12 replies to this topic

[AntsMAN]

I have four Camponotus noveboracensis colonies with 4+ workers. Should I give them small drops of honey now or wait until they are a bit older. Caught July 6 2015. They started hatching around August 18th.

[Gregory2455]

Definitely start feeding them immediately after they get workers.

[Desnob]

Workers will take food about two days after they eclose. You'll want to feed them as soon as possible. They'll devour most of the food you throw in.

[AntsMAN]

Definitely start feeding them immediately after they get workers.

 

Just honey water or meal worm chunks too?

[William. T]

 

Definitely start feeding them immediately after they get workers.

 

Just honey water or meal worm chunks too?

 

Sounds good!

Edited by William. T, August 26 2015 - 1:45 PM.

[prettycode]

How does one actually get the food into the test tube while minimizing risk of escapees and stress? Here are the only two tips I know:

 

1. For solid foods, put the test tube in the fridge for a few minutes. When they're nice and slow, remove cotton plug on end of test tube and throw food in.

2. For liquid foods, fill syringe with aqueous food solution. Insert syringe needle between cotton plug and test tube wall. Squirt tiny amount of food solution in.

 

Any others?

[Works4TheGood]

I'm brand new to the hobby (your queen is older than all of mine), but my understanding was that you use a toothpick to place a tiny dab of honey inside the test tube.  If they lap it all up, repeat.  Check out this YouTube video: https://www.youtube....h?v=RV6O3OHENmI.

[Crystals]

I don't chill any of my colonies to feed them.  I just ensure I have some featherweight forceps on hand to grab any escapes (with just 4 workers, I doubt you will have escapees).

 

I put a small tin foil "plate" into the test tube and put a drop of sugar water or hummingbird nectar in.  I find my queens usually gorge themselves the first few times (no problem with that).

 

Once the workers are up and moving I will offer cut-up pieces of mealworm or cricket, or any small chunks of insect.

[William. T]

I don't chill any of my colonies to feed them.  I just ensure I have some featherweight forceps on hand to grab any escapes (with just 4 workers, I doubt you will have escapees).

 

I put a small tin foil "plate" into the test tube and put a drop of sugar water or hummingbird nectar in.  I find my queens usually gorge themselves the first few times (no problem with that).

 

Once the workers are up and moving I will offer cut-up pieces of mealworm or cricket, or any small chunks of insect.

Same. Except I prick a termite to get the juices out and make it injured, and drop it in. Termites are the perfect size meal. I suggest you buy "bite sized" animals, such as fruit flies or springtails. It sucks to kill a mealworm like chopping off a small chunk for a few colonies. Wastes the whole thing, because it won't be as appetizing if you freeze it. You can buy good feeders at http://www.roachcros...-roach/feeders/. Lesser mealworms and springtails are on sale there are a good price. My friends buy from them and get an overcount. 

[Foogoo]

For liquids, place only a very small drop on tinfoil! The ants tend to climb up around the tube and fall into the food and drown. I've learned this the hard way a few times...

[William. T]

Antimidation on Youtube suggested dipping sugary liquids in bread, which is on foil. I can't see how doing so is bad, since their is no drowning or mess.

[AntsMAN]

I put them each in their own container lined with fluon, I put a drop of honey and half a meal worm on tin foil. I want to add some substrate to the containers so they can cover the opening of the test tubes, what would be best sand, wood chips, soil (oven treated).

 

 

[William. T]

I put them each in their own container lined with fluon, I put a drop of honey and half a meal worm on tin foil. I want to add some substrate to the containers so they can cover the opening of the test tubes, what would be best sand, wood chips, soil (oven treated).

 

 

Nice. They appear to be in good flesh, I mean, exoskeleton. Nice coloration, and the colony looks good!

Edited by William. T, August 27 2015 - 2:37 PM.