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Post by diamond on Jul 19, 2011 18:15:16 GMT
These beautiful ants came on the 19th July 2011, with 2 workers, a pupae and a clump of eggs. I am hoping I will be third time lucky with keeping ants, as the two previous years were unsuccessful. I have put their test tube in a small glass tank with white loam sand. One of the workers has escaped twice! I can only imagine she squeezed between a piece of cotton 'blocking' a hole where you can connect tubes. I can not find much about keeping these on the internet, so would appreciate any tips from you lovely people  The workers have been exploring their new habitat whilst they haven't been escaping, whilst the queen remains fairly still guarding her pupae, any tips on foods for these?  |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 19, 2011 19:10:31 GMT
Have a look in the journals archive board, as another member kept a short journal on this species; and any journals of Camponotus will help, such as those made by Akaant  |
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Post by diamond on Jul 19, 2011 23:10:20 GMT
I think one of the two workers has escaped  Hopefully getting an escape-proof tank tomorrow |
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Post by diamond on Jul 20, 2011 15:35:16 GMT
Turns out she was stuck in a bottle lid and unable to get out! phew! I have put a piece of pink icing in which they seem to be nibbling out ferociously  |
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Post by diamond on Jul 20, 2011 20:15:45 GMT
I fear for one of the worker's life  she has sand or cake or something stuck all around her jaws and all on her feet, and is struggling to move what could this of been? |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Jul 20, 2011 21:05:15 GMT
Have you been feeding them anything sticky, such as honey? Or maybe the icing you gave them earlier was too sticky? She might have had an accident.  That's the first thing that comes to mind. |
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Post by diamond on Jul 20, 2011 21:37:17 GMT
They were both at it but the one worker seems fine! so puzzled... |
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Post by diamond on Jul 20, 2011 22:41:33 GMT
I have decided to put the bung back on the test tube and keep them until they are a few more workers strong before putting the tube in their set up, there is a piece of paper that came in the tube as shelter, which has ended up blocking a lot of room in the tube. Causing the workers to struggle and get to the queen |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 21, 2011 9:38:58 GMT
They were both at it but the one worker seems fine! so puzzled... You really have to be so very careful when feeding sticky sweet foods, as if an ants antennae and legs get stuck up it can impair their normal activity for days, or may even result in the ant dying  Best to only offer sugar water or a drop of honey on a wad of cotton wool, as my own ants drink from this without getting stuck or drowned. |
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Post by diamond on Jul 21, 2011 14:08:43 GMT
I have removed the icing, unfortunately one of the two workers was looking weak last night and has eventually died, I think I may pop some appropriate food in and leave the queen, the worker and the eggs in the test tube which is nestled in a glove in darkness, I think I may leave them for about a week before checking up again, does this seem a good idea? |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 21, 2011 14:37:19 GMT
Keeping them warm and dark will help, and offer any freshly killed insects or other form of protein if you can. As long as the test tube's water supply doesn't dry out they should be fine |
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Post by diamond on Jul 23, 2011 14:50:27 GMT
Both workers have now died :-( cannot think why, I have put some food in for the queen; who looks content, and put the tube in a dark glove where she will be warm and feel safe. I hope all goes well with this colony!  |
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Post by diamond on Aug 6, 2011 17:30:14 GMT
Came back from holiday to find another worker hatched, this morning I looked and it was biting the cotton blocking the tube, just like the other two, then a few minutes ago I looked and she was dead. What is happening?!?! My queen is fine!!!! |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Aug 6, 2011 19:29:55 GMT
Came back from holiday to find another worker hatched, this morning I looked and it was biting the cotton blocking the tube, just like the other two, then a few minutes ago I looked and she was dead. What is happening?!?! My queen is fine!!!! Large ants are never happy being confined in test tubes, and Camponotus need a lot of space and fresh air. Get them out fast or you will probably lose the queen too. |
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she has sand or cake or something stuck all around her jaws and all on her feet, and is struggling to move 
