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Post by crockatt on Feb 28, 2013 22:33:00 GMT
Have moved the nest from my cooler room to the main room which is warmer and their usual home. Have seen a little of the queen and some workers, even seen an ant out foraging this morning. I know when they went into hibernation there were lava in the nest and am keen to get some protein in the nest, but alas when I am looking for spiders I can find none, not too sure what to give in place, but I remember someone saying they had used fishfood, I have freeze dried tubifex (small worms) , would this be an option? Or not a good idea. Other than that not sure if they prefer cooked or raw protein, any suggestions greatly appreciated.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 28, 2013 23:14:59 GMT
Ants have been known to nibble bits off earthworms in the wild, so you could try your ants with tubifex worms, but perhaps soak them in warm water for about half an hour to rehydtate the body tissue. If they don't eat them then you've lost nothing, and if they do the small worms will provide sustenance for young larvae.
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Post by crockatt on Feb 28, 2013 23:23:00 GMT
Thanks Wood-ant, will give it a go
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Post by crockatt on Mar 2, 2013 0:24:14 GMT
Moving the nest to a warmer room has done some good, a lot more activity and gave them some protien today and had 3 foragers out most of the morning at it, do not know if my lava lasted the winter, cannot see in the nest well,but hopefully with all the foraging it is a good sign.
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Post by crockatt on Mar 4, 2013 22:11:12 GMT
This colony is definitely up and running, seen the larvae today that was over-wintered, 4 I think, never really seen much night time foraging last year, but already there is lots more going on, thought I would try tuna and have just sat and watched 3 ants try to drag a tuna flake up the connecting tube, no signs of eggs yet, I either cannot see them or the queen not started laying yet.
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Post by crockatt on Mar 5, 2013 12:04:40 GMT
Decided to remove my red acitate to get a proper look and there is a nice ball of eggs that I couldnt see for it, so I guess we can say hibernation is over, gave the nest a dampen and replaced acitate, so glad I have eggs, going to be a busy summer and hopefully see my small colony increase well in numbers
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Post by crockatt on Mar 10, 2013 13:05:25 GMT
All is well here, plenty foraging but seems mainly in the evening, think this is because the house is nice and cosy then, we woke to snow this morning, so winter hanging on by its fingertips still.
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Post by crockatt on Mar 13, 2013 10:16:08 GMT
Not much foraging going on just now, think I will see if I can find a spider, but do believe I have my first cocoon from last years larvae, so very happy, there is a good mix of eggs and larvae now, will be good to see this colony increase in size.
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Post by crockatt on Mar 19, 2013 12:42:38 GMT
Quick check today and all well and where did all that brood come from ?!! There seems to be a large amount of larvae, more eggs and a couple of cocoons, so all seem healthy and well fed.
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Post by crockatt on Mar 20, 2013 16:54:48 GMT
Aarrrggghh just came home to find one of my foragers wandering around outside my farm, after a chase finally got it back in, I have no idea how it got out, haven't had any escapees from this farm since the first day I set it up!!!! I think someone told them it was the first day of spring as I have seen foragers constantly today since very early on this morning. The egg pile is getting really large now.
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Post by crockatt on Mar 20, 2013 21:12:27 GMT
Finally caught my first spider of the year, gave it to my girls about an hour ago, they are dragging it up the pipe that leads from the foraging pot to the nest, the pipe has a large steep curve up to the nest, they are almost at the start of the curve, will they manage it, I do not think so, but they will probably prove me wrong, you go girls
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Post by crockatt on Mar 25, 2013 22:41:47 GMT
Things going well with these girls, there are 3 cocoons that I can see, loads of larvae and a new batch of eggs, hopefully this small colony is set for a triple in numbers in the next few weeks, they are foraging most of the time with one or two ants in the foraging pot constantly, hurry up warmer weather I need some fresh prey
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Post by crockatt on Mar 29, 2013 15:44:58 GMT
I still find it hard to believe how many larvae there is in the nest, and the growing pile of eggs is huge !!! the workers are foraging a lot, I am not surprised, I seem to have one worker that doesn't leave the foraging pot, it is alive, but I wonder if its one of last years nanitics and if its coming to the end of its time.
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Post by crockatt on Mar 31, 2013 18:26:10 GMT
Oh have just found a drowned ant in the sugar water pot, how it managed it I don't know as the water is in cotton wool !!!! Other than that all is well, still have the one ant living in the foraging pot.
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Post by crockatt on Apr 3, 2013 12:16:37 GMT
Here are a couple of shakey photos of my brood pile
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