110 replies to this topic

[Ernteameise]

The colony today.

They have some larvae on the go (they like to stick the larvae to the wall above the water tower) and they also have a new pile of eggs.

 

 

Here you can see how they stick the larvae to the wall:

 

 

And their new pile of eggs:

 

[Ernteameise]

Huge new egg pile today!

You can see it next to the queen, she seems to be very proud and protective of it.

 

 

 

[Ernteameise]

Since it is Easter, there are even more new eggs.

And yes, that one male is still around.

 

 

[Ernteameise]

These girls continue to produce more brood

 

 

They also always carry a few seed into the nest, where they let them sprout and then they process them.

Different to my Messor ants, they never carry many seed into the nest, most of the seed stay in the food dish outside the nest.

They only seem to take as much as they can process at a time, so they do not create massive stores as Messor ants do.

 

[Ivan]

Hello! I also recently got acanthomyrmex thailandensis. The colony is still small. There is little information on the Internet about keeping this species. I wanted to ask you, as someone more experienced. How did you move them from the test tube, connect the silicone hose to the farm and wait for them to move on their own?

Edited by Ivan, May 3 2025 - 3:44 PM.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

I so dig on this colony, and in fact all the colonies you keep here are deluxe cool to check out.

 

Hello! I also recently got acanthomyrmex thailandensis. The colony is still small. There is little information on the Internet about keeping this species. I wanted to ask you, as someone more experienced. How did you move them from the test tube, connect the silicone hose to the farm and wait for them to move on their own?

With most ants, yes you can just hook up their old home to the new one and wait.

As long as you make conditions good in the new nest(ideal temps and humidity for them), while you let the old nest go to bad conditions(stop heating it, stop hydrating it). They will move themselevs to where ever they find conditions are more optimal.
If their seem to refuse to move after a few days, you can try keeping their old nest uncovered and setup a bright light shining on it to make it extra sucky to live in as encouragement to move out.
 

[Ernteameise]

Hello! I also recently got acanthomyrmex thailandensis. The colony is still small. There is little information on the Internet about keeping this species. I wanted to ask you, as someone more experienced. How did you move them from the test tube, connect the silicone hose to the farm and wait for them to move on their own?

Well, I made the experience that these ants do not run away, but form a defensive ball and stay still. This is why I actually can open up the nest and clean the active nest if they accumulate trash there.

I will be honest-

instead of stressing the ants for a couple of days to get them to move, I just dumped them (the defensive ball of ants) very unceremoneously into their new nest. So the drama was over in just 2 seconds. They found their way into the nest very quickly. Have a look at the first page of this journal- I had them first in a temporary setup, but the colony stayed in the test tube, and then I transferred them to the new nest where they still reside.

I never came back to my original plan to settle them into a Wakooshi nest- the one they currently have is perfect.

I know some people really believe in patiently adjusting light and dryness to make the ants move voluntarily, taking days, and even is it is "low stress", making them feel uncomfortable and in the spotlight (literally) for long periods is still stress. Some species that are very delicate might need it. Some might totally hate it. Some, like Lasius niger, might not move even at the pain of death.

However, with all the colonies that I keep, the fast "in/out" method did work well and so far, none of them have died and none of them have devoured brood or gone into hunger strikes.

Edited by Ernteameise, May 5 2025 - 11:58 AM.

[lechiduong]

You have whatsapp or telegram ? I wanna share you some pic of my acan colonies

[JesseTheAntKid]

the majors are adorable lol

[Ernteameise]

You have whatsapp or telegram ? I wanna share you some pic of my acan colonies

No, not really.

You can open a journal on this forum or post pictures in the "ant photography" thread.

Short update-

the colony has produced more MALES.

Yes, 3 new males have hatched from the last batch of pupae, and from the look of 2 more pupae, there is two more to come.

[Ernteameise]

Little update on some of my colonies.

All of my girls are well and are in their strongest growing phase.

 

The Acanthomyrmex have now raised more males for reasons only known to them.

Otherwise, they continue to do well.

This is a species that only forms small colonies, so I am happy with what they are doing.