3 replies to this topic

[Ants_Texas]

So, this Odontomachus haematodus colony has turned out very hard to raise. They started with 21 workers and 2 queens, and are now down to 14 workers and 1 queen. Here's why I need help:

 

Feeding Problems:  Before you ask, I do feed them a lot. They totally ignore honey, but accept cut up crickets only. 

 

Housing Problems: Their poops are so big that they stain Tarheel Ants' Mini Hearths, both the outworld and inside the nest causing massive mold growth. I put them in an AntsAustralia Ytong Nest Size 2, connected to an air tight acrylic container. Came back from school the next day, five more dead (including one queen).

 

My only options at this point is a natural nest, or a large tube. I was going to move them into a large tube, but then realized they would proceed to poop everywhere, making me move them about once a week. I will be trying a natural nest as my last ditch effort, but for now I have a question: Is this how Odontomachus always acts? I think this is the most strange ant behavior I've ever seen...

 

[Aaron567]

This kinda describes a lot of the stuff that my O. haematodus do. I have a "colony" that has one worker and all they do is drag food into the nest and never take it out, letting it grow all types of mold and fungus. Mine also never stop eating their brood which is why I've never had a O. haematodus colony breach 3 workers.

 

I think O. haematodus are just a very sensitive species of Odontomachus, since I've seen other people very easily raise things like O. brunneus. They are probably kept best in natural setups.

 

Perhaps your deaths are stress-related? I have noticed my queens and colonies of this species get stressed very easily. Constantly moving them to new setups can definitely stress them out. Also, make sure you have a little bit of substrate in the nest because I believe their larvae cannot spin their cocoons without it. To solve the mold problem, you could try to introduce some springtails. Make sure the nest is hydrated, has at least some substrate in it, and is covered up. If more workers die, you might not have any other choice but to let them move into a natural setup. Good luck!

[Ants_Texas]

I don’t think any of this is stress related. These are actually the calmest ants I have, and the easiest to move, too. I’m going to make a natural setup later today.

[Superant33]

I know it’s too late, but I fed mine fruit flies and small meal worms. I also removed trash weekly. My colony didn’t die out (until I killed them), but they didn’t grow either. Maybe haematodus need termites in their diet? I am grasping at straws. I have only caught two queens/colonies over many years in Texas. I would love another chance and want to do it right.