5 replies to this topic

[dexin]

Hello everyone!

 

Got a question about the best way to feed (and indeed whether or not to feed) a small colony in a founding formicarium.

 

I currently have a queen with 2 recently eclosed workers and one pupae in a THA mini hearth. I don't see any eggs or larvae lying around so I'm wondering how to start feeding these guys. With so few workers, they haven't really begun foraging (the foraging area is on top of the nest), so I've thought about putting some food (like a drop of honey) inside a vinyl tube and sticking it (way) in through one of the connection ports.

 

Question: Is this advisable? Should I just put food in the foraging area or wait till there are more workers before starting to feed? Am I concerned over nothing?

 

The species is Myrmecocystus mimicus. 

 

Thanks very much!!

[ANTdrew]

I would just put a tiny bit of food up in the foraging area (carbohydrate and some protein). Put it on a feeding dish or a bit of foil/wax paper for easy clean up later. When they need it, they'll start searching up there. No need to send tubes down into the nest area, in my opinion.

[CoolColJ]

They will forage when the more workers arrive and the current workers get older. it's an age thing they won't leave the queen and brood until a certain age

[dexin]

Thanks.

 

The reason I asked was because I don't see any new eggs/larvae lying around, so was wondering if feeding is needed to boost "production." I suppose I'll just wait for the workers to find their own way around.

[CampoKing]

Ants have a remarkably good sense of smell. You can place a bottle cap with sugar water in the outworld area and see if any worker takes to it in the next 24 hours.

[Rstheant]

I would sometimes just wet a piece of cotton, because one of my fragilis got stuck in the nectar at 12 pm, so I spent about 5 min after midnight trying to free the worker. I eventually just Ed dabbed at the worker with a cu-tip, and finally put it back in its Formicarium. Another think I do, is if the Formicarium is high, then apply flour, which makes feeding a lot easier. If you don’t have floun, then REFRIGERATE your ants for 15 min, to slow them down.