157 replies to this topic

[nurbs]

And I was just starting think you were a decent antkeeper

 

 

Well almost killed the colony. I just moved to.a bigger place. I put cotton balls. On the tubes connecting the out world. Then took it apart. Once i got to my new home. I put it all back together. My horrible mistake was not to take the cotton ball. So i feed them bloodworm. There were 4 ants in the ouy world. They much on it. I notice they were not takong the food inside. And they had larva. I also notice them earing 2 workers that died. Thas were i panic. Ants eat their dead as alast resort. I notice the cotton ball trapping the whole colony inside. Once i took it off. 20 ants came out. Grabbed all the bloodworms, and they also started throwing their trash. That was a close one.

[anttics]

Well it seems the mistake I made has cost the life of the largest worker. She started walking around Nov. 13. She has not even harden up. She looks much red than older dead workers. She lived for almost 1 month. She was a good hard working ant. Clumsy, and mean AF. funny looking when running, and will be missed. A minute of silence everyone. Lolol. There are 50 larva, and pupa she will be missed, but quiclky replaced. The colony is good. The queen seems a bit skinny, and still puping a few eggs. She does not seem too fond of bloodworm soup. I need to get crickets. She loves them.
Seriously. Back to topic. I do not understand what happen. The only issue was me locking them up for a for 3 days inside their nest with out food, and with plenty of water. Which should not be an issue.The other change to their routine was an apple slide. She was already walking all clumsy before. Does anybody know how long a N. Cockerelli worker lives for. 3 months would be too short for such a large worker. That takes 1 1/2 or 2 month from egg to worker. It makes no sense. I expected them to last minimun 6 months to a year. If any one has notice this please let me know

[nurbs]

While the queen can eat foods such as crickets, my understanding is that her main diet are trophic eggs that workers lay. I have seen mine eat eggs on a regular basis. As long as workers and brood are fed and thriving, the queen will be fine.

 

A well fed colony of workers can live quite awhile. When I first started these last year, I had workers die as fast I got new workers. Turns out they needed a constant supply of water and sweets, with protein once or twice a week, depending on colony size. 

 

 

The queen seems a bit skinny, and still puping a few eggs. She does not seem too fond of bloodworm soup. I need to get crickets. She loves them.
Seriously. Back to topic. I do not understand what happen. The only issue was me locking them up for a for 3 days inside their nest with out food, and with plenty of water. Which should not be an issue.The other change to their routine was an apple slide. She was already walking all clumsy before. Does anybody know how long a N. Cockerelli worker lives for. 3 months would be too short for such a large worker. That takes 1 1/2 or 2 month from egg to worker. It makes no sense. I expected them to last minimun 6 months to a year. If any one has notice this please let me know

[Rstheant]

Any big update?

[anttics]

Not much. Caught them eating sun flower seeds. Plenty of times. And they seem to love the blood worm soup. Here are some pics




These are from last friday



They love chicken. Its boiled


24 hour later. I'm worried at tge amount the consume. I think as a large colony. They might eat as much as a small dog.



Bloodworm




These i took today. Colony is around 50 workers

[Rstheant]

Wow, awesome. I’m going to try that chicken. Mine around 30 workers. They don’t eat as much as yours. *They worry about obesity, and probably celebrate Ramadan*

[Rstheant]

What temperature are they at? I can’t see many eggs in my novo colony.... I’m think they need more heat.

[anttics]

Get a thermostat just in case. I keep them at 91 to 93. I should be in the 90 to 100 by january. What set up do you have your colony on.? Rstheant

[Rstheant]

A Tha fortress, with a heat cable taped to the glass.

[YsTheAnt]

A Tha fortress, with a heat cable taped to the glass.

Try attaching the heat cable to the side instead, as well as using a heat lamp on one corner.

[Rstheant]

A Tha fortress, with a heat cable taped to the glass.

Try attaching the heat cable to the side instead, as well as using a heat lamp on one corner.

Yeah, I did, but my thermostat reads 64.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
I am getting a better thermostat though.
Hey Anttics, would you recommend a 60 watt heating bulb?

[anttics]

For the fortress. It would work. But you have a heating cable not heating it enough correct?. Simple trick i learn. Cover the heat cable with a towel. Make sure it is not exposed. It should kick up the temp 10 to 20 degrees. Careful it could jump higher, and cook your. colony. I almost cocked mine veromessor. when I first got them. half of the 100 larva died that way.

Edited by anttics, December 18 2018 - 8:22 PM.

[Rstheant]

I have them in a ghetto incubator, made with a cardboard box with a heat lamp. Current temp is 87 degrees and yesterday it was 93, but still no eggs...

[Rstheant]

One thing I found out. My novos rejected chicken too! )

[anttics]

I have them in a ghetto incubator, made with a cardboard box with a heat lamp. Current temp is 87 degrees and yesterday it was 93, but still no eggs...

So there are 0 eggs?. That is not normal. Try having protein in their out world 24/7. when it dries up just rehydrate it with bottle water. Also have sunflower seeds in their out world. Do not worry if they do not take it inside. They will take them when need it. Good luck.

[YsTheAnt]

Novos need constant sugar. An apple piece washer and peeled on a dish replaced every 3 days. This gets them laying sometimes.

[nurbs]

No, it's fine. None of mine are laying eggs right now either, but they are also next to an open window and I'm not doing much heating. The desert is very cold right now and I'm just simulating that.

 

Also, what YsTheAnt said. You don't need constant protein, but you do need constant sugar and water in the outworld (or in a nestmate). This is described in the care sheet as well.

 

 

I have them in a ghetto incubator, made with a cardboard box with a heat lamp. Current temp is 87 degrees and yesterday it was 93, but still no eggs...

So there are 0 eggs?. That is not normal. Try having protein in their out world 24/7. when it dries up just rehydrate it with bottle water. Also have sunflower seeds in their out world. Do not worry if they do not take it inside. They will take them when need it. Good luck.

 

[nurbs]

If it really is 64.7F, you will definitely not get any eggs. 

 

 

Yeah, I did, but my thermostat reads 64.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
I am getting a better thermostat though.
Hey Anttics, would you recommend a 60 watt heating bulb?

 

 

 

If you've only had them at 87 and 93 for a day or two of course you won't have eggs. Remember to only heat a portion of it, don't give it a wall of heat. That's not good either.

 

Wait a week or two. Be patient, relax, don't stress it. You've only had that colony a 1-2 months? It's Winter, they will not explode in growth during this time. Don't force it.

 

I have them in a ghetto incubator, made with a cardboard box with a heat lamp. Current temp is 87 degrees and yesterday it was 93, but still no eggs... 

 

Edited by nurbs, December 20 2018 - 1:20 AM.

[anttics]

What they said. In my case, I have a duo. Nest. One is under the heat mat, the other is at room temo 70 or so. The queen rarely leaves the hot nest. They need a gradiant of temp to chose. Even though is winter it does mean the queen won't choose heat. Or your colony won't grow. As always be careful with heat. I suggest you get a heat cable. And warm one side if the nest. The queen will choose were to hang.

[Rstheant]

Thanks. YsTheAnt, you saw their was a nestmate filled with sugar. I haven’t gave them an apple though