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wood ant: What point does a colony of Acromyrmex become to small keep (14. Dez 2006 15:09)

Hello All

I have a colony of acromirmex for about four years. and for the last 18 monthes has been getting smaller. so the fugus is only about the size of a tennis ball, and I can not see any young. Although the Queen appears to the alive

At what point should I decide that its not going to survive and move on.

Has any one got any Ideas as to what to keep next?

Thanks

Wood Ant

JimmyVe: (14. Dez 2006 19:00)

4 years, you have done a great job than, it is not easy to keep them. I have them myself only for a month so i am not sure what is going on. I read somewhere that Acromyrmex don't live for long but i don't now how many years.
If the queen is still good maybe everything is going to work out fine.

There are lot of species you can keep. take a look around on the net (shop area from this site) ;)

wood ant: (20. Dez 2006 01:01)

HI Jimmy

Thanks for the reply.
Sorry I was a little long replying.

I have see seen the queen, but she may have stopped or can not lay eggs any more. I suppose this is a catch question, as the colony will just die out.
So at when is a colony just to or perhaps unkined to keep?

Wood ant

JimmyVe: (20. Dez 2006 08:41)

Hey Wood ant,

If that is true (they queen is not laying eggs) they colony is not going to survive. I'm not sure when they colony is to small to keep. Maybe you can keep them as long as the queen lives, if the queen die's than you (maybe) better kill the rest to. (i don't like it myself but the workers alone are of no use) if you now what i mean.

Good luck

sithmaster676: (20. Dez 2006 11:49)

this is true
without a queen the colony is doomed to death and is it better to get rid of them ( although no one likes doing this ) maybe the queen has stopped laying because she has become sterile as leaf cutter ants are very sensitive because if the temperature goes above 30 degrees at any point she is then on incapable of laying more eggs
Sithmaster676