55 replies to this topic

[antsandmore]

ok thanks!!!

[antsandmore]

so yesterday i saw a pupae that i thought eclosed, and saw it moved around. today in the morning, it has no movement and I think its dead. This is the second time that there has been deformed workers death. Is there any reason they come out deformed? thanks

[antsandmore]

and, today I put their tubs and cubes setup on a heat mat, and the queen moves like crazy, and seems to be freaking out or something! like crazy!!! any advice?

[M_Ants]

Might be too hot.

I don't recommend a heat mat. They easily cook your ants.

[M_Ants]

Or at least not right underneath the test tube. Maybe if you put it in a container with the test tube to make a little incubator it would be better.

[antsandmore]

so not underneath the test tube, but to the side?

[M_Ants]

That's probably better. Your best option really is a heating cable. I might be overreacting but I once gave a colony to a friend who put them on a heating mat and they cooked and died. It probably depends on how hot it gets.

[antsandmore]

yep, i don't think mine are that hot, but will keep an eye on it.   looking at you crematogasters!!!

[antsandmore]

another worker died nooo

[Swirlysnowflake]

another worker died nooo

Something that may be wrong is that you are using raw honey to feed them. Beekeepers normally put something in their honey to keep ants away, and the stuff basically kills the ants who drink it, which is why you don't want to use raw honey but rather the filtered honey.

When I fed raw honey to my Tetramorium, the colony's workers kept dying until I switched to sugar water. Now I use just sugar water and honey from TarHeelAnts. 

Maybe try feeding them sugar water instead? It's worth a shot.

Edited by Swirlysnowflake, January 10 2021 - 1:16 PM.

[antsandmore]

ok thanks! what's the ratio of water to sugar? 

[antsandmore]

so I got the Byformica micro feeders for my crematogasters, and I love how it looks and works. now, my workers need to find it and drink from it.

[M_Ants]

Mine found it pretty easily. They love it. 

Edited by M_Ants, January 11 2021 - 2:45 PM.

[antsandmore]

mhm, i love it so much. so tiny, and cute. I placed it right in front of their test tube.

[antsandmore]

Update 1/25/2021

nothing much, they are still at two workers, so I just took their test tube out of their outworld, and plugged it up with cotton so that they can be kept in smaller living conditions. I fed them some sugary liquids, and the workers and even the queen went for it. I see many eggs, Big larvae, and about 4 pupae. I suspect many of the larvae are going to also pupate. I hope all the pupae can make it to workers, as then i can finally put them in the outworld again. they are also constantly on heat.

Edited by antsandmore, January 25 2021 - 12:34 PM.

[steelplant]

Neonicotinoid pesticides in honey can kill the ants, maybe other pesticides too. Sugar or maple syrup might be a better bet. Hope they make it.

[antsandmore]

Neonicotinoid pesticides in honey can kill the ants, maybe other pesticides too. Sugar or maple syrup might be a better bet. Hope they make it.

I am using organic honey, do you think that still might cause problems? thanks for the information!

[ANTdrew]

I never had issues with organic honey before.

[antsandmore]

I never had issues with organic honey before.

ok. that's what I'm using. 

[steelplant]

I use organic honey too but bees roam. Maybe more of an issue here in Europe than in US. An organic farm can be right next to one using pesticides here. There are pesticides in our organic honey and i hold my breath every time i give them it.