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Jant’s Myrmecocystus mexicanus journal


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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline JAnt - Posted September 3 2022 - 9:35 PM

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Hey everyone,

I decided to start a journal for this species. These are from the end of July 2022; I received them with a batch of eggs. All three queens looked very healthy. This is also my first time founding these species.

I decided to give each of them different substrates:
Fine golden brown sand, white sand, and brown sand.
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After two weeks, all of them finally have a good number of pupae after leaving them in the dark every few days and checking on them. I’ve tried my best not to cause any vibration, but these are aggressive queens like my Aphaenogaster queen, who goes out before her workers.
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After about a month, on August 27th, one of the queens had her first nanitics. She also has a second generation on the way. After a few days, the other queens also had their nanitics.
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I gave them sugar right away after their first nanitics, and then baby dubia roach every other day once they had three or more nanitics. So far, they’ve been pretty aggressive with a good response to the food I gave them.
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I'm moving them to a mini hearth soon once all the 1st generation comes out or till they get to 20 workers. It's becoming challenging to feed them. They try to run out as soon as I pull the cotton. The technique I do is: I make a thin line of byformica sweet drink like a barrier; then I quickly put the dead dubia roach inside while they are busy drinking. It works every time!
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Thanks for checking out my journal!
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#2 Offline JAnt - Posted September 9 2022 - 11:10 AM

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All three colonies have 10-12 nanitics. They are doing well and are very active eaters. Each queen has a swollen gaster and prefers to be in that position like they’re hanging.
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Thanks for checking out this journal!

Edited by JAnt, September 9 2022 - 11:13 AM.

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#3 Offline JAnt - Posted September 12 2022 - 12:09 PM

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Quick update:

I saw one of my queens is dead; I’m updating it due to the sudden color change. It went from yellow to a copper-like color. Is this normal?

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Thanks!
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#4 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 13 2022 - 4:56 AM

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Quick update:

I saw one of my queens is dead; I’m updating it due to the sudden color change. It went from yellow to a copper-like color. Is this normal?

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Thanks!

That is super unfortunate, i always hate when queens die after getting workers. It seems to me that myrmecocystus is easier to raise than other species, as i see so many large colonies around formiculture. Is that true?


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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#5 Offline AntsCali098 - Posted September 13 2022 - 11:27 AM

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Quick update:

I saw one of my queens is dead; I’m updating it due to the sudden color change. It went from yellow to a copper-like color. Is this normal?

5f86e740630819b65742f8d2b2210280.jpg
f9e65d4d4401fac75972621b07a8a043.jpg
064a6d3e94be38a855777b1d3612a219.jpg


Thanks!

That is super unfortunate, i always hate when queens die after getting workers. It seems to me that myrmecocystus is easier to raise than other species, as i see so many large colonies around formiculture. Is that true?

No, they have lots of random deaths, I think they are pretty easy to catch after rain in the desert
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Interested buying in ants? Feel free to check out my shop

Feel free to read my journals, like this one.

 

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#6 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted September 13 2022 - 3:58 PM

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Quick update:

I saw one of my queens is dead; I’m updating it due to the sudden color change. It went from yellow to a copper-like color. Is this normal?

5f86e740630819b65742f8d2b2210280.jpg
f9e65d4d4401fac75972621b07a8a043.jpg
064a6d3e94be38a855777b1d3612a219.jpg


Thanks!

That is super unfortunate, i always hate when queens die after getting workers. It seems to me that myrmecocystus is easier to raise than other species, as i see so many large colonies around formiculture. Is that true?

No, they have lots of random deaths, I think they are pretty easy to catch after rain in the desert

 

Myrmecocystus are very easy to keep, all they need is 83-87 degrees and you should have a thriving colony.


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#7 Offline JAnt - Posted October 4 2022 - 4:11 PM

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Update!

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Since I only have two colonies left, I moved one colony into a mini hearth, and they’ve been doing well with more repletes on the way. The other is in a tub and tube setup, also doing well, and I keep them in the dark and undisturbed.




Thanks for checking out this journal!
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#8 Offline JAnt - Posted December 25 2022 - 9:45 PM

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Merry Christmas!


This colony has been doing well; they have repletes now and have been thriving. It’s pretty cool raising this species, and personally see the size of their living storage sisters, lol
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This is one of the species I've kept to keep everything neat, both their nest and the outworld.
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Thanks for checking out this journal!
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#9 Offline ANTdrew - Posted December 26 2022 - 4:32 AM

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Awesome!
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#10 Offline JAnt - Posted March 11 2023 - 8:41 AM

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Update!

Out of the 3 Queens, I only have one thriving successful queen with tons of brood, workers and repletes. The other has been on a decline, sadly. One is dead.

Edited by JAnt, March 11 2023 - 8:41 AM.





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