99 replies to this topic

[FSTP]

Good to see you posting Crystal. You were very influential in me starting to keep ants thanks to your youtube vids.

[MichiganAnts]

love your journals!! I'm counting the days till my Camponotus Novas wake up and begin to grow like yours

[Nathant2131]

Wow this is a very fast growing colony for Camponotus! I must ask: What heating cable do you use and how do you use it? Does it simply run through one end of the formicarium?

[Crystals]

Wow this is a very fast growing colony for Camponotus! I must ask: What heating cable do you use and how do you use it? Does it simply run through one end of the formicarium?

It is a 15 watt heat cable and it simply runs under the nest in a straight line about 1/3 from the top of the formicarium. Roughly beneath the second row, where so many pupae are stored.

This allows for a temperature gradient, although I have noticed that the chamber the queen prefers is kept empty of brood (center chamber). I have several colonies on one heat cable since it is so long.

[Nathant2131]

 

Wow this is a very fast growing colony for Camponotus! I must ask: What heating cable do you use and how do you use it? Does it simply run through one end of the formicarium?

It is a 15 watt heat cable and it simply runs under the nest in a straight line about 1/3 from the top of the formicarium. Roughly beneath the second row, where so many pupae are stored.

This allows for a temperature gradient, although I have noticed that the chamber the queen prefers is kept empty of brood (center chamber). I have several colonies on one heat cable since it is so long.

 

Cool, thanks! can't wait for updates! 

[Crystals]

Just watched the first of the pupae eclosing.  The population boom has begun.

[T.C.]

I caught a queen of this species over the summer, but she died in her test tube, which is really too bad and  am even sadder about it since i seen just how awesome mature colonies look.

[Nathant2131]

How are they doing now?

[T.C.]

Update would be cool. Also if you could, when you find time fix these photos please.

[TennesseeAnts]

I can't see the pictures!?

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, December 1 2017 - 12:54 PM.

[Crystals]

I have moved and updated all of the pictures, so they should show now.

This colony is just about at the end of their hibernation, but something has happened and most of the workers have died off. The queen and some workers are still alive though.

I suspect it has to do with airflow since I had test tubes lightly sitting over top of the vinyl ends to prevent them from chewing their way out during hibernation.

This nest had been packed pretty full, and I had been ready to upgrade their nest, but they apparently needed more ventilation with so many inside.

Next time I will use steel mesh over the end of the vinyl tube.

I guess we will see how they do this year...

[TennesseeAnts]

YESSSSSSS! THANK YOU!

[T.C.]

Thanks for the picture update, I was looking forward to it. I hope my colony grows like yours. Unfortunate they had so many deaths.

[YsTheAnt]

Update?

[dermy]

Update?

Crystals isn't on much these days, hopefully we get another update when spring rolls around and everyone from NA gets back into antkeeping.

[disasterants]

quick question: what food do these species like besides fruit flies? i've got my colony up to about 10 workers and have been feeding them fruit flies but i'm running low on them and need to use my remaining fruit flies to start a new culture. so for the next week or 2 i will be fly-less. so what foods can i use as an alternative for the time-being? preferably a bug i can find outside or a food that i can find in my fridge or at the grocery store since the only pet store near me where i can buy flightless fruit flies is like 30 minutes away and i'm a kid who doesn't have much way of transport(or much cash either). also, I've got a pensylvanicus colony with a similar problem... so some things they like to preferably

[Crystals]

Update?

I recently sold this colony. As much as I liked them, they kept chewing the ends of the vinyl and were forever hanging out on the underside of the foraging area lid, making it tough to feed or clean.

 

I did manage to roll up a piece of steel mesh and stick it in the end to prevent the chewing:

 

 

 

 

quick question: what food do these species like besides fruit flies? i've got my colony up to about 10 workers and have been feeding them fruit flies but i'm running low on them and need to use my remaining fruit flies to start a new culture. so for the next week or 2 i will be fly-less. so what foods can i use as an alternative for the time-being? preferably a bug i can find outside or a food that i can find in my fridge or at the grocery store since the only pet store near me where i can buy flightless fruit flies is like 30 minutes away and i'm a kid who doesn't have much way of transport(or much cash either). also, I've got a pensylvanicus colony with a similar problem... so some things they like to preferably

Basically any insect. Just freeze it first.

Crickets, mealworms, etc.

[TechAnt]

Awesome journal, just read through it.

Edited by TechAnt, September 24 2020 - 11:38 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Awesome journal, just read through it.

I agree. One of the very few huge Camponotus colonies on here.

[Topgun757]

Wow, makes me even more excited for my novaeboracensis queen's nanitics to eclose!