Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Brad's Camponotus Fragilis Journal (Updated 5-15-21)


  • Please log in to reply
33 replies to this topic

#21 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted April 29 2020 - 10:13 AM

B_rad0806

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 689 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Update 4-29-20

The other day I took a count of how many workers there are. There are about 64-67 workers. Most of their pupae hatched. They also have like 100 eggs with them. These guys are doing super well.

8929E646 CE52 4155 94F1 3781AA135E13
EFD6C433 E2BC 4D54 B178 72EF4DAD35C9

Journals:

Ant Journals

Shop:

Brad's Ant Adoption

Instagram:

brad_ants

YouTube:

B_rad0806


#22 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted July 26 2020 - 11:18 AM

B_rad0806

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 689 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Update 7-26-20

These guys are doing pretty good. They have 100 workers and over 100 eggs. I moved them into a bigger setup because it was super hard to feed in their old setup. Now that they are in their new setup I can feed every day and they will grow WAY faster than they did in their old setup.

5959A040 0943 4B4C 82C0 002145B96DD4
F8959D66 1CC9 446F 8A1B 5A011E008863
AEF7731C D6BC 48C5 A0BB C35D9C722543

  • AntsDakota and TechAnt like this

Journals:

Ant Journals

Shop:

Brad's Ant Adoption

Instagram:

brad_ants

YouTube:

B_rad0806


#23 Offline jasond1979 - Posted September 18 2020 - 8:47 AM

jasond1979

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 61 posts
  • LocationSanta Barbara Calif

Did u notice a change in size when u started feeding them more?



#24 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted September 18 2020 - 8:51 AM

B_rad0806

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 689 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Did u notice a change in size when u started feeding them more?

Definitely, they are growing very nicely now that I can feed them without a problem. I've been feeding them bloodworm soup and a full mealworm every 2-3 days. My next update should be coming soon. 


Journals:

Ant Journals

Shop:

Brad's Ant Adoption

Instagram:

brad_ants

YouTube:

B_rad0806


#25 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 18 2020 - 1:11 PM

Ants_Dakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,059 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

I would move them into a formicarium now, if you want. They would like that. Also, awesome colony! Wish i had one that big!


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#26 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted September 20 2020 - 7:59 AM

B_rad0806

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 689 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Update 9-20-20

These guys are doing great with around 150+ workers. Feeding and heat really is the key for this species. They also gained more majors putting them at 5. Sadly the oldest major of this colony died. It lived to be a year and 4 months old. These guys also have around 40-50 pupae and 30 larvae. The formicarium that they are in should last them another 6-12 months. Once they get to a good size I will probably move them to a THA nest. So far so good :) 

D61551EE 30EE 4710 A3D5 5623B219E35E
53ED376C 8FB1 4546 AC5F A00FCC297403
FC510006 8119 4FA0 A004 8B691AB3A561

Edited by B_rad0806, September 20 2020 - 8:01 AM.

  • TechAnt and TestSubjectOne like this

Journals:

Ant Journals

Shop:

Brad's Ant Adoption

Instagram:

brad_ants

YouTube:

B_rad0806


#27 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted October 20 2020 - 11:48 AM

B_rad0806

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 689 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Update 10-20-20

Just recently these passed 200 workers. They still have around 50+ eggs of all types just sitting around so they can probably get more before I take them off heat.

AA573AB3 A93C 439D B9C3 9E66C02310BE

  • ANTdrew, AntsDakota and TechAnt like this

Journals:

Ant Journals

Shop:

Brad's Ant Adoption

Instagram:

brad_ants

YouTube:

B_rad0806


#28 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted October 20 2020 - 3:56 PM

OhNoNotAgain

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,064 posts
  • LocationCalifornia Argentine Ant Territory

I had the weird problem of fraggles eating their brood when I took them off heat.

Curious if anyone else has seen that problem.

 

Anyway bloodworm soup... good idea for dinner.


Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus, vicinus, quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and previously californicus

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.


#29 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted October 20 2020 - 9:06 PM

B_rad0806

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 689 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

I had the weird problem of fraggles eating their brood when I took them off heat.

Curious if anyone else has seen that problem.

 

Anyway bloodworm soup... good idea for dinner.

Last year mine just let their brood sit around. Nothing changed about them during winter. Also yes bloodworm soup is these guys favorite meal. After this picture was taken literally every worker had a full red stomach haha 


Journals:

Ant Journals

Shop:

Brad's Ant Adoption

Instagram:

brad_ants

YouTube:

B_rad0806


#30 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted February 8 2021 - 2:24 PM

B_rad0806

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 689 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Update 2-8-21

Just put these back on heat a week ago. Over winter they lost around 30 workers. So they are still at around 200-230 workers. They have a ton of larvae that will pupate soon so those workers will quickly be replaced. They also have 10 majors too.

C6392995 E35C 43F2 9FE1 E0EA3B393F7B
55CF30F2 608A 425F 8861 55076E1624EE

Journals:

Ant Journals

Shop:

Brad's Ant Adoption

Instagram:

brad_ants

YouTube:

B_rad0806


#31 Offline jasond1979 - Posted March 26 2021 - 6:16 PM

jasond1979

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 61 posts
  • LocationSanta Barbara Calif

Great job raising these guys.  You might want to try fruit flys mine love them, also my colony I kept on the heat all winter long and they kept reproducing no let up.  I have mine in a THA Phalanx and they are at a bout 200 plus individuals.   This is a great ant I think for a beginner but heat is the key for this species.  Also they really try hard to escape they can walk up almost any wall, even Fluon if it isn't evenly applied.   I've lost a couple that got squashed when I closed the lid on them.


  • B_rad0806 likes this

#32 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted March 26 2021 - 9:40 PM

B_rad0806

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 689 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Great job raising these guys.  You might want to try fruit flys mine love them, also my colony I kept on the heat all winter long and they kept reproducing no let up.  I have mine in a THA Phalanx and they are at a bout 200 plus individuals.   This is a great ant I think for a beginner but heat is the key for this species.  Also they really try hard to escape they can walk up almost any wall, even Fluon if it isn't evenly applied.   I've lost a couple that got squashed when I closed the lid on them.

Yeah I dropped in fruit flies yesterday and they completely ate them up. I am working on a culture of them so I'll be able to feed them a heck ton at a time.


Journals:

Ant Journals

Shop:

Brad's Ant Adoption

Instagram:

brad_ants

YouTube:

B_rad0806


#33 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted May 15 2021 - 8:51 AM

B_rad0806

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 689 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Update 3-15-21

So I counted the workers this morning and they actually have like 160-170 workers which is much less than I expected but that should not be an issue. About 2 weeks ago I took on the challenge of feeding them every single day. I have been feeding them 1 cut up mealworm. 2 weeks later it is working very well. They have about 110-120 brood of all stages and are getting new workers every day. 3 new majors hatched bringing the major count to 13. This colony is going to shoot up in numbers very soon. The queen has also laid about 40-50 eggs in the last 2 weeks also. 

6F771A8C 1340 4452 9597 30D1EA3B2A41

  • ANTdrew and TacticalHandleGaming like this

Journals:

Ant Journals

Shop:

Brad's Ant Adoption

Instagram:

brad_ants

YouTube:

B_rad0806


#34 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 15 2021 - 9:06 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,376 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Daily feeding is best for all my ants as well. Nice colony.
  • B_rad0806 likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users