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Uncletommy: Messor barbarus dying (4. Jun 2010 10:07)

so ive had a M essor barb arus queen for about 2 months and she was doing well. at peak she had about 15 minors and 1 major.... then all started to fail. all the workers kept dying and now there is only one minor left :( they are at a constant heat of 26-28 C and get fresh water everyday as well as seeds and insects. Anyone know why this could be happening?

hispanicus: Re: Messor barbarus dying (5. Jun 2010 17:10)

The biggest cause of death in ants is too much or too little moisture. Too much is detected if you have condensation or mold, too little is detected because the ants go a lot to drink water to the foraging box.
When you have heating you need a good moisture technique and being extra careful
Do you remove the insects in a few days if they don't take them?

If you still have the tube you received then replace the water and cotton wool (ensuring there is no leakage), put them in until they recover.
They don't need fresh water everyday, it's more important to keep them quite and dark, specially when something is wrong

Also you haven't mention which formicarirum you use, please tell me it's not gel.