Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

TexTech's Cephalotes texanus Journal

Started By TexTech , Jul 21 2021 2:31 PM
cephalotes cephalotes texanus texanus turtle turtle ant cephalotes varians varians texas texas ants turtle ants

  • Please log in to reply
8 replies to this topic

#1 Offline TexTech - Posted July 21 2021 - 2:31 PM

TexTech

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 27 posts
  • LocationBrownsville, TX

As some of you know, I've been taking care of some Cephalotes texanus (Texas Turtle Ants). Here's my experiences with them!

 

 

7/21/2021

 

This is a rather small colony that I found. Only 1 queen, 3 workers, 4 soldiers, and a decent brood pile. I plan on moving them to another setup soon, instead of this crappy temporary setup.

What I've noticed about this species is that they do not like a lot of humidity. They really love dryer places! I'm sure their hard exoskeleton (really tough like the Attinines) makes it easy to retain their moisture! 

I haven't tried feeding them yet, but I will see what they like as soon as I get them in a proper setup. 

 

 

208565165_507851670328237_15924591387706

 

More updates later as events happen.


  • Kaelwizard, TestSubjectOne, Antkeeper01 and 1 other like this
Keeping:
Cephalotes texanus-1
Neoponera villosa-1
Myrmecocystus mexicanus-1
Atta texana-4
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis-1
Pogonomyrmex barbatus-1

#2 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted July 21 2021 - 4:17 PM

Antkeeper01

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationA random state in the US

these ants never cease to amaze me :lol:


  • TexTech 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

#3 Offline ANTS_KL - Posted July 22 2021 - 12:01 AM

ANTS_KL

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 795 posts
  • LocationMalaysia
Me want. Now.

Sent from my CPH2201 using Tapatalk
  • TexTech likes this
Young ant keeper with a decent amount of knowledge on local ant species.

YouTube: https://m.youtube.co...uKsahGliSH7EqOQ (It's pretty dead. Might upload again soon, don't expect my voice to sound the same though.)

Currently kept ant species, favorites have a star in front of their names (NOT in alphabetical order, also may be outdated sometimes): ★ Camponotus irritans inferior, ★ Ooceraea biroi, Pheidole parva, ★ Nylanderia sp., ★ Paraparatrechina tapinomoides, Platythyrea sp., Anochetus sp., Colobopsis sp. (cylindrica group), ★ Crematogaster ferrarii, Polyrhachis (Myrma) cf. pruinosa, Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) laevissima, Tapinoma sp. (formerly Zatapinoma)

Death count: Probably over a hundred individual queens and colonies by now. I cannot recall whatsoever.

#4 Offline TexTech - Posted July 24 2021 - 1:49 PM

TexTech

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 27 posts
  • LocationBrownsville, TX

Update!!

 

7/23/2021

 

I fed them a bit and also they had a few more workers and soldiers eclose!

215701005_341105560834547_27719771886308

216864317_199985005417096_56083913123930211781957_343111423943693_27581984657151

 

7/24/2021

 

I finished making their new formicarium! It took a while as I had to make sure it was from the same tree as them (Just a precaution, not necessary, but I wanted to! Makes them feel more at home) They've moved in and have started carving out pieces of the wood that I've already cut! Which is fine, it's just at a part that I can't take good photos of. 

217837513_985277245567251_43977831040180

214049824_343002660804515_24405357187735

213806985_885553258837998_30411359875512


  • CatsnAnts and antsinvirgina like this
Keeping:
Cephalotes texanus-1
Neoponera villosa-1
Myrmecocystus mexicanus-1
Atta texana-4
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis-1
Pogonomyrmex barbatus-1

#5 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted July 24 2021 - 3:26 PM

CatsnAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,008 posts
  • LocationJasper, Indiana
That’s really cool! Awesome setup!
  • TexTech likes this

Spoiler

#6 Offline ANTS_KL - Posted July 24 2021 - 4:11 PM

ANTS_KL

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 795 posts
  • LocationMalaysia
DID THEY EAT?! DID THEY EAT?!

Sent from my CPH2201 using Tapatalk
  • TexTech likes this
Young ant keeper with a decent amount of knowledge on local ant species.

YouTube: https://m.youtube.co...uKsahGliSH7EqOQ (It's pretty dead. Might upload again soon, don't expect my voice to sound the same though.)

Currently kept ant species, favorites have a star in front of their names (NOT in alphabetical order, also may be outdated sometimes): ★ Camponotus irritans inferior, ★ Ooceraea biroi, Pheidole parva, ★ Nylanderia sp., ★ Paraparatrechina tapinomoides, Platythyrea sp., Anochetus sp., Colobopsis sp. (cylindrica group), ★ Crematogaster ferrarii, Polyrhachis (Myrma) cf. pruinosa, Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) laevissima, Tapinoma sp. (formerly Zatapinoma)

Death count: Probably over a hundred individual queens and colonies by now. I cannot recall whatsoever.

#7 Offline TexTech - Posted July 24 2021 - 6:01 PM

TexTech

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 27 posts
  • LocationBrownsville, TX

DID THEY EAT?! DID THEY EAT?!
Sent from my CPH2201 using Tapatalk

Yes,they did eat!
  • Antkeeper01, ANTS_KL and antsinvirgina like this
Keeping:
Cephalotes texanus-1
Neoponera villosa-1
Myrmecocystus mexicanus-1
Atta texana-4
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis-1
Pogonomyrmex barbatus-1

#8 Offline TexTech - Posted January 26 2023 - 8:05 AM

TexTech

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 27 posts
  • LocationBrownsville, TX

A little update, The colony is still doing good! I moved them to a bigger setup. I'm going to post the best "how to keep Cephalotes texanus" within the week with pictures. 

The colony has about 70-80 workers due to a die-out, but they are recovering. The queen isn't in her egg laying season since it's somewhat cold here in Texas right now. 


  • VenomousBeast likes this
Keeping:
Cephalotes texanus-1
Neoponera villosa-1
Myrmecocystus mexicanus-1
Atta texana-4
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis-1
Pogonomyrmex barbatus-1

#9 Offline Jonathan5608 - Posted August 6 2023 - 6:14 AM

Jonathan5608

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 400 posts
  • LocationLong Island, New York
Update
Back to Ant Keeping Journals · Next Unread Topic →



Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: cephalotes, cephalotes texanus, texanus, turtle, turtle ant, cephalotes varians, varians, texas, texas ants, turtle ants

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users