14 replies to this topic

[Connectimyrmex]

Hi.

I've just noticed that something strange is occurring with my Pheidole majors. One of the replete majors died, and a foraging major had its gaster severed! What is going on? Is there a decapitating fly or something in the formicarium?

[Connectimyrmex]

Are the workers eating the majors?

[Serafine]

Do you feed them enough protein? If they run short they might decide to "recycle" the expensive majors to build more cheap workers.

[Connectimyrmex]

I give them crickets, but only once a week. Is that too little? I feed my YCA that much and they do okay, but there are more pheidole in my colony than my YCA.

[antgenius123]

I would feed them every other day. Do they seem to take interest in the crickets after a while?

Edited by antgenius123, January 17 2017 - 9:54 PM.

[Serafine]

You should give them as much as they want (can take). If you give them too much you'll see as they will not touch the food they can't eat (and you can reduce the rations a bit). If you give them too little they will start doing weird stuff like eating their eggs and larvae or killing their majors.

If you want them to multiply at a lesser rate it is better to cool them down close to the minimum temperature they can deal with, this will slow their growth significantly.

Edited by Serafine, January 18 2017 - 3:20 AM.

[SamKeepsAnts]

I love the way pheidole eat , they have majors cut the food and workers carry it back very efficient

[Connectimyrmex]

In my case, the minors cut up the majors and all the minors carry it back

I gave them 3 crickets and they seem full now.

Also, sam, next time can you try to post a new topic or message me about that remark? That isn't very closely related to the topic

[Vendayn]

I've heard Pheidole megacephala do this with a lot to their soldiers. My colony did the same, though there were still some soldiers in there. But, its pretty common thing I read about that colonies of Pheidole megacephala (in captivity) that kill their own soldiers. It could be a diet thing, but not sure.

[Connectimyrmex]

Thanks!

I think it was a diet thing because they stopped attacking the remaining soldiers. 

[Leo]

my pheidole killed a few as well 

luckily i have a lot of majors

[Serafine]

Maybe you can give them some living food? They might decide that without any threats they don't need the soldiers.

[Connectimyrmex]

I gave them a live fruit fly and all the majors piled on top of it. It was almost funny but it was kind of sad.

They ate well, though. There are also four crickets sitting in their nest now. 

[Serafine]

Just add some other foods into their diet. Only crickets are a bit boring, ants love to eat different stuff like we do. I'm sure they would appreciate a spider or a superworm, probably some fruit (banana, strawberry) as well.

Edited by Serafine, January 20 2017 - 3:43 AM.

[Connectimyrmex]

I gave them a freshly molted mealworm & some sugar water. They seem happier, and 2 new majors eclosed yesterday.