17 replies to this topic

[Ant_ADR]

This will be my first C. Floridanus colony. I got her 1 week ago in July 24 with some eggs. Hopefully I will be able to raise her into a successful colony.

Edited by Ant_ADR, July 31 2025 - 1:01 PM.

[Ant_ADR]

July 31

I changed her tubes (since the one she came with was too cramped and almost flooding) and gave her a bit of sugar water with a q tip which she gladly accepted. She now has a couple of larva and around 15+ eggs.

Edited by Ant_ADR, July 31 2025 - 7:29 PM.

[Ant_ADR]

August 10

Its hard to see on the picture but she has more larva (around 5+) and they are getting bigger and fatter, with the largest one being about the size of her thorax. I also fed her some more sugar water and seems like she was really thirsty bc she drank for around 15 mins lol.

Edited by Ant_ADR, August 10 2025 - 5:33 AM.

[Ant_ADR]

August 17

She got her first pupa, and from what I can see 2 more larva are in the process of pupating. We should have the first nanitics in around 2 weeks. (Next update will be when nanitics emerge)

[Ant_ADR]

September 1

Finally she got her first workers, there are 2 nanitics, 2 cocoons, around 4 larva and tons of eggs. (the photo was from yesterday before one of the larva made its cocoon)

Edited by Ant_ADR, September 2 2025 - 11:42 AM.

[Ants_Dakota]

Congrats! That is a slightly low level of brood, are you heating her?

[Ant_ADR]

Thanks! and yeah I keep her at 27-28c with half of her tube on a heat mat so idk exactly why she is going a bit slow

[Ant_ADR]

September 18
Third worker hatched but it is a male, I’m thinking she could have been brood boosted by the seller but idk if it’s possible to get males this early. She has a lot of pupa by now so I have decided to wait until they emerge and see if any more males appear. If anyone have any ideas lmk

[Zhuge]

Where did you buy this colony? 

[Ant_ADR]

buckeye

Edited by Ant_ADR, September 19 2025 - 11:16 AM.

[Ant_ADR]

September 26

4 more workers have emerged since then (bringing the total to 6 workers + 1 male). Also she has a lot of brood with 8 pupa and many larvae and eggs. I will be moving her to a small nest soon once the heat cable arrives.
I also emailed the owner and he assured me she wasn’t brood boosted and it was most likely that she laid a trophic egg (unfertilized eggs used to store food and feed the colony) and forgot to eat it, leading it to develop into a male. Which is rare but sometimes occurs in Camponotus species.

[cooIboyJ]

Very interesting journal! This makes me wish I had Camonotus a lot more!

[Zhuge]

buckeye

my colony (i didn't know it was illegal the seller told me it was legal) also had a male in their first batch of workers 

[Ant_ADR]

buckeye

my colony (i didn't know it was illegal the seller told me it was legal) also had a male in their first batch of workers

what species was it?

[Ant_ADR]

October 4

I finally moved them to a proper nest a few days ago and they are doing pretty good. 3 more workers emerged since last update so they are now at 9 workers + the male.

Edited by Ant_ADR, October 4 2025 - 10:22 AM.

[cooIboyJ]

October 4

I finally moved them to a proper nest a few days ago and they are doing pretty good. 3 more workers emerged since last update so they are now at 9 workers + the male.

Where did you get the nest? It looks nice.

Edited by cooIboyJ, October 4 2025 - 10:31 AM.

[Ant_ADR]

Where did you get the nest? It looks nice.

Its the wakooshi gen 4 small gypsum nest and large outworld. They have really good quality

[Zhuge]

 

Where did you get the nest? It looks nice.

Its the wakooshi gen 4 small gypsum nest and large outworld. They have really good quality

 

I would use that as the only ant formicarium i would have to buy but 1. i can't buy in bulk 2. shipping costs 3. executive order by donald trump