3 replies to this topic

[CamponotusLover]

So surprisingly the queen I put by herself in a formicarium is more successful then the ones I have in tubes, but don't try this as you may not have the same luck, anyhow, the queen in the formicarium, a Crematogaster queen, has a batch of eggs, is there anything I should do, and would it be wise to leave her alone for 1 month or two, there's a drop of honey down there if she needz food but atm she's eatig nutrients stored from her gaster. Suggestions?

Ps bad grammar=blame mobile device and typing skill on it



happy bday to me, cremogaster queen gave me the gift of more happiness since she just lay moe last nigh.

[T.C.]

First, Happy Birthday. And as for your question, I almost always leave my colonies alone for a month. However their is good and bad to doing something like this.

PROS-
No stress put on the queen from handling.
Don't have to mess with them, just wait until the month is over, then check.
No worries, if you are stressing her out too much.

CONS- Formicarium you have them in could mold, dry out, or you may miss something that they end up dying from that you could have prevented.

Some of my most successful, colonies I left in a attic or closet for a month. However to play it safe, I would stick with checking on them once a week.

As for you saying she has been more successful in the formicarium, than the others in the test tubes. Well... it's just not recommended you do so, not meaning it wouldn't work. However you should now that the issues that come with having them in the formicarium don't come until the first workers. The first workers won't do well, in such a large area. In the wild, the nest is expanded as they need it. If the nest is large, then the colony has to be large as well.

Edited by T.C., March 21 2017 - 8:17 PM.

[Works4TheGood]

Test tube setups are very stable and reliable. Formicariums, especially those that are home-made, are probably much more hit or miss because the gradients and ventilation are just plain difficult to get right without a tried and true design. Also, measuring "success" is a tricky thing to measure. What you're after is a healthy queen and colony because even large colonies can be stressed and have their queen die unexpectedly.

... just some random thoughts. Good luck to you!

[CamponotusLover]

First, Happy Birthday. And as for your question, I almost always leave my colonies alone for a month. However their is good and bad to doing something like this.

PROS-
No stress put on the queen from handling.
Don't have to mess with them, just wait until the month is over, then check.
No worries, if you are stressing her out too much.

CONS- Formicarium you have them in could mold, dry out, or you may miss something that they end up dying from that you could have prevented.

Some of my most successful, colonies I left in a attic or closet for a month. However to play it safe, I would stick with checking on them once a week.

As for you saying she has been more successful in the formicarium, than the others in the test tubes. Well... it's just not recommended you do so, not meaning it wouldn't work. However you should now that the issues that come with having them in the formicarium don't come until the first workers. The first workers won't do well, in such a large area. In the wild, the nest is expanded as they need it. If the nest is large, then the colony has to be large as well.

 

Test tube setups are very stable and reliable. Formicariums, especially those that are home-made, are probably much more hit or miss because the gradients and ventilation are just plain difficult to get right without a tried and true design. Also, measuring "success" is a tricky thing to measure. What you're after is a healthy queen and colony because even large colonies can be stressed and have their queen die unexpectedly.

... just some random thoughts. Good luck to you!

Wow! Very helpful replies! Thanks for them too! As for the formicarium, you can view it here, it isn't TOO big but it may still be too big for the ants:  - I also added a hydration system that works, and if its really too much space I can block up the entrance to the top so they can't get to the outworldish part yet, and I can shove cotton through the test tube hole that they don't use cause she prefers the inside of the formicarium, so I can make it a tiny little chamber if I must, if that is wise, please say so! I would like to know honestly! Also I don't believe mold will grow, its grout and from what I hear about grout formicariums is they don't mold easily if not at all.

 

Heh! As for me saying she's successful, I meant founding-stage wise, she has an entire batch of eggs whereas I don't see any of the other queens with any.

 

Anyhow, thanks for the replies!