18 replies to this topic

[Gregory2455]

Post a list of the species that like the various formulas from ByFormica.

Copy and paste the following, and remove the lines in (parenthesis), to keep things easy to understand. 

 

Blue 100

(Write a list of species that liked it, state "None" if none of your ants liked it, or "Not Tested".)

 

Aqua 300

(Write a list of species that liked it, state "None" if none of your ants liked it, or "Not Tested".)

 

Green 600

(Write a list of species that liked it, state "None" if none of your ants liked it, or "Not Tested".)

[Gregory2455]

My complete kit just arrived today and i prepared a packet and fed it to my ants. I will write my list for Blue in a few days after I get to analyze them some more.

[drtrmiller]

Since this is going to be a thing, here is what I would suggest, since such feedback could actually be helpful in either troubleshooting individual cases, or determining trends among various genera, if enough information was provided:

 

Firstly, an accurate list should be a list of exclusions, rather than inclusions.  Which genera and species of ants will not eat Formula Blue 100 or Aqua 300, and what is the developmental state and history of these colonies?  

 

Notice the lack of Green 600 in the list, as it is just a fortified sugar water.  Asking which ants would or would not drink sugar water is kind of silly.

 

Here are the metrics I use to analyze colonies that will not eat Formula diets:

• Was food prepared as liquid or gel?
• What foods were provided during or within 24 hours of feeding Formula?
• Affected genus and species?
• About how many months has colony been kept in captivity?
• About how many queens, workers, and larvae (not including eggs or pupae)?
• What is the approximate average temperature where the ants are being housed?
• Are you experiencing difficulty with this colony not accepting other foods they have accepted in the past, in addition to refusing Formula diets or supplements?
• What foods has the affected colony refused or accepted in the 30 days?

Here is an example report:

 

• Genus, species (if available): Odontoponera
• Formula type: Blue 100 Gel
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: No
• Time kept in captivity: 1 month
• Population count: 1 queen, 5 workers, 2 larvae
• Temperature: 80 F
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: No
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: Small crickets, sugar water
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: Cooked meats
• Batch Number of Packet: 1012141001

 

- - - - - 

Here is a blank report format that can be used to copy and paste:

 

• Genus, species (if available): -
• Formula type: -
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: -
• Time kept in captivity: -
• Population count: -
• Temperature: -
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: -
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: -
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: -
• Batch Number of Packet: -

It should be noted that there is actually a form to do this, and also provide other details, at www.byformica.com/help

Edited by drtrmiller, December 4 2014 - 12:44 AM.

[Tpro4]

where should i put unused byformica gel?

[dean_k]

where should i put unused byformica gel?

 

Two choices. Put them in a fridge or cut them up in cubes and freeze them. Freezing them will make it last much longer and helps it retain moisture.

[drtrmiller]

Yes, that is the correct protocol.

 

There is a newly published documentation available here:

http://www.byformica...ormula-help.pdf

[Tpro4]

Does Aqua smell like eggs when you cook it?

[drtrmiller]

Yes, it has a small amount of egg in it :~)

[uusak]

• Genus, species (if available): - Camponotus sp.2
• Formula type: - Aqua 300
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: - None
• Time kept in captivity: - Uncertain (bought recently)
• Population count: - 1 Queen, 3 workers, 3 larvae 
• Temperature: - 60 F
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: - No
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: - Unknown 
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: - Unknown
• Batch Number of Packet: - 1011141020

      Colony loves the Formula and drinks it right up!

Edited by uusak, December 9 2014 - 9:11 PM.

[Gregory2455]

The Camponotus sp.2 that Drew has was caught in April I think.

[drtrmiller]

Hey, uusak!  Smaller colonies will have different nutritional requirements, and will feed far less frequently than larger colonies.  

 

The best you can do if your ants aren't eating it, is to continue to feed fresh product every 1-2 days, with no other competing food sources.  If problems continue and you feel like your ants are under stress, you should then offer a variety of foods, including live or freshly killed insects, so as to jumpstart the colony.  

 

Camponotus will definitely eat Formula, but young colonies can be especially problematic to feed, regardless of the food offered.

[uusak]

Oh damn aha, i thought this was for ants that like the formula! They actually really like it, sorry I must of misread the topic.

[Gregory2455]

My two Camponotus sp.2 queens from Drew, have (put together) shredded about two whole cubes of blue in the last week. This species does love the formula, yours are just not hungry right now. Also, 60F is a bit low, do you not think?

[drtrmiller]

Oh damn aha, i thought this was for ants that like the formula! They actually really like it, sorry I must of misread the topic.

 

Oh! I had suggested it be the other way around, but if you edit your post to show that you were mentioning a success story, that would make it more clear :~D

 

And yes, 60 F is pretty low, even for Camponotus.  Mine usually stop feeding around 70 F.

Edited by drtrmiller, December 9 2014 - 9:09 PM.

[uusak]

I don't have a way to keep them warm.. I'll probably invest in a heating mat eventually, they seem pretty active though. Their owner loves really cool weather.  (Hopefully I don't derail the thread)

 

I'll just close the windows up and let my computer and body heat, warm up the room. 

Edited by uusak, December 9 2014 - 9:17 PM.

[drtrmiller]

lol

 

You're fine! I'm working on ideas for a heated ant incubator box with integrated lighting and crystal clear sides.  

 

Really the only tricky thing would be the heating element and a precision regulator.

[Gregory2455]

• Genus, species (if available): - Nylanderia vividula (Colony 2)
• Formula type: - Blue 100
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: - None
• Time kept in captivity: - 3 months
• Population count: - 1 Queen, 
• Temperature: - 75 F
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: - No
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: - Hummingbird nectar, crickets, Drosophila melanogaster
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: - None.
• Batch Number of Packet: - 1012141030

 

• Genus, species (if available): -Solenopsis xyloni (All Three Colonies)
• Formula type: - Blue 100
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: - None
• Time kept in captivity: - 5, 4, and 4 months.
• Population count: - (1 Queen, 100 workers) (1 Queen, 95 workers) (1 Queen, 15 workers [Oldest Colony])
• Temperature: - 75 F
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: - No
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: - Cricket, hummingbird nectar, Drosophila melanogaster
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: - None.
• Batch Number of Packet: - 1012141030

 

• Genus, species (if available): - Tetramorium Sp.E
• Formula type: - Blue 100
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: - None
• Time kept in captivity: - 5 months
• Population count: - 1 Queen, 110 workers
• Temperature: - 75 F
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: - No
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: - Cricket, hummingbird nectar, Drosophila melanogaster
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: - None
• Batch Number of Packet: - 1012141030

 

• Genus, species (if available): - Solenopsis invicta
• Formula type: - Blue 100
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: - None
• Time kept in captivity: - 4 months
• Population count: - 1 Queen, 10 workers
• Temperature: - 75 F
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: - No
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: -  Cricket, hummingbird nectar, Drosophila melanogaster
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: - None
• Batch Number of Packet: - 1012141030

[Gregory2455]

• Genus, species (if available): Nylanderia vividula (Colony 1)
• Formula type: Blue 100 (Aqua 300 Currently Being Tested.)
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: No
• Time kept in captivity: 4 months
• Population count: 1 queen, 50 workers
• Temperature: 75 F
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: No
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: Cricket, hummingbird nectar, Drosophila melanogaster
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: None
• Batch Number of Packet: 1012141030

 

• Genus, species (if available): Crematogaster sp.1
• Formula type: Blue 100 (Aqua 300 Currently Being Tested.)
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: No
• Time kept in captivity: 4 months
• Population count: 1 queen, 30 workers
• Temperature: 75 F
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: No
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: Cricket, hummingbird nectar, Drosophila melanogaster
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: None.
• Batch Number of Packet: 1012141030

 

• Genus, species (if available): Dorymyrmex insanus
• Formula type: Blue 100 (Aqua 300 Currently Being Tested.)
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: No
• Time kept in captivity: 4 months
• Population count: 1 queen, 10 workers
• Temperature: 75 F
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: No
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: Cricket, hummingbird nectar, Drosophila melanogaster
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: None
• Batch Number of Packet: 1012141030

Edited by Gregory2455, December 9 2014 - 9:50 PM.

[benjiwuf]

• Genus, species (if available): Crematogaster sp.
• Formula type: blue 100
• Foods fed within 24 hours?: no food accepted until now
• Time kept in captivity: 4 months
• Population count: 1 queen, many eggs
• Temperature: roughly 75
• Recent difficulty feeding colony?: no food accepted until now
• Foods accepted in last 30 days: -
• Foods rejected in last 30 days: -
• Batch Number of Packet: -

i would like to note that for a founding claustral queen she readily accepted it, and even dragged the entire cube closer to her eggs after trying to chop some off and devouring it near the eggs.