3 replies to this topic

[Luvnecrosis]

Good evening,

 

I checked on my ants a few minutes ago and noticed that one of the two nanitics in my Camponotus Pennsylvanicus test tube set up had been barely moving and looked like it was dead. Her antannae moved and when I moved the tube, she walked, but then it appeared that she was only using her back four legs and the front two were bent up. Now, when i first got a nanitic, there was one who was stuck in her cocoon for a while and I want to assume that this problem was from birth and not a statement of bad living conditions. This ant also seems to have a slightly larger gaster than her sister.

 

I am trying to get a decent picture but she is hiding under the queen and among the eggs.

 

This may be a problem with nutrition because they were unresponsive to the crickets that I bought, and only pay attention to syrup water. The queen is laying eggs, however and have a few that will become workers in a few days or maybe a week. Also plenty of eggs and larva, so I am not entirely sure if protein or whatever is the issue right now.

 

Again, pictures coming as soon as I can see her more clearly. 

 

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Edited by Luvnecrosis, June 25 2018 - 3:02 AM.

[SelfDeludedFool]

I'm uncertain about ants but I know when many insects molt the position in which they "chill out" is important as they wait for their exoskeleton to harden. It's soft and hardens to the form that it's kept in. It's possible that if this one was stuck while eclosing that it's forlegs hardened in a position which made them inoperable.

That said, just a theory. The food is important now that you've had your first workers eclose though. Usually nanitics aren't interested in foraging for the first few days. If it goes longer than that then you should try some different food, or maybe dismember the crickets and offer just the big legs broken open. Flightless fruit flies are my go to for founding colonies, they're soft and small which makes them easily manageable for just a worker or two.

[SelfDeludedFool]

Oh, also, is there ample room in your setup? I was thinking that perhaps the worker didn't receive proper assistance from the queen because she couldn't get to it.

Edited by SelfDeludedFool, June 26 2018 - 10:38 AM.

[CoolColJ]

You get crippled ants sometimes