6 replies to this topic

[BMM]

I'm looking for some advice. I have two Camponotus colonies and neither is doing particularly well. I caught both queens last spring. Prior to hibernation one colony had 6 workers and the other had 12. Now they're at 2 and 5 respectively. Both have tons of eggs and larvae, along with a few cocoons, but it seems like every week another worker or two dies and I'm not sure why. I hibernated them at 50-55°F for 4 full months, November through February. Since taking them out of hibernation I've kept them at about 80°F. I feed them once a week, giving them a small cricket and enough sugar water to fill up their gasters. As far as I know I'm following the basic rulebook, but clearly something's not working.

[YsTheAnt]

Try upping feedings, my friend derpy feeds his Camponotus every other day and they have almost thirty workers and that number in brood as well.

[KBant]

how are you heating them? are you heating the whole formicarium or just one side? i do the latter and my camponotus are doing well. http://www.formicult...-modoc-journal/

 

you'll see in my journal that i went down to 2 workers a couple weeks ago! now at 10. 

[Hunter]

i need to feed mine every 2 days at 10 workers

[KBant]

I feed daily. My larvae need da protein.

[BMM]

Well it sounds like I need to feed them more often. I'll up the frequency and hopefully things improve.

[YsTheAnt]

Also, be sure nothing in the environment such as mold is killing them. Be sure to provide lots if sweet liquids too.