34 replies to this topic

[FSTP]

Interesting thread and cool ants!

 

 

What do you think happened that caused the test tube to flood?

[NZAntKeeper]

Thank you!

About your question, I think it was because it was elevated by blue tack on the old test tube so it wouldn't roll over but that caused the water to go into the tube by gravity.

[T.C.]

Update!

Workers-3 new one hatched!
Larvae-5?
Eggs-8?
Pupae-5

So I put a live earwig in the test tube. One worker found it, raised its gaster as high as it could go! Looked pretty cool. Then I took it out just to be safe, killed it then put it back in, and popped the test tube back.

Ok, from my experience don't put an earwig in a test tube with ants,  with so few of workers it's a bad ides and exposing it to the queen is even worse. Them things can end something like an ants life with a quick pinch. I fed them to my C pennsylvanicus. colony once, I put it in the outworld and it killed a major with just a quick flick of the tail. About five minutes later reinforcements came out, they took him down, but one of the five got killed by his pinchers!  They are super fun to watch ant colonies take down, as long as your colony can spare a few workers.

Edited by T.C., November 18 2016 - 8:00 PM.

[FSTP]

Thank you!

About your question, I think it was because it was elevated by blue tack on the old test tube so it wouldn't roll over but that caused the water to go into the tube by gravity.

 

 I'll make sure I avoid doing that to prevent flooding. Thank you!

[NZAntKeeper]

Thank you!
About your question, I think it was because it was elevated by blue tack on the old test tube so it wouldn't roll over but that caused the water to go into the tube by gravity.

 
 I'll make sure I avoid doing that to prevent flooding. Thank you!

No problem

Update!
Workers-3 new one hatched!
Larvae-5?
Eggs-8?
Pupae-5
So I put a live earwig in the test tube. One worker found it, raised its gaster as high as it could go! Looked pretty cool. Then I took it out just to be safe, killed it then put it back in, and popped the test tube back.

Ok, from my experience don't put an earwig in a test tube with ants,  with so few of workers it's a bad ides and exposing it to the queen is even worse. Them things can end something like an ants life with a quick pinch. I fed them to my C pennsylvanicus. colony once, I put it in the outworld and it killed a major with just a quick flick of the tail. About five minutes later reinforcements came out, they took him down, but one of the five got killed by his pinchers!  They are super fun to watch ant colonies take down, as long as your colony can spare a few workers.

Yea I've learned my lesson haha.

[NZAntKeeper]

!UPDATE!

Workers-7 one more going to eclose soon!
Larvae-5?
Pupae-3?
Eggs-7?

So this colony has been eating very well, I put a fruit fly in the test tube for them and the next day all I saw was wings lol. They are growing too which is great, pics up soon

EDIT- I just remembered to say that I've ordered a antkit size 01 nest for them with a red acrylic cover. So that should be here in a few weeks... hopefully, as last time it took 2 months to come to me.

Edited by DylanTheAntKeeper, November 26 2016 - 7:30 PM.

[NZAntKeeper]

Alright I have been neglecting this journal a bit so I'll start updating about once a week. They now have about 10 or 11 workers, I can see a big difference in the newer worker sizes which is great. I also just ordered the 3 in 1 macro lens from antkit which should arrive in a few weeks so hopefully it will take better pictures.

[NZAntKeeper]

They haven't grown much, they still have about the same worker count but they will increase in size as there are about 3 pupae close to eclosing.

[NZAntKeeper]

This colony is growing quite nicely now, they happily moved into an Antkit size 02 nest yesterday. They have loads of larvae, preparing for hibernation I assume? I've brought some mixed bird seeds to feed to this colony as I heard they collect seeds. There is a little bit of interest in them.

Sorry about the blurry pics, ill get some better ones tommorow.

[NZAntKeeper]

Heres a few more pics

[NZAntKeeper]

UPDATE 23/09/17

 

This colony is doing amazing! They have so much brood, also a lot of the pupae is starting to darken and eclose. They demolished a mealworm pupae in about 12 hours yesterday.

Edited by NZAntKeeper, September 22 2017 - 10:39 PM.

[Goldsystem]

Very impressive growth! Are they in a ant kit nest?

[NZAntKeeper]

Yep, they are in a antkit size 2 nest.

[NZAntKeeper]

This colony is still growing fast, some days when I look into their nest the whole floor of the nest is covered with brood, they have nearly filled up the size 2 nest and I have a size 4 ready for them. I'll try move them tommorow. I'll also post pics tomorrow.

[VoidElecent]

Awesome looking colony