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Post by bobdol on Sept 7, 2011 19:12:31 GMT
I am really worried about the small Messor colony I received from wood ant /jenant yesterday as earlier I noticed one of the workers is acting very strangely almost like a new born, falling over and not being able to place its legs... I thought this was just a deformed worker but now looking into the tub there is a dead ant that seems to be "stuck" to the queen I'm not sure if this is the deformed/ill worker as there is still a worker acting as if deformed but could this be another that has contracted some sort of illness of the first ? I am really unsure about what to do as I have the feeling this is one of those things were I wake up and they are all dead... Should I remove the deformed/ill worker as, if she is diseased this should stop any other contracting it... I just really need some advice, Thanks.
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Post by Blem12 on Sept 7, 2011 20:08:41 GMT
Hello,
first of all, as you suggest, I would remove the deformed/ill worker as this may possibly prevent any disease from spreading throughout the colony if it already has not happened.
May I ask, what set up are you currently keeping them in and what kind of substrate are you using?
Hopefully, someone will be able to help you further out with this.
Best of luck,
Blem12.
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Post by bobdol on Sept 7, 2011 20:09:24 GMT
I have removed 3 ants from the container as well as all wet tissue/mold anything like that... The 3 ants were all "Ill" and since being placed in the container 1 has not uncurled but occasionally has some sort of spasm... (This was the ant that was "stuck" to the queens leg but, she detached it and another worker placed it away from the other ants). 1 walks around but very slowly with no confidence (Just like a callow worker). And the last one is going between curled up and walking slowly... If they recover then I will put them back with the colony but I fear this is extrmeley unlikley I just hope none of this ilness has spread to the queen or other ants. If I see any more ill ants I will place them in the hospital...
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Post by bobdol on Sept 7, 2011 20:15:08 GMT
Hello, first of all, as you suggest, I would remove the deformed/ill worker as this may possibly stop any disease from spreading throughout the colony if it already has not happened. May I ask, what set up are you currently keeping them in and what kind of substrate are you using? Hopefully, someone will be able to help you further out with this. Best of luck, Blem12. At the moment they are still in the original collecting bottle that they arrived in which is a small plastic tub with 2 small air holes in the top. I have no idea what exact substrate it is but I do not think it would be this as Wood Ant/Jenant kept them for a while in this soil and there was no illness I think it may have been caused by something I placed in although I cannot think what as all I have put in is a Mealworm that has been frozen, some seeds from a bird seed bag and some tiny peices of cotton wool and tissue soaked in water. Last time I tried to keep M. Barbarus (about 2 years back) I went through so much trauma as pupa after pupa would not hatch and then workers dissapered until I was left with a queen that died by her self in the airing cupboard
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Post by Blem12 on Sept 7, 2011 20:15:15 GMT
Hmmm... I do not think this is the case but have you checked if they have mites on them?
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Post by bobdol on Sept 7, 2011 20:18:05 GMT
I can see no mites on the workers I have taken away and I did not see any when I last observed the rest of the colony. I will see how they are doing now...
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Post by bobdol on Sept 7, 2011 20:23:35 GMT
I have just removed another worker who seemed very sluggish... I placed her in some tubing by her self just in case she has not actually contracted whatever is going round But the queen is acting strangley now and I'm worried she may too have the infection although removing her would be pointless...
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Post by bobdol on Sept 7, 2011 20:27:52 GMT
Maybe I should take the queen and brood out and put them in a new container and if the workers are ok in the morning I will reunite them...?
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Post by Blem12 on Sept 7, 2011 20:28:40 GMT
What I would do for now is make sure that they are well ventilated and check again tomorrow as checking on them often could cause quite a lot of unnecessary stress which could, result being fatal.
Blem12.
Edit: That may be a good idea but I am worried if moving them would be stressful for them.
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Post by bobdol on Sept 7, 2011 20:32:42 GMT
I think your right. The first rule of ant keeping is not too stress them afterall. I will place them in the back of the wardrobe and check tommorow. There is not really anything more I can do Thanks for your help
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Post by Jenny on Sept 8, 2011 6:13:14 GMT
Please take them out of the travelling bottle it is only meant for a couple of days to travel in they are not suitable for living in. Timenova had the same problem when his arrived in the bottle and he kept them in there. Move them to a bigger tub with ventilation.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Sept 8, 2011 6:44:22 GMT
Like I said in my PM, this colony has been used to living in a plastic tank in soil, and it was kept in a warm place. Also they have been in the bottle for about a week now, so it really is time to move them out as it may be contaminated with ant faeces, or fungus might be growing inside it The colony has been fine and healthy for the past 7 months, so it could be lack of air supply like Jen says.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Sept 8, 2011 7:29:33 GMT
Yes, I've had about four queens dying on me before, but one is starting to do well now that she's moved herself and her colony out into a soil set up that they dug into. Besides, soil is one of the best sort of nest that you can give an ant.
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Post by bobdol on Sept 8, 2011 7:31:21 GMT
Ok, thanks! I will move them to a larger tub! I was just waiting for my antstore delivery to arrive I have just checked the queen and remaining workers (around 12) and they seem fine although the slightest vibration sets them off The workers I separated are not so healthy with 2 dieing (1 I put out of its misery after seeing what long drawn out trauma it was going through). The other 2 seem ok but not what I would call Messor Barbarus healthy as they seem very sluggish If they are still ok tonight I will reintroduce them. Thanks for your help
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Post by Jenny on Sept 8, 2011 8:15:22 GMT
Another thing to remember is NEVER use seeds that are sold for planting, as they may be coated with fungicide or insecticide. Always feed seeds that are sold for small birds such as canaries, finches etc. as these are safe and will not have anything harmful to ants on them.
Try and keep the Messors as warm as possible and not let the temperature drop below 15C., a temp of 21 Celcius is better up to about 30C. with a good air circulation and low humidity.
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