91 replies to this topic

[TheAntGuy]

If you believe them to be diseased, why did you say you were going to add them to colony #1?

[TennesseeAnts]

I said they may have an unknown infection that may harm the local ecosystems if released. Not many fungi thrive in a dry enclosure.

[Xanuri]

I said they may have an unknown infection that may harm the local ecosystems if released. Not many fungi thrive in a dry enclosure.

That would be a risk I wouldn't be willing to take! Just sayin....

[YsTheAnt]

If keeping them right now is such a huge difficulty, then you can keep them at cold temperatures to slow down their metabolism, practically hibernating them, and then wait for a new owner.

Expensive colonies typically will not sell in two days, they often take weeks if not months to sell.

[TennesseeAnts]

I'm not killing it to make my other colony larger. I will either sell it, or kill it. I cannot keep them anymore, and I am NOT releasing them. They could have an unknown infection, that will destroy the ants elsewhere in Tennessee. If anyone wants them (Tennessee residents) pm me. If situations (meaning money) get better soon, I will keep them. I want to keep them, but am not sure if I can.

If they have an infection then why would you consider mingling any of them with your "healthy" colony? If they are sick and are capable of infecting other ants or spreading something that shouldn't be spread, then the whole colony should be burned!

There is always the possibility of an infection in a captive colony. I will not take the chance of destroying local ecosystems because of an infected colony I did not want to kill.

[FeedTheAnts]

I said they may have an unknown infection that may harm the local ecosystems if released. Not many fungi thrive in a dry enclosure.

This isn't really the case. Do whatever you want, but if it were me I would release the queen with at least 20 of the workers, and then add the remaining workers and brood to your other colony if that is what you're wanting.

[TennesseeAnts]

If keeping them right now is such a huge difficulty, then you can keep them at cold temperatures to slow down their metabolism, practically hibernating them, and then wait for a new owner.
Expensive colonies typically will not sell in two days, they often take weeks if not months to sell.

I did not think of that. I will do that. That way I can still keep them, while not spending money I don't have. Thanks!

[TennesseeAnts]

So there will not be any updates on colony #2 for a while. When money is better, I will take them out.

[dermy]

I have decided I only want one large colony of these, so I will be either selling colony #2, or kill the queen and give the workers and brood to colony #1. If not spoken for in 48 hours, they will be added to colony #1. Price is $275 for queen, >70 workers and THA Discus formicarium.

First off what I'm about to reply with with rustle some people's feathers so just a heads up. As you've stated before these ants may potentially have some form of fungal infection/problem. I wouldn't advise risking "mixing" colonies of Ants [even if they are the same exact species] mainly because they rarely if ever "Accept" each other [there are acceptations, and sometimes callows will be accepted into other colonies but this is not the case in your situation.] If feeding truly is a issue for you, you can try and cool the temperature by a few degrees to slow the queen's egg production/brood growth whilst you either wait for someone to take them or get more food resources at your disposal. I hate to be that guy but I find it all too often that people start keeping ants only to realize down the road that they do in fact eat quite a bit more food than they originally thought they would. If you can I would suggest breeding a colony of mealworms, or another feeder insect to sustain your ant colonies.

 

If you aren't able to find a new owner, slow production of the colony down, or get food resources for them, and there is no other way around it I would suggest culling off the entire colony, I wouldn't even risk brood transferring if you think the colony has some infection of sorts. I know a LOT of people hate when you say "kill them" but think of it this way, if you freeze them humanly it's a lot better than the hundreds of people walking around [possibly at this very moment] stomping on queens like it's a game.

[TennesseeAnts]

I do breed mealworms, but there are not any over 7 millimeters in the bin right now. There are a bunch of breeding beetles though. So soon I should have more food. And I have lots of experience with combining Camponotus spp. colonies, but only if chilled and of the same species.

[FeedTheAnts]

 

I have decided I only want one large colony of these, so I will be either selling colony #2, or kill the queen and give the workers and brood to colony #1. If not spoken for in 48 hours, they will be added to colony #1. Price is $275 for queen, >70 workers and THA Discus formicarium.

First off what I'm about to reply with with rustle some people's feathers so just a heads up. As you've stated before these ants may potentially have some form of fungal infection/problem. I wouldn't advise risking "mixing" colonies of Ants [even if they are the same exact species] mainly because they rarely if ever "Accept" each other [there are acceptations, and sometimes callows will be accepted into other colonies but this is not the case in your situation.] If feeding truly is a issue for you, you can try and cool the temperature by a few degrees to slow the queen's egg production/brood growth whilst you either wait for someone to take them or get more food resources at your disposal. I hate to be that guy but I find it all too often that people start keeping ants only to realize down the road that they do in fact eat quite a bit more food than they originally thought they would. If you can I would suggest breeding a colony of mealworms, or another feeder insect to sustain your ant colonies.

 

If you aren't able to find a new owner, slow production of the colony down, or get food resources for them, and there is no other way around it I would suggest culling off the entire colony, I wouldn't even risk brood transferring if you think the colony has some infection of sorts. I know a LOT of people hate when you say "kill them" but think of it this way, if you freeze them humanly it's a lot better than the hundreds of people walking around [possibly at this very moment] stomping on queens like it's a game.

 

Agreed, killing the colony is not a problem at all, and I don't know why people are making such a huge deal out of it. I think when you mentioned killing only the queen it set off some alarms because somehow that seems more cruel than freezing the entire colony. 

On a different note, you should buy Fluker's Can O Worms, my ants love them and a container(about 300 mealworms) is less than five dollars.

 

Edit: Come to think of it my Camponotus seem a little less interested than my other ants in the Fluker's mealworm. You might want to try it out and return it if they don't like it.

Edited by TennesseeAnts, April 2 2019 - 1:41 PM.

[Rstheant]

It’s not the Hunger Games except in ants. I’m sure somebody will buy it.

[TennesseeAnts]

4-18-19

Colony #1

 

Freya has been laying eggs like crazy! Up to about 250 workers now. Most of the workers hatching recently have been the largest majors yet, at around 14-15 millimeters. 

[ANTdrew]

I’m glad she’s doing so well and honored that my name for her stuck, so to speak. Long live Freya!

[ANTdrew]

Any tips for raising this species, or are they basically similar to other Camponotus? Someone should make a caresheet for them.

[TennesseeAnts]

Care is very similar to pennslyvanicus and noveaboracensis.

[Acutus]

Can I ask how much and how often you feed the large colony. 

[TennesseeAnts]

I feed them a water bottle cap of sugar-water and 1-2 large crickets a day.

[Acutus]

I feed them a water bottle cap of sugar-water and 1-2 large crickets a day.

 

Cool! now I have to figure out how big my colony is compared to yours.

[TennesseeAnts]

Mine has around 230 workers.