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Pogonomyrme workers dying


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#1 Offline buglover123 - Posted April 5 2021 - 4:38 PM

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I have 5 pogonomyrmex subdentatus colonies, about 4 months old. All of them have had random worker die offs, and the larger colony has probably lost 30% of total workers produced (10+workers). They just appear dead in the outworld. I've included pictures of their setups-just test tubes with cotton and a grout outworld. I give them large amounts of kentucky bluegass seeds as well as mealworms. The only thing that stands out to me is possible dehydration? But they have test tubes full with water and the queens seem to be fine. They are kept in an incubator at 82-86 degrees, are activevly foraging out and about and seem otherwise healthy.

 

I'm really devastated and would appreciate any input. Thanks.

 

Since the first pic I've moved them into a new test tube with clean water but no difference.

 

IMG_20210223_153724.jpg IMG_20210319_200624.jpg



#2 Offline Manitobant - Posted April 5 2021 - 5:05 PM

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Put sand in there and in their test tube. Pogonomyrmex do horrible without substrate.

#3 Offline jcisopodgang - Posted April 5 2021 - 6:28 PM

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they need substrate 100%. Heat can help too. Do you only feed kentucky blue grass seeds?


irl catboy


#4 Offline buglover123 - Posted April 5 2021 - 10:11 PM

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they need substrate 100%. Heat can help too. Do you only feed kentucky blue grass seeds?

Also mealworms and crickets. I put some dirt in their tubes now.



#5 Offline jcisopodgang - Posted April 5 2021 - 11:03 PM

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they need substrate 100%. Heat can help too. Do you only feed kentucky blue grass seeds?

Also mealworms and crickets. I put some dirt in their tubes now.

 

I would really add some variation in the seeds, dandelion seeds are really good and sunflower seeds etc. Really anything soft bodied, I think just blue grass seeds isn't enough imo. How often do you feed the insects btw? Live/injured/prekilled?


irl catboy


#6 Offline buglover123 - Posted April 7 2021 - 8:36 PM

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they need substrate 100%. Heat can help too. Do you only feed kentucky blue grass seeds?

Also mealworms and crickets. I put some dirt in their tubes now.

 

I would really add some variation in the seeds, dandelion seeds are really good and sunflower seeds etc. Really anything soft bodied, I think just blue grass seeds isn't enough imo. How often do you feed the insects btw? Live/injured/prekilled?

 

Freshly frozen to death crickets.






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