8 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

So I currently have a small 1 worker C. nearcticus colony. A month or so back, I placed their test tube in a basin with a layer of sand on the bottom. Here are the problems: 1) I decided to dyed their food yellow to see if they eat it, and so far, it looks like neither the worker or the queen have been eating. I've tried giving them different foods, and they won't accept anything, even cricket legs, which they loved before. This is even more surprising because they have 5-6 larvae, which I would assume are very hungry. Whenever I check on them, one of them is standing guard over the brood while the other stays nearby.    2) Their current test tube is very moldy, so I've placed a second test tube with it's opening near the first's. It's been there for a couple weeks and they won't move. They haven't even explored it, or any where outside the tube. I thought Camponotus liked a large foraging area? 

Someone please help!

[ultraex2]

At this point it's very possible that they "want" to enter hibernation.  If they aren't eating and the larvae aren't growing, then I would go ahead and put them in a bit early.

 

Also, camponotus do have social stomachs and 1 bug can go a long ways.  It's possible if they've eaten anything before that it was enough to last them for this long.

[Connectimyrmex]

I have a Camponotus nearcticus colony as well, and they went through a very similar phase. Try feeding your ants something new, because they love variety. Here's what I fed mine to get them out of that phase:

 

Chopped crickets (not legs)

Live pinhead crickets

Live Caddisflies

Live termites

Normal honey

Honey/cricket fat mix with blue coloring (pretty much homemade ant food)

[Mettcollsuss]

I have a Camponotus nearcticus colony as well, and they went through a very similar phase. Try feeding your ants something new, because they love variety. Here's what I fed mine to get them out of that phase:

 

Chopped crickets (not legs)

Live pinhead crickets

Live Caddisflies

Live termites

Normal honey

Honey/cricket fat mix with blue coloring (pretty much homemade ant food)

 

How do you make the Honey/Cricket Fat Mix? I feel like the cricket wouldn't exactly dissolve easily into the honey. Also, why dye it blue? Just wondering.

[Connectimyrmex]

1. Cut a cricket in half

2. Remove the white gooey stuff from the abdomen

3. Mix the substance with a bit of normal honey using a toothpick. It doesn't need to be broken down completely, it should just be soaked.

4. Dye the resulting food any color (so it shows up inside of the larva's stomach or in an ant's gaster)

[Mettcollsuss]

Ah. That makes sense. I will try that.

[Mettcollsuss]

Is there anything I can do to get them to move test tubes?

[Connectimyrmex]

Just take the brood and the colony members out and dump them into a new test tube  (mine are very stubborn and never move on their own)

[Mettcollsuss]

Just take the brood and the colony members out and dump them into a new test tube  (mine are very stubborn and never move on their own)

 

They currently have 6 larvae. Since larvae stick to the sides of the tube it will be hard to dump them in. Should I wait until they pupate and are no longer stuck to the test tube or no? If not, how do I move the larvae?