what the actual temperature value is as I've never put a thermometer down there. I'll move my room gauge down there just out of curiosity because that's all they are going to get. It works for my wine so why not give it a shot. I'm planning on doing a fresh coat of fluon. This will be the second time I've applied it since my massive super initial doing. I actually haven't seen them walk up...above the formicarium but I'd rather be safe. 

 

Edit: And then this morning there are black specks of cricket chunks peppered throughout the hydration zone.... People have told me Tetramoriums are messy ants, but I mean...come on guys!!

 

Edited by sgheaton, October 28 2016 - 5:50 AM.

[MichiganAnts]

keep updating this!

[sgheaton]

Hahaha.....The main reason why I slowed down with my constant updates was I temporarily lost my "good camera."

I had an S7 that was sent off for repair, went down to my S3 and the camera quality wasn't worth posting pictures. I've since got it back and will do my best to take pictures tonight. The "tetra-tank" is still upstairs in the gaming room with the "Pogonomyrmex-farm" as I played my lazy card and didn't do as many outside chores as I was planning on. Colorado has decided to be in late October/November so sprinklers weren't blown out and furniture wasn't moved down into the basement. I'll try to take good pictures of them before they go to "hibernation" in the basement. 

[Apex]

that's not tetramorium! It's aphaenogaster occidentalis

[Loops117]

that's not tetramorium! It's aphaenogaster occidentalis

I completely 100% agree with this. Apex has succesfully IDd all of my ants as A.occidentalis. I had no clue!

[sgheaton]

Oh you.......

[XZero38]

that's not tetramorium! It's aphaenogaster occidentalis

how are you able to tell that its not tetramorium?

[sgheaton]

And so I'm becoming full Coloradian, AKA I will say something and then not do it. 

 

 

Did I take pictures? Will the Tank-Tetras make it into my basement for hibernation this weekend? ...why didn't they make it down there....oh any of the days I've said before? Not sure. I want to reapply Fluon. That involves going downstairs and getting it out of the fridge...ugh... That and I enjoy watching them upstairs when I game....

 

Alright! THIS WEEKEND they will make the move.... and I'll try and get pictures. Gonna play around with a loop and see what kind of clear shots I can manage. 

[noebl1]

 

Alright! THIS WEEKEND they will make the move.... 

 

haha that's awesome.  I've been debating about hibernation on mine as they are still fairly active. I swore 11/1... but still haven't yet 

[sgheaton]

11/6/2016 - 2016 Hibernation

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I did something this weekend. Finally. 

 

Pre hibernation shot of nothing as the queen ran to the right.

I was assuming that the "white banding" on the gasters meant "full of food" so down they went. Actually then went down because the timing was right...I still want to look at them but now it'll be during check ups...AKA Whenever I empty the litter box.

 

And now we play the waiting game... 

Edited by sgheaton, November 7 2016 - 1:38 PM.

[Solenoqueen]

Nice setup! If only I had such resources...

[AnthonyP163]

11/6/2016 - 2016 Hibernation
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I did something this weekend. Finally.

Pre hibernation shot of nothing as the queen ran to the right.
I was assuming that the "white banding" on the gasters meant "full of food" so down they went. Actually then went down because the timing was right...I still want to look at them but now it'll be during check ups...AKA Whenever I empty the litter box.

And now we play the waiting game...

If you don't hibernate them in a test tube, you still have to make sure they are hydrated.

[AnthonyP163]

Same, mine just won't move to a test tube.
Alright! THIS WEEKEND they will make the move....

haha that's awesome. I've been debating about hibernation on mine as they are still fairly active. I swore 11/1... but still haven't yet

[noebl1]

 

 

Same, mine just won't move to a test tube.
Alright! THIS WEEKEND they will make the move....

haha that's awesome. I've been debating about hibernation on mine as they are still fairly active. I swore 11/1... but still haven't yet

 

 

I did put them into hibernation this last weekend  They had slowed down substantially within a week or so, figured it was time.