9 replies to this topic

[antscientist]

oct 11 2021

 

   This is the start of my journal. I had this colony for a month now. Their fungus garden is the size of a golf ball now. This colony is a 2 queen colony meaning that this colony is a super colony.  They have 0-10 eggs, 10-30 larvae, 1 pupa, and 50-70 workers. Sorry for bad camera angles. Also, I've been experiencing some weird behavior. When I give them some material to harvest, at first, they harvest it and eventually, the harvesting stops. It might be because the material might have bad substance for the fungus.

    I've read that once, in a lab, scientists gave a leafcutter ant colony some orange peels with harmful substance for the fungus. At first, they harvested it and gave it to the fungus but when the leafcutter ants found out that it had a negative effect, they didn't harvest it anymore. And when the scientists gave them orange peels without harmful stuff, they rejected it for 1 month straight.

    That might be the behavior I'm seeing at my colony but when they harvest and give the so called " harmful material " to the fungus, it only seems to grow. So, not really sure but right now, I just call them " picky. " It also might be because they're ready to go to the 2-3 months of foraging.

 

 

 

 

 

 

oct 12 2021

 

Beginning to see lots of pupa!

for some reason wouldn't let me post the picture

 

oct 13 2021

 

Decided to change feeding schedule.

 

oct 20 2021

 

not that much activity although most pupae are gone and have most likely grown into ants.

Edited by antscientist, October 20 2021 - 3:41 AM.

[Shazza]

There are a few ways to attach photos, I view the forum in the full version on my phone (option at the bottom). This then gives me a choose file option at the bottom of the text field.

[antscientist]

There are a few ways to attach photos, I view the forum in the full version on my phone (option at the bottom). This then gives me a choose file option at the bottom of the text field.

thx

[mmcguffi]

re: your other post about brood boosting -- this colony is already well past founding and brood boosting probably won't do anything for it at this point

 

it's looking good (as far as I can tell), and as long as you feed them properly, they should explode in population over the next few months

 

Any chance you can post a pic of the whole setup? I would love to see it!

[antscientist]

re: your other post about brood boosting -- this colony is already well past founding and brood boosting probably won't do anything for it at this point

 

it's looking good (as far as I can tell), and as long as you feed them properly, they should explode in population over the next few months

 

Any chance you can post a pic of the whole setup? I would love to see it!

ok thanks for the info!  Also, I will post the whole set up!

[antscientist]

re: your other post about brood boosting -- this colony is already well past founding and brood boosting probably won't do anything for it at this point

 

it's looking good (as far as I can tell), and as long as you feed them properly, they should explode in population over the next few months

 

Any chance you can post a pic of the whole setup? I would love to see it!

for some reason, I can't really add the whole setup but I will give you a general idea of it. the nest container is connected by a pluming tube. That leads to a bigger container that serves as an outworld.

[mmcguffi]

How are you hydrating the nest? You are probably fine since you've had it for ~month, but the fungus does need a bit of special care (as I'm sure you are aware)

[antscientist]

How are you hydrating the nest? You are probably fine since you've had it for ~month, but the fungus does need a bit of special care (as I'm sure you are aware)

I do water it everyday. At breakfast and at Dinner. It might be because that they're ready to go to the 2-3 months of reduced foraging.

Edited by antscientist, October 11 2021 - 2:42 PM.

[mmcguffi]

I would be careful with this strategy -- in my experience any standing water will kill the fungus. This seems like an excessive amount of watering. Ideally, you should only have to water the fungus setup (usually a plaster bottom) once every week or two in the beginning, and as the colony expands, eventually watering will not be necessary

 

That said, you have kept it alive for a month so it's possible that what you are doing is fine! :shrug:

 

Also I see you updated your first post -- in my experience orange pith molds very quickly and is not an ideal food Atta; I have also seen many research articles that say they use orange pith, but I don't recommend it. If you are looking for food ideas, my Atta have always accepted rose petals, dried and fresh

Edited by mmcguffi, October 11 2021 - 2:56 PM.

[antscientist]

I would be careful with this strategy -- in my experience any standing water will kill the fungus. This seems like an excessive amount of watering. Ideally, you should only have to water the fungus setup (usually a plaster bottom) once every week or two in the beginning, and as the colony expands, eventually watering will not be necessary

 

That said, you have kept it alive for a month so it's possible that what you are doing is fine! :shrug:

 

Also I see you updated your first post -- in my experience orange pith molds very quickly and is not an ideal food Atta; I have also seen many research articles that say they use orange pith, but I don't recommend it. If you are looking for food ideas, my Atta have always accepted rose petals, dried and fresh

the orange peel stuff is about what I read about. I usually feed them rose petals. The reason I water them a lot is because I think the plaster is too absorbent. So the plaster keeps the water in and eventually, the water evaporates but gets trapped inside the plaster. if I see that the substrate on top of the plaster is too shiny I don't water them.