Messor mess :(

[Joona]

Well I have lost a third messor barb colony in three years, so I'm calling time on keeping this species. Although this time the fault lay with me, I had put them in a cupboard over christmas to allow them there hibernation and checked them weekly but the test tube dried out and sadly all the workers have died and the queen was in a bad state, I have put a fresh test tube in for her and have been continuing to give her chicken and such to get her protein and she is hanging on for dear life. I just hope she can pull through and start again.

[Wood~Ant]

I find that hibernating Messor barbs is not really necessary, as even in a warm room they slow down naturally and egg laying stops until late February. Sorry to hear about your trouble keeping these ants as they can be a very rewarding species and fun to watch if the colony gets big enough.