11 replies to this topic

[FinWins]

On July 29th I received a colony of C. modoc from jeffpbalderson along with some other species. When I first opened up the box I was shocked at how many workers they had, I think the worker count was about 18. When I connected their test tube to a fresh one they move in within half an hour with the queen leading the charge. After that I fed them and they were ravenous, they absolutely swarmed the honey and chopped roach I gave them. That is why I love this species so much it is awesome to watch them feed and they are also HUGE even the first gen is big by Camponotus standards for nanitics.

Edited by FinWins, June 16 2023 - 5:27 PM.

[FinWins]

Yesterday I moved them into an AC test tube portal with a chopped roach inside and a honey water test tube connected. I set the test tube near a heat cable with the portal farther away, when I came back later a noticed that they had all moved into the connector piece away from the heat. So I then today I moved it around so that the portal is nearer the heat cable and the test tube was on the colder. After that they seemed much happier and moved back into the test tube.

[FinWins]

Update time, yesterday I flipped on the light above their portal and discovered that the honey water test tube was FULL of mold, curtesy of them putting all their trash on the cotton. I changed out the tube for a fresh one and them seemed to like it better as a worker immediately ran up to it a started drinking.

The good news is that the queen laid a fresh batch of eggs a week or two ago that have now developed into larva. Also on a good note not a single worker has died since I got them which is a first for me.

Edited by FinWins, August 21 2022 - 10:28 AM.

[FinWins]

The colony decided to move into the sugar water test tube and I can’t get them out what should I do I’ve try light and heat and even tapping the side of the glass. Their eggs have turned into larva so that’s good I want to move them into a new gypsum nest I’m making to give them an upgrade.

Sorry for the bad quality pic.

[FinWins]

I got them moved into one of my new nests!

[FinWins]

The reason I haven’t updated on these guys is that they have gone in to a state of simi hibernation  

[Tanks]

How many workers are they at now?

[FinWins]

The same number they had the last time I updated because they went into simi hibernation and the larva isn’t growing. But I will be moving them into a different nest so maybe that will get the larva growing again 

[FinWins]

So, because these ants are from the northern part of the state, they have been in hibernation for the 3 months but they are finally starting to wake up.

Also I moved them to a new nest.

[FinWins]

Ok I brought them out of hibernation by taking off the dark lid over their nest and feeding them some honey and a chopped dubia roach. It seemed to have awaked them and they are much more active now, sending workers out into the outworld to forage.

[FinWins]

This colony sadly did not recover from hibernation and died

[FinWins]

I don't know what it is about camponotus but I struggle to keep them alive meanwhile my myrmecocystus, and odontomachus thrive??? Does anyone else have this problem with camponotus?