70 replies to this topic

[fortysixandtwo]

Transfered Colony #2 into the new mini formicarium I built. They moved into the nest and seem quite content now.

 

[T.C.]

Nice, be sure to keep this thing updated.

[fortysixandtwo]

Nice, be sure to keep this thing updated.

 

Will do.

 

Both colonies were put into the garage fridge for hibernation on 11/24/16. Temp in the fridge is 40 F.

Edited by fortysixandtwo, November 27 2016 - 11:18 PM.

[Jackb3794]

Well. some idea's for my next Dad / son project

[fortysixandtwo]

Pulled the two colonies out to check their water and hibernation status. Definitely hibernating. Water was good still after almost a month. My colony names are corny I know 

 

Colony#1: Camp Modoc

 

 

Colony#2: Camp Vicinus 

 

[fortysixandtwo]

Ants will have been in hibernation 2 months on the 26th of this month. Checked them today, all is well. Topped off the water and put them back in the fridge.

 

Colony #1: Camp Modoc

 

 

Colony #2: Camp Vicinus

 

[MichiganAnts]

looking good bud!

[fortysixandtwo]

Pulled the colonies out of the fridge on 1/26/17. 

[fortysixandtwo]

Both colonies have been out of hibernation at ambient room temp of 65 F for almost two weeks. They seem fully active.

 

I cut up a dubia roach and split it between both colonies last night. I did catch a worker from Camp Modoc foraging, so that is good. Also all ants in both colonies, including both queens seem pretty fat compared to pre-hibernation. Eggs in the Vicinus colony seem to be growing.

 

Also interestingly enough, in the Camp Modoc colony all 5 workers were alive when I pulled them from hibernation. After two weeks, at some point the smallest nanitic died and was cannibalized by the other workers. All that remains is her head. No sign that they moved her remains elsewhere.

 

Have some work to do to finish their upgraded medium sized formicariums but gotta wait for this insane wind and rain to stop for a day or two.

 

Mini founder formicariums - cheapo homebuilt vs Tarheels:

 

 

Camp Modoc:

 

 

Camp Vicinus: 

 

 

Cut up cockroach and honey:

 

[MichiganAnts]

looking good buddy. just get them in a warmer spot!

[fortysixandtwo]

looking good buddy. just get them in a warmer spot!

 

If this damn heating cable ever gets here

[fortysixandtwo]

Heat cable finally showed up. As soon as this rain lets up I can finish my two final small formicariums to transfer these into.

 

[drtrmiller]

 

I would apply heat to the front side and keep the room temperature as stable and free from drafts as possible to avoid water condensation in the formicarium at all costs.

 

I've had many bad experiences regarding water condensation in small enclosed habitats.

Edited by drtrmiller, February 10 2017 - 11:01 AM.

[fortysixandtwo]

 

 

I would apply heat to the front side and keep the room temperature as stable and free from drafts as possible to avoid water condensation in the formicarium at all costs.

 

I've had many bad experiences regarding water condensation in small enclosed habitats.

 

 

For sure thanks. I was trying to milk a few droplets of water out of my spray bottle and it let loose. I dried all that up after I took the photo

[fortysixandtwo]

Ant update:

 

Changed out the food and topped off the water today.

 

And discovered Camp Modoc has it's first brood! 

 

Camp Modoc:

 

Growth of the brood in Camp vicinus seems slow at best.

Camp Vicinus:

Edited by fortysixandtwo, March 6 2017 - 10:33 PM.

[MichiganAnts]

looking good buddy!

[fortysixandtwo]

Camp modoc and Camp vicinus are both showing steady growth in the brood. The modoc are growing faster than the vicinus though. Anyway, ants look healthy, brood looks healthy, Topped off their water, cleaned their food trays and added a little bit of cockroach food I have from RRF and also some ByFormica nectar. 

 

Camp Vicinus:

 

 

Camp Modoc:

 

[Vasquez]

Oh my! This is awesome. I need to do something like this.
I like it very much.

[T.C.]

Your making good progress. Happy to see that! My camponotous just has larva and has for 4 months now!

[fortysixandtwo]

Checked the ants today. Definitely very good progress in Camp Modoc. Now two generations of brood: new pile of eggs, and the previous eggs are now larva. Making sure they get protein with each feeding now in the form of prekilled crickets and roaches. 

 

Camp Vicinus, for whatever reason, the growth is stagnant. But the brood is still alive. Giving extra protein, hopefully that speeds things up.

 

Camp Modoc. You can see the two distinct piles of eggs and larva. Workers and queen look fat and healthy:

 

 

Camp Vicinus. You can get a clear shot of the larva here, there is growth, just not much. No new eggs yet:

 

 

Funny behavior observation: After adding water to the hydration tube for Camp Modoc, some water got in the nest. One worker proceeded to take all the larva out one by one, line them up, and is now thoroughly investigating them and cleaning them. Can't get the food tray back in until she brings them back inside.

 

In this process, I saw another worker carrying what looked like a dead worker out. Damn, lost another. Then she puts it down, and the worker gets up and starts walking around. Wtf lol

Edited by fortysixandtwo, April 15 2017 - 11:04 PM.