|
Post by UKantz on Mar 29, 2018 14:53:49 GMT
Hi everyone, here is my Pheidole Nodus colony. ibb.co/kKuSh7 (Most of the colony is hidden away by the condensation inside) I purchased them from British Ants 3 days ago and they arrived yesterday, I estimate there is around 100 workers with around 10 soldiers, a few larvae and a huge ball of eggs which pleased me immensely to see. Currently they are housed in an Ants Australia size 3(?) nest thats attached to a modified ferrero rocher box. They have accepted some honey, though are disinterested in any insects I attempt to feed them. I just hope this isn't a sign like that of TenebrousNova's late colony who didn't accept food.
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 29, 2018 16:25:54 GMT
I wish you the best of luck with your new colonies. I think with your number of journals you qualify for your own sub board here? Would have to check with Jen on that one.
Yeah, my colony was marvellous looking with two queens and tons of brood but although they would attack prey and sniff around honey water, they would ultimately turn up their antennae at it and drag food far away...but I saw a review of Pheidole flaveria on British Ants saying his colony refused all food, yet my colony eagerly accepts it. Perhaps it was all down to bad luck...
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Mar 29, 2018 16:56:52 GMT
Perhaps, its quite unfortunate when its no fault of your own and theres nothing you can do but watch : (. And if that were possible that would be great!
I may ask what Sean feeds his colonies usually and try mirror a similar feeding pattern with the same foods.
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Mar 30, 2018 16:49:13 GMT
I tried feeding them a small cricket today, but once again no interest was shown : ( ; The workers just seem to stand on top of the food before starting to put sand on top, so I'll probably take the cricket out tomorrow. They are also paying little to no attention to any sugar water or honey.. I just hope they'll accept some form of food soon!
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Apr 1, 2018 8:32:51 GMT
More dead ants are starting to be taken out into the arena : ( , hopefully its the natural end of their life cycles and not the fact they are not eating :/ . I attempted another feeding of various foods, trying a small piece of cooked chicken and a fish flake, again showing no interest or just standing over it - they are really fussy!
Saying this, there is still a giant pile of eggs and probably 30 larvae in the nesting area, and the queen seems healthy enough having witnessed a few workers feed her via trophallaxis.
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Apr 1, 2018 13:30:53 GMT
Did you ask Sean how he looks after his colonies? It really is strange that they're not eating, considering Pheidole usually have such voracious appetites.
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Apr 2, 2018 19:33:28 GMT
I emailed him this morning, hopefully I can get them to eat soon. This morning there were another 10 dead workers in the outworld, which is a very alarming death rate. I have them situated only slightly on the heat mat, and they have enough humidity and another water source in the outworld. I'm just at a loss : (
Edit: Sean responded - protein jelly or cut up mealworms are what he usually uses, so I'll try and get my hands on some mealworms tomorrow from the local tackle shop.
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Apr 5, 2018 10:43:51 GMT
Around half the colony has perished now, though I continue to feed them and try various things to get them to eat. Today I gave them a fresh drop of honey, and witnessed some strange behaviour; while some workers were actually accepting the food, others were piling sand on to try and cover it. Anyone have any idea why this is?
They also seem to have accepted a fly which is nice to see, I put one inside this morning and they've moved it into the connector tube between the outworld and nest, which is more attention they've showed toward any other food.
There is also still a lot of larvae in the nest, though it seems the large pile of eggs has been eaten : (
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 5, 2018 11:41:13 GMT
Placing sand or soil on liquid food seems to be something many ants do. It serves 2 purposes as far as I can tell. It stops ants from getting stuck and drowning, and also makes some food easier to eat. Smaller ants tend to do it more than larger species.
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Apr 5, 2018 12:19:09 GMT
I noticed my ants (In particular, the Formica fusca) start covering honey up when they've drank their fill and most of the workers have swollen gasters.
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Apr 5, 2018 13:48:54 GMT
Thanks both, I'd never really noticed it before; the smallest ants I've kept are Lasius Niger and Pheidole Pallidula I've never observed this behaviour. Hopefully this is a sign that they are indeed eating now : )
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Apr 6, 2018 12:08:09 GMT
Well the fly from yesterday has been half consumed, so I gave them another one today which they also seemed interested in : ). Not sure what prompted this change in behaviour, but at least they're accepting proteins and sugars now. : )
It's just unfortunate that around half the colony had to die before they decided they want to eat : (
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Apr 10, 2018 9:38:48 GMT
A new batch of eggs has been laid by the queen and some of the larvae have begun to pupate. Figured I'd add some pictures taken, though the quality is awful - may have to buy some of those cheap macro lenses that attach to your phone.
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Jun 9, 2018 10:22:11 GMT
This colony is doing fine as far as I can tell. They've moved out of their nest and into the "water tube" I left for them in their foraging area, though they seem happy enough in there. Despite the substrate just being dry sand, they keep attempting to dig. I'm thinking of moving both my Pheidole colonies into nests where they can dig, since they seem to thrive more in those setups.
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Jun 14, 2018 17:42:20 GMT
This colony is now in a new nest I've fashioned out of a glass picture frame - as of now the set up isn't complete as I intent on placing the picture frame into a small fish tank that will act as their foraging area. They are happily digging away in the nest and are feasting on some sugar water and a fly currently. I estimate there to be around 100 workers and 18 soldiers and brood of all stages, so its safe to say they've made a nice comeback from their initial troubles.
Pictures of their current set up will follow shortly.
|
|