24 replies to this topic

[Andrewslatter]

Hi names andrew, i got me a tetramorium queen. I've had her for about 3 weeks. She has about 15 workers and large brood pile. Super excited about ant keeping, they are just a blast to watch work!

[Andrewslatter]

So I'm constantly changing up there protein diet and sugar source. It seems to really be beneficial to them and its fun finding out likes and dislikes. Like a Corndogs and cake

[Andrewslatter]

So found a new protien my tetramorium go nuts over, cooked chicken. I put a piece in and its everybody on deck full assault on it to haul it back into the nest. Also its been a steady go to for protien and they don't seem to get tired of it. I have heard that they can be finicky from time to time. I expect a big brood influx followed by a lot more new workers.

Edited by Andrewslatter, December 2 2019 - 8:38 AM.

[Andrewslatter]

A little turkey and a bit of pie makes for an ant thanksgiving feast. Its a holiday hit!!!

Edited by Andrewslatter, December 3 2019 - 1:19 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

That’s cool! Just bring their nest over to the dinner table and have a Thanksgiving dinner with them! Lol

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I would have done that but mine are in hibernation so they would be a bit antisocial...

[Andrewslatter]

So in the colony a lot of larvae are on verge of becoming fully fledged ants. They also have been moving brood around. I assume its temp thing "to hot, to cold"

[Andrewslatter]

Brood pile continues to grow. It is amazing when the queen is dialed in she is like a conveyor belt of eggs!

Edited by Andrewslatter, December 5 2019 - 7:02 AM.

[Andrewslatter]

Queen be laying, brood be growing, workers be toiling away "whistle while u work"

Edited by Andrewslatter, December 6 2019 - 12:31 AM.

[Andrewslatter]

Interesting my colony is taking more sweets in than meat. Lately them been all over anything protien but now they skip it for the most part and go for the sugar. Apparently someone got a sweet tooth in the colony!!!

[Andrewslatter]

Just gave them big fat cricket butt. Let me tell ya they ain't saying no to this crack!

Edited by Andrewslatter, December 7 2019 - 9:23 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Interesting my colony is taking more sweets in than meat. Lately them been all over anything protien but now they skip it for the most part and go for the sugar. Apparently someone got a sweet tooth in the colony!!!

They probably want to tank up on sugar for hibernation. The brood may be growing slower, too, if it has cooled down, so they would need less protein.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Just gave them big fat cricket butt. Let me tell ya they ain't saying no to this crack!

And this is why I'm glad I'm not keeping Tetra.

[Andrewslatter]

Big news on The Hill today. The great move was a success. Original tube was bone dry, so with a little persuasion of some bright light, it convinced them to move to the new tube. Yay!

[Andrewslatter]

So touching base from the hill, the news today is new tube/new home is doing great all ants are in it to win it and loving it they have now grown numbers "as expected with new tube" enough to haul a whole Cricket back into their colony and disassemble it. They've become little ravounous monsters!

Edited by Andrewslatter, December 15 2019 - 12:19 AM.

[Andrewslatter]

As the colony grows I have also noticed an aggressiveness now when I am adding food to there mini outworld. When I open the lid the few that are in the outworld react to the air change and my human smell. They extend there front half into the air with mandibles open ready to bite at the slightest touch. Also when they're are doing this their antenna are doing slow wide circles, tasting the air for danger.

[Andrewslatter]

In the hill today, colony has had a huge boost in workers. A lot of larvae finally grew up, all at the same time. Now they have quite the workforce to move around larger food items.

Edited by Andrewslatter, December 31 2019 - 4:44 PM.

[AntsDakota]

Big news on The Hill today. The great move was a success. Original tube was bone dry, so with a little persuasion of some bright light, it convinced them to move to the new tube. Yay!

Lucky! I had to dump mine due to flooding! One queen drowned and the other (I think they were tsushimae) died of parasites! (presumably) Most ants are so stubborn. Some would rather die than leave their beloved homes, which are no longer hospitable for them to live in.

Edited by AntsDakota, January 1 2020 - 4:58 PM.

[Andrewslatter]

Hello from The Hill, lots of things have been happening over the last week. First off I have moved them again into their final home a antscanada hybrid nest "its super cool". A little convincing with a bright light got them to move right in! They took to it quickly, queen has settled on one chamber while workers move eggs into others. Also I think I might have a lasius queen and some workers in another test tube setup, not sure I will put up a pic later to help id.

Edited by Andrewslatter, January 9 2020 - 10:17 PM.

[Andrewslatter]

In "The Hill" today colony is doing great. Its growing bigger everyday and they are starting to explore more of their hybrid nest. Can't wait till the colony is large enough to add a outworld. I'm gonna do a diy self project outworld and I got lots of ideas!!!