48 replies to this topic

[drtrmiller]

You'll have a ton of eggs after they're taken from captivity, as their natural diet is extremely diverse and they're producing the eggs off their reserves.  The sugar solution is just keeping them on life support—they can't continue to output eggs at such a high rate without protein.  

 

As a nomadic species, a constantly warm habitat temperature and high RH are probably some of the more crucial elements to keeping them in captivity.

 

They would attack and carry small Drosophila back to the nest, but eventually grew tired of them.  Small crickets were hit or miss.  They seemed to have little interest in mealworms or waxworms.

 

I did have constant success when feeding Formula products in early development, but eventually released the colony on account of being inordinately busy.

[Alza]

Formula products ?

[drtrmiller]

Links in signature

[Alza]

The population has doubled, and i decided to give them chicken, but it doesent seem like they are interested 

[Alza]

The chicken is now gone... and the queens for some reason seem more active and are currently running in circles 

[Crystals]

I have heard many people talking of how many argentine ants are in their garbage can.

You could try saving tiny pieces of your meals and snacks and seeing if they like them.  Make a list of "likes" and "does not like" for future reference.

[Alza]

in an attempt to move the argentine ants out of the test tube they escaped. Well atleast 6 of them did. there's atleast 20 left

Edited by Alza, September 29 2014 - 5:25 PM.

[Gregory2455]

Six workers?

[Alza]

yea. i attempted to move them into the omni nest 

[Gregory2455]

Workers do not really matter, they will have them back in a week or two.

[dermy]

Yeah but if they are queens you'd be in trouble.

[Alza]

Alright Update - i wake up to find the colony scrambling around. I decided i would feed them a fruit fly, and they ate it! i honestly didn't expect it to happen but, expect the unexpected!

[Alza]

They are still doing good, with an even larger egg pile then before. I'm impressed

[Alza]

Update over time, they completely went into a time of dying and lost a queen. they were having a mass die off for an unknown reason! but they started eating more  sources of protein as the die off happened, and were eventually able to get it together again. there are now two queens and eight workers. 

[drtrmiller]

Likely far too few ants to re-establish this difficult-to-keep species in captivity, but good luck anyways.

[Alza]

I agree, and i thank you for your opinion. Then comes a time when i should get your opinion once more, should i add boost workers, or see if they can rebuild their empire alone ?

[Gregory2455]

Add boost workers.

[Alza]

very well.

[Alza]

This colony has no future, as they are now left with just a queen, and two fruit flies from yesterday, when the last worker was still alive. the boost failed.

[Foogoo]

Got any pictures? They usually invade my house every summer I'm too busy killing them to try keeping any alive in a nest.