199 replies to this topic

[ZTYguy]

I’m sure there is tons of info on the fungus and I doubt in captivity it could get huge. I imagine that my colony will outgrow their current home but I doubt they will get to atta size. This is a small species. Small fungus

[Max_Connor]

I’m sure there is tons of info on the fungus and I doubt in captivity it could get huge. I imagine that my colony will outgrow their current home but I doubt they will get to atta size. This is a small species. Small fungus

Weird, I couldn't find any articles about the exact fungus.

[ZTYguy]

Update 2/13/22

Fungus had another die off about 2 months ago and after hard work I got it back but it’s no longer a single golf ball and is a bunch of clusters that have started to totally encapsulate the box. I would say there are about 200-300 workers as of now and pumping out brood. Once spring is in full swing the fungus I presume will be twice the size by late April.

[ZTYguy]

Also for all of you who have read this journal I am happy to say that these have been around for well over a year and I thoroughly celebrated my one year with them. I hope you all have enjoyed them as much as I have and I can’t wait to celebrate 2 years.

[ANTdrew]

Awesome! Photos?

[antsriondel]

Awesome! Photos?

yeah photos???

[ZTYguy]

Here are some photos that show about 70 percent of the fungus.

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Edited by ZTYguy, February 13 2022 - 5:08 PM.

[United-Ants]

Wow very beautiful ants and fungus gardens

[ZTYguy]

Update 2/23/22

Got a small founding colony with like 5 workers from Cocdeshijie on Sunday. Boosted them and put them in a petri dish setup. They seems to be good fungus caretakers so let’s hope this colony makes it through founding. Go check out my TikTok @SocalExotics10 to see some footage of my main colony and some refined care for my colony.

Edited by ZTYguy, February 23 2022 - 11:08 PM.

[ZTYguy]

Update 2/25/22

Small Founding Colony-Fungus is growing in nicely after the boosting and new growth is coming in rapidly for a founding colony. They seems to need a bit of extra help with cutting which I will do. When I say help I mean I take rose petals and tear them into small pieces and put them on the fungus in hopes of getting them to cut more. They do cut but I haven’t seen it and I am just a paranoid keeper so I gotta take the extra mile. Anyways this colony is doing nicely.

Large Colony- This colony is doing great as ever and after winter it took them a second to get back as I said in the previous update but they seem to be producing brood again and at the rapid pace we all know and love. Can’t wait to see this colony’s growth this year.

[ZTYguy]

Update 3/5/2022

 

Large colony got an alate larva so let’s see if it survives. I’ll post pics in the next update which will either be if it dies or if it ecloses.

[ZTYguy]

1: Major Larvae
2: Alate Larva

[ZTYguy]

Update 3/13/2022

 

So the first alate larva was eaten but then a couple days later a new alate larva popped up. So either this colony just had two in a short span of time as a coincidence or the colony is slowly starting to make alates regularly. I find this strange as this colony is only about a year and a half old but this might also be an effect of having two egg laying queens in the colony. I’ll update if I see anything else happen. 

[ZTYguy]

Update 3/31/2022

 

Sadly all alate larva are no more but good news, the next generation is just around the corner and I predict that it will be around 100 workers. I would like to say though that even with this colony is amazing and everything, I get very little entertainment out of them as I do with my other colonies. I’m sure other Acromyrmex keepers can agree with me but anyways. Fungus is doing great, both queens are doing great and no signs of either one being bullied and eggs are being made every day. I’m hoping that in a few months we will be half way to 1000 if not there. I can never tell with their speed, but they will be hopefully out of this nest by next year, I have big plans for this colony and I can’t wait. Thank you for reading.

[ZTYguy]

Update 4/21/2023

Since last update the fungus has grown quite significantly. Fungus growth is as always nice and fast. Same thing to say for brood production. It has picked up even more and the next gen is on the way. I don’t have any photos sadly this time due to the fact that the formicarium is in dire need of a clean up. I probably will be just completely redoing the entire enclosure. The only part that will be challenging is the moving the fungus part. Wish me luck!

Edited by ZTYguy, April 21 2022 - 7:37 PM.

[ZTYguy]

8/9/2022

 

Welp it’s been a while and as accustomed no photos. Anyways, fungus has almost doubled in size and it takes up about 50% of the box. I need to move them eventually but I’m too lazy to figure out what I’m gonna do. Hopefully I’ll figure it out soon. Brood production is chugging along and I think there are around 500 workers in there. Still those 2 queens are some of the best producers I’ve ever kept.

Edited by ZTYguy, August 9 2022 - 9:57 AM.

[FinWins]

Nice, keep up the good work

Edited by FinWins, August 9 2022 - 2:59 PM.

[ZTYguy]

Update 9/4/2022

 

So no photos (expect a huge update on November 4th) but I do have some cool news. To start things off the main colony is doing great. It’s been growing fungus pretty steadily and a good portion of the fungus has fallen onto the floor of the box due to it being just too heavy to stay hanging. It kind of reminds me of Atta the way they are growing the fungus now. Next off I was able to trade in some pot queens to get some Acromyrmex queens, currently I sit at 25ish single queens, all with fungus. Now to the fun colony. I was able to in the same trade acquire a 1 year old colony of Acromyrmex which is living in a THA Fortress. I will say my fac3 was priceless when I saw the colony. I’m truly pleased to have this colony and I can’t wait to grow it out to its full potential.

[CAantz]

Update?

[ZTYguy]

Quick update:

 

I currently have 3 large colonies —

 

1 year old colony (Newly acquired) Colony has around 200 - 300 workers

2 year old colony (Original Colony) Colony has around 500 workers

3 year old colony (Newly acquired) Colony has around 800 - 1000 workers

Small Colonies —

 

Along with the 2 large colonies I also have a poly founding colony with 10-11 queens (No workers yet)