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

Camponotus chromaiodes colony stopped eating and laying eggs


  • Please log in to reply
14 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Zmagz - Posted July 2 2019 - 10:43 AM

Zmagz

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 61 posts
  • LocationNew Jersey

So this Camponotus chromaiodes colony had about 15 workers coming out of hibernation and they seemed pretty healthy with a lot of larvae. I decided to move them into a formicarium cause it was getting really hard to feed them in a test tube. They loved the formicarium and the outworld. In 3-4 months they now have about 80 workers or so. They were doing fine but this last week or so they have been acting kind of weird. They completely stopped laying brood and I think they may have ate the brood they had. I've put out lots of food in the outworld but it seems they don't even want to travel to the outworld, they are in like a slow unproductive state. There is a bit of mold around the entrance of the outworld but it's not much and probably harmless. Other than that I have no idea what could be causing this behavior if any of you have any questions of how they are or answers to their problems please let me know!



#2 Offline rbarreto - Posted July 2 2019 - 1:28 PM

rbarreto

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 645 posts
  • LocationOttawa, On
Sounds like they are getting ready for hibernation.

My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#3 Offline Zmagz - Posted July 2 2019 - 2:10 PM

Zmagz

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 61 posts
  • LocationNew Jersey

Sounds like they are getting ready for hibernation.

They shouldn't be though, Winter isn't for another 4-5 months



#4 Offline Manitobant - Posted July 2 2019 - 2:25 PM

Manitobant

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,898 posts
  • LocationWinnipeg, Canada
If you had kept them awake in the winter they could be doing reverse hibernation

#5 Offline rbarreto - Posted July 2 2019 - 2:38 PM

rbarreto

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 645 posts
  • LocationOttawa, On

Sounds like they are getting ready for hibernation.

They shouldn't be though, Winter isn't for another 4-5 months

When did you take them out of hibernation?

My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#6 Offline Zmagz - Posted July 2 2019 - 6:11 PM

Zmagz

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 61 posts
  • LocationNew Jersey

 

 

Sounds like they are getting ready for hibernation.

They shouldn't be though, Winter isn't for another 4-5 months

When did you take them out of hibernation?

 

March I believe



#7 Offline Zmagz - Posted July 2 2019 - 6:14 PM

Zmagz

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 61 posts
  • LocationNew Jersey

If you had kept them awake in the winter they could be doing reverse hibernation

I did hibernate them



#8 Offline rbarreto - Posted July 2 2019 - 7:11 PM

rbarreto

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 645 posts
  • LocationOttawa, On
How long were they in there for?

My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#9 Offline Zmagz - Posted July 3 2019 - 8:07 AM

Zmagz

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 61 posts
  • LocationNew Jersey

How long were they in there for?

4-5 months. I also just saw one in the outworld so maybe I should try feeding them different protein?


Edited by Zmagz, July 3 2019 - 8:08 AM.


#10 Offline AntsDakota - Posted July 3 2019 - 8:21 AM

AntsDakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,994 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

Smaller colonies such as yours tend to take breaks in eating. I would just wait a little while.


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#11 Offline Zmagz - Posted July 3 2019 - 8:41 AM

Zmagz

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 61 posts
  • LocationNew Jersey

Smaller colonies such as yours tend to take breaks in eating. I would just wait a little while.

Oh really? I never knew this, It just kind of scared me since they have no brood either.



#12 Offline AntsDakota - Posted July 3 2019 - 3:10 PM

AntsDakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,994 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

Queens also take egg laying breaks.


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#13 Offline Zmagz - Posted July 3 2019 - 4:04 PM

Zmagz

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 61 posts
  • LocationNew Jersey

Queens also take egg laying breaks.

Yeah I know that, but this is like a super long time. it's been a few weeks maybe almost a month or so


Edited by Zmagz, July 3 2019 - 4:04 PM.


#14 Offline rbarreto - Posted July 3 2019 - 7:35 PM

rbarreto

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 645 posts
  • LocationOttawa, On

Maybe try switching up what you feed them. I used to only feed my F. pallidefulva colony superworms but production really slowed down. I decided to give them fruit flies and they accepted all of them. A few days later I noticed a large new batch of eggs.


My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#15 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted July 3 2019 - 7:40 PM

TennesseeAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,920 posts
  • LocationNashville, Tennessee

Queens also take egg laying breaks.


My chromaiodes queens don't take breaks...




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users