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Antkeeper01's ant keeping journal.

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178 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 6 2020 - 5:28 AM

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Hi, I am currently keeping Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis, Tetremorium Caispitum and unknown Queen (possibly Pheidole?) I have 5 test tubes of Tetremorium Caispitum with one queen in each one and one with 2 queens and four workers i am assuming that they are from the same colony because I caught at least 30 pavement queens this anting season. There will be a photo down at the bottom of the unknown Queen if you want to identify it. :)  :)  :)

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Edited by Antkeeper01, September 7 2020 - 6:35 AM.

1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

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#2 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 7 2020 - 12:52 PM

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September 7th 2020

Today my P. Occidentalis Queen has been very active-the Queen Grabbing seeds and bringing them back to the nest to put in the seed stores for her and her larvae.

One of my Tetremorium Caispitum Colonies is refusing all of the food I give them a drop of honey they walkover it I give them a piece of meal-worm the ignore it. The weird thing is they have more nanitics than my other Tetremorium colony's. Open for suggestions. :)


Edited by Antkeeper01, September 7 2020 - 12:57 PM.

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1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#3 Offline Antkeeper014 - Posted September 7 2020 - 1:11 PM

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They are probably getting ready for diapause, or they may be sick of the same food. I switch up the diets of my colonies before they start refusing the same food
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#4 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 7 2020 - 1:13 PM

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ok thank you i tried giving them a baby jumping spider and they ignored it. :(  :(  :( .all of my other colonies are happily accepting food.


Edited by Antkeeper01, September 7 2020 - 1:15 PM.

1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#5 Offline Antkeeper014 - Posted September 7 2020 - 1:15 PM

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Just now? Give them some time to notice it. You may be feeding them too frequently. How often do you give them mealworm pieces, and how large is the colony?

#6 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 7 2020 - 1:22 PM

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The colony is 8 nanitics and I feed them meal-worm every week, some times they taste the honey for a moment and then go back to whatever they were doing. I am currently trying to breed grasshoppers as a food source but am being unsuccessful.


1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#7 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 7 2020 - 3:51 PM

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Make sure they are 80 degrees or warmer. An eight worker colony will forage very little at first. Just be patient.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#8 Offline ponerinecat - Posted September 7 2020 - 4:27 PM

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The colony is 8 nanitics and I feed them meal-worm every week, some times they taste the honey for a moment and then go back to whatever they were doing. I am currently trying to breed grasshoppers as a food source but am being unsuccessful.

Don't try it. Grasshoppers arent very good breeding feeders. Go for crickets, roaches, meal worms, or fruit flies instead.


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#9 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 7 2020 - 4:50 PM

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But is it possible to breed grasshoppers?


1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#10 Offline Spazmops - Posted September 7 2020 - 6:34 PM

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But is it possible to breed grasshoppers?

Yes, it is. You might have more than one species in the same container, or you might not have waited long enough. Here’s a guide: https://www.keepingi...s/grasshoppers/


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

 

 


#11 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 7 2020 - 6:40 PM

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Apparently that colony will only eat dandeion seeds.


Edited by Antkeeper01, September 7 2020 - 6:41 PM.

1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#12 Offline Spazmops - Posted September 7 2020 - 7:05 PM

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Apparently that colony will only eat dandeion seeds.

Your tetramorium will eat dandelion seeds?


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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

 

 


#13 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 7 2020 - 8:16 PM

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Weirdly yes but I have to break them open in order for them to eat, or at least so far.


Edited by Antkeeper01, September 8 2020 - 5:29 AM.

1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#14 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 8 2020 - 6:00 AM

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Started snowing last night that means no more nuptial flights, no more queen ants for the year. :(  :(  :( Maybe next year I will catch something better? :)  :(

Harvester ant Queen doing well expecting a pupae soon, any suggestions on a name for the Queen?

Tetremorium colony 1 doing okay I just fed them honey(tried to) I got no response ,so far seeds are the only thing that they will eat. :facepalm:  :facepalm:   :facepalm:  


1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#15 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 9 2020 - 7:18 AM

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Last night fed T. immigrans colony 4, 2 grasshopper legs they ate them for 30 minutes.

P. occidentallis queen lost all larvae but 1 yesterday, still has eggs. :*(


  • Ants_Dakota likes this

1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#16 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 9 2020 - 11:01 AM

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wish you best of luck!


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#17 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 9 2020 - 11:31 AM

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I'm thinking about not hibernating my Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis queens as they have no workers and only one has a larva. Do you think I will get a few workers before hibernation If I do, I will consider hibernating my P. occidentalis


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1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#18 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 9 2020 - 11:54 AM

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I don't hibernate all of my ants in a test tube because up here, the water will freeze and kill the ants, but it might not be so down there. Just my guess.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#19 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 9 2020 - 12:00 PM

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Also any name suggestions for the queen?


1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#20 Offline Spazmops - Posted September 9 2020 - 1:50 PM

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Also any name suggestions for the queen?

A few people on this forum tend to lean towards mythology when naming their queens... for instance, my personal harvester ant queen is named Demeter, after the Greek god of harvests. Some people also just name their queens with names they like, which is another good method. 


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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

 

 






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