57 replies to this topic

[AntBoi3030]

Update 5/4/2025

I estimate the colony is near 100 workers now! They had a large pile of pupae that eclosed over the past two weeks, and their population has skyrocketed. It looks like the next two generations of workers will probably push this colony into the 200s. I mean, look at the egg pile (picture below). I've been feeding the colony every day with different insects. Their favorites right now are wood runners, spiders, and termite alates. I'm going to wait until this colony fills up their tube to move them to the discus. Honestly, they will probably fill it up within the next few weeks. Super excited for what's to come!

[ANTdrew]

You’ve got a star queen right there!

[AntBoi3030]

You’ve got a star queen right there!

She’s the MVQ

[ColAnt735]

That is an absurd amount of eggs . Your queen is a machine!

[bmb1bee]

That is an absurd amount of eggs . Your queen is a machine!

Long time no see!

[ColAnt735]

 

That is an absurd amount of eggs . Your queen is a machine!

Long time no see!

 

Indeed it is! Good to see the forum is in a good state.

[AntBoi3030]

That is an absurd amount of eggs . Your queen is a machine!

Yes, I know. I don't think i've ever had a queen this productive before.

[NorthernTrav]

Is this the species that makes carton nests and creates gardens?

I remember reading about a crematogaster species that makes gardens which other ants colonise

[AntBoi3030]

No, I don't think Cerasi makes carton nests. I think the Crematogaster that do make carton nests are tropical.

[NorthernTrav]

Yea, I just checked and it's Crematogaster Carinata. Ant gardens are an interesting thing to look into if you get time

[AntBoi3030]

I think it’s time for that new nest…

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[AntBoi3030]

Update 9/22/2025

After filling up their tube completely, I finally moved these guys. They’ve quickly filled up their new nest and they’ll need an expansion soon. More importantly, they need a new outworld. I can’t even take the lid off anymore as they’ve managed to bypass the first layer of fluon so I just have to drop food in through the ventilation hole. Ants_Dakota, do you need someone to test out one of your outworlds? Also, I cannot give these guys enough sugar. They empty an entire vial of sunburst or sugar water within a week. It’s honestly kind of disgusting how much sugar they eat.

[Ants_Dakota]

I am always looking for people interested in outworlds, but if they can get past fluon they can probably make it out of my outworlds whenever you open the lid. Maybe we can brainstorm a solution, send me a pm if you are interested. There has got to be some system that can stop them from escaping...

[ANTdrew]

The solution is simple. Switch to talc and alcohol barrier. Fluon will NOT stop Crematogaster long term. I learned this the hard way.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

Also a lip. Forcing them to be upside down and cross a barrier at the same time adds up.
An inside lip of 1/2"-1" that you can floun/talc barrier the under edge of seems like it would be as good as you can do for an open top outworld.

now that i picture it, maybe if the internal lip had a 30-45 degree down angle. So it's not just upside down but actually climbing downward and needing to get over a barrier, inorder to get on a steeply downward sloped upward climb left to go still and a 2nd barrier could then be placed on the "top" of the lip in addition to the underside.
So they have to cross one barier while walking downwared over it and then if they do they got to get over a 2nd barier now climbing upward again.

With the red being a barier like fluon or talc mix on both sides.

 

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, June 23 2025 - 7:39 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Here’s how I contain my Crematogaster:

Talc is 100% effective against them in my experience, but you can see how they wear it down at the edges over time. It does need to be replaced every three months or so with a big colony testing it all day every day.

[AntBoi3030]

I think the lip would work well. The current outworld has a large hole in the top with fluon around it. I haven't seen any get out quite yet. I think I'll try to make a large outworld with a thick lip smothered in the talc solution

 

Also, they wil need a new nest soon. I'm thinkinbg about this THA Casita. However, I think I will just remove the top outworld. It's too small and they'll be able to break out of it.

[ANTdrew]

I would leave the outworld. Just don’t use it for feeding. The ants will use it like a big nest basically.