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How many Temnothorax nanitics before move?

Started By Hayashi , Sep 3 2020 6:53 AM

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12 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Hayashi - Posted September 3 2020 - 6:53 AM

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I have a Temnothorax queen with one nanitic in a test tube. I’m excited to move them into my new Mini Hearth. How long should I wait to move them in? I plan to connect the test tube to the Mini hearth and let them move on their own. No dumping.

#2 Offline TestSubjectOne - Posted September 3 2020 - 7:15 AM

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I don't think that Temnothorax should ever be moved into a formicarium that large. They are tiny ants, and only get colonies to a few hundred. It's probably best to keep them in a test tube for their whole colony life, or move them into a similar or smaller nest.


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TestSubjectOne's Experiences in Antkeeping General Journal

 

Currently Keeping:

- Veromessor pergandei (1 queen, 600 workers)

- Novomessor cockerelli (1 queen, 200 workers)

- Myrmecocystus mexicanus (1 queen, 100 workers)

- Brachymyrmex patagonicus (3 queens?, 2,000 workers? & alates)

- Crematogaster sp. (1 queen, 600 workers)

- Liometopum occidentale (1 queen, 800 workers)

- Camponotus absqualator (1 queen, 130 workers)

#3 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 3 2020 - 7:45 AM

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I don't think cavity nesters like Temnothorax are huge fans of open spaces, they like rather constricted ones from my limited experience.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#4 Offline Spazmops - Posted September 3 2020 - 7:45 AM

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I have a Temnothorax queen with one nanitic in a test tube. I’m excited to move them into my new Mini Hearth. How long should I wait to move them in? I plan to connect the test tube to the Mini hearth and let them move on their own. No dumping.

I'd wait until they have around 50 workers. Make sure there aren't any gaps in the glass or plugs. If you are worried about the large size of the nest, you could get an inception chamber.


Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#5 Offline Manitobant - Posted September 3 2020 - 7:51 AM

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I don't think any nest other than a tar heel ants atom would work. These things nest in literal acorns.
My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#6 Offline Spazmops - Posted September 3 2020 - 7:55 AM

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I don't think any nest other than a tar heel ants atom would work. These things nest in literal acorns.

THA doesn't make those any more, they'd have to buy a used one


Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#7 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted September 3 2020 - 8:41 AM

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A THA Devolve Chamber would probably work quite well.

#8 Offline Manitobant - Posted September 3 2020 - 9:43 AM

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I don't think any nest other than a tar heel ants atom would work. These things nest in literal acorns.

THA doesn't make those any more, they'd have to buy a used one
they actually do, you just need to special order them. I know cause i bought some last month.
My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#9 Offline Spazmops - Posted September 3 2020 - 9:45 AM

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I don't think any nest other than a tar heel ants atom would work. These things nest in literal acorns.

THA doesn't make those any more, they'd have to buy a used one
they actually do, you just need to special order them. I know cause i bought some last month.

 

Oh, that's really cool! Thanks for the tip!


Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#10 Offline Hayashi - Posted September 3 2020 - 11:11 AM

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Thanks for the input everybody. Tarheel Ants has a YouTube video of Temnothorax in a mini hearth so I thought it would be a good permanent home for them. Perhaps I could just connect the test tube to the mini hearth for them to use as an out world... if they move in, good if not then that would be ok too.

#11 Offline ponerinecat - Posted September 3 2020 - 3:26 PM

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One worker. Not really what you want in a mini hearth. Use a smaller nest, you can make some neat diy stuff.


#12 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted September 4 2020 - 7:46 AM

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Temnothorax prefer small spaces, but they will still do just fine in a mini hearth. I’ve kept small colonies in inception chambers before, so those will most definitely work as a permanent home. I would, however, wait until you have 40 or so workers.

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#13 Offline Hayashi - Posted September 4 2020 - 8:06 AM

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Thanks for the advice. I’ll keep them in the test tube for now and wait until there are 40 or 50 workers.
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