118 replies to this topic

[YsTheAnt]

Small median, but still amazing! Wait till you get majors the size of the queen... just imagine those pupae.

[KBant]

That sucks, but it’s still a MAJOR win for me!

[YsTheAnt]

Now now, lets not be "big headed" *Dadum chh*. Bad joke, I know

[antnest8]

That sucks, but it’s still a MAJOR win for me!

 

Now now, lets not be "big headed" *Dadum chh*. Bad joke, I know

I... I... just don't... know what to... say   

[KBant]

 

just chillin/warming up by the heating cable.

 

up to 13 workers now

Edited by KBant, April 27 2018 - 1:34 PM.

[KBant]

update: I wanted to add an outworld to the nest and also take some pictures under better lighting.

 

Queen close up under nice lighting from my LED lamp. the red legs and yellow hairs really stand out!

 

 

The queen with her median worker, which has darkened up and hardened since the last pic.

 

 

BROOD

 

 

 

 

most huddled in the test tube after the addition of the new outworld.

 

 

Nest Setup

 

 

I drilled a hole into the nest, through which i put in a vinyl tube, to provide a route to the outworld which I have sitting outside box i keep the nest in. this is to offer them a night and day feel. 

 

 

the floor is grout, on which i sprinkled on some fine white sand. the texture is nice.

 

 

gave them some sugar water and a cricket. top of outworld has some fluon- btw fluon smells.

 

 

Enjoy

[anttics]

Great pics. These ants are beautiful. What camera are you using?

[KBant]

Great pics. These ants are beautiful. What camera are you using?

I have an iPhone 8+ and a cheap macro lens from amazon.

[sirjordanncurtis]

Haha, do you think it's the macro lense or the iPhone 8+ that's producing all these pictures?

[KBant]

Haha, do you think it's the macro lense or the iPhone 8+ that's producing all these pictures?

 

both. but you have to have good lighting too!

[KBant]

About 20 days ago I was down to 2 workers and the queen.

Now back up to 23 workers and more eclosing each day.

They’re not going to the outworld connection I built for them as much as I’d like. There is usually 1-2 workers in there. I would like to feed them exclusively in the outworld. I guess I can’t do that just yet.

Here is a pic of the test tube they call home.

Edited by KBant, May 4 2018 - 2:38 AM.

[Scrixx]

About 20 days ago I was down to 2 workers and the queen.

Now back up to 23 workers and more eclosing each day.

They’re not going to the outworld connection I built for them as much as I’d like. There is usually 1-2 workers in there. I would like to feed them exclusively in the outworld. I guess I can’t do that just yet.

Here is a pic of the test tube they call home.

 

Maybe they're not going to the new outworld since they're pretty well fed. They have some pretty extended gasters. Maybe they'll go once they use up some stored food?

[KBant]

Hmm that makes sense

[KBant]

28 workers now. i think this heatwave in southern california is speeding up the development. 

 

new worker eclosing.

 

[KBant]

not much to report. the colony hasn't been growing in numbers much. at about 30-32 workers or so. the queen seems to have slowed down on the egg laying too. hopefully that changes. gonna be leaving for a week for a medical mission in honduras mid june. hopefully will see some cool ants when I'm free. this time i will be a little smarter about how I leave the ants while I'm away to avoid any mass deaths like last time.

 

ALSO A BUNCH ARE ABOUT TO ECLOSE.

 

I'm gonna be getting some more median workers soon. 

 

i ordered a couple fortress formicaria from tar heel ants. might move them into one as their numbers grow. I'm thinking maybe at 75 workers i can move them to the new nest?? 

 

here they are piled up, getting all warm and cozy by the heating cable... nearly blocking the test tube. 

 

Edited by KBant, May 21 2018 - 1:03 PM.

[T.C.]

Yeah, 75 workers is more than enough.

[YsTheAnt]

You could move them in right now, 31 is plenty.

Edited by YsTheAnt, May 21 2018 - 6:45 PM.

[KBant]

I’ll probably get too impatient and move them ASAP. Hopefully no funky smells with the type 3 THA nest.

[KBant]

 3 days later and I'm up to ~43 workers.

 

ants up close are the best way to see them but I wanted to show the current nest set up. all the pupae are piled up towards the end of the test tube to soak up the heat

 

the THA nest should come in by next thursday... thought it would be faster. a couple weeks for shipping? meh maybe I'm expecting amazon prime shipping.

 

i can't wait for the new median workers to arrive. 

 

[antnest8]

What is that other colony on the left side of the picture?