13 replies to this topic

[Elraen]

My rufibarbis don't eat anything and lay eggs for about 6 months ( maybe more ).They hibernated 3 months ago their behaviour was the same.As time passes, workers die in the formicarium or in the outworld slowly. They have water, water with sugar, and even if I give them cooked chicken, fruit fly or flour worm, they don't eat anything. There are no eggs too. There was 50 workers but now only 15 of them left. I can't think of again about this, I need a new solution. What could be the problem?

Edited by Elraen, February 11 2016 - 7:25 AM.

[Barristan]

Hi,

 

what type of nest do you use? My small colony is in a nest made of plaster of paris and the queen is laying eggs like crazy. I already pulled them out of hibernation more then one month ago (since workers had been quite active in the testing tube). Maybe your nest is too wet or too dry or temperature is too high/low?

 

Did you buy the colony or did you collect it?

Edited by Barristan, February 11 2016 - 7:35 AM.

[Elraen]

They r in test tube right now. Before they were in ytong nest. I'm using long tubes and the water stays 10/4. ''Room temp : 22-25 C.

 

I did not buy them. My friend found the queen last year. There were fine before.. But now, no eggs, no brood, dying workers. Ahh and i have formica gunicu. they r same too.. My messor colonies, tetras, nigers, all of them r fine..

[Ants4fun]

I have found that Formica don't do the best in test tubes. I would move them in a different nest. You mentioned that they used to be in a ytong nest; I think that something like that would be best.

[Elraen]

Yeah but didn't work. They v been in ytong nest for a while but same problems.. that's why i let them move to test tube again. 

[Ants4fun]

They might need a heating cable. My ants don't do well at room temp.

Edited by Ants4fun, February 11 2016 - 8:11 AM.

[Barristan]

I'm just curious how your queen and workers look like. Because I'm not sure if I have a Formica rufibarbis or Formica cunicularia colony. The queen and works look like this:

Edited by Barristan, February 11 2016 - 8:31 AM.

[Jonathan21700]

I have found that when raising Formica in test tubes the moment they get the first workers you have to move them to a small nest with an outworld otherwise they start dying.

That happened with almost all of my colonies only the ones I provided an outworld and a nest are OK.

Also for other species as well they do much better with an outworld. Foraging is a really important part of their life.

[Elraen]

Ok, but i have already transfer all of them to new ytong nest. After 10-15 days, 9 more workers died.. Also in outworld and the nest. ( of course they have outworld )

 

that's why i put them test tube again. I'm really confused. 

[Elraen]

I'm just curious how your queen and workers look like. Because I'm not sure if I have a Formica rufibarbis or Formica cunicularia colony. The queen and works look like this:

 

 

Totally same. 

[iXvXi]

Are you sure the workers are just not old?

I'd be more focused on the fact that the queen isn't producing rather than why you're slowly loosing workers.

Are you checking on them daily? You might be stressing the queen and in return she is not producing or eating brood.

Check your temperatures. Room temp is probably not warm enough for proper development of brood.

Protein: lack of food could potentially cause brood production to slow down.

Maybe try a different solution for sugar. Try honey diluted with water rather than plain sugar water.

Are you using tap water? Try using bottled water as sometimes tap water can contain more minerals equaling more variables ect.

Just a few things to look into.

[Elraen]

1) Workers are 'maybe' 7-8 months old. 

2) No, I'm not checking on them daily. Their nest is always dark ( with red paper ).

3) I gotta use heater p. for them too.. We will see. If i use it temp gotta be 27C around.

4) They do not accept any protein.. I give 'Micro mealworm, fruit fly,buffalo worm,piece of morio worm.. they r all fresh but nobody cares.

5) I tried honey water too. They accept it. 

6) I'm not using tap water. I always use bottled fresh water. 

 

Thanks.

[raven]

I have same problem with my formicas. they were good in test tube, whenever i connected the test tube to outworld than workers started to die. After hibernation, now they are in test tube again with no worker but queen laying eggs again.

 

For my formicas they prefer sugarwater rather than honeywater. Sometimes last year (before hibarnation) they did not accept any protein sources. Now i cut mealworm into small pieces and they eat it.

Edited by raven, February 12 2016 - 10:36 AM.

[Jonathan21700]

Are you sure the nest is well hydrated?

Also I don't suggest heating them now better wait until summer.