ANTSTORE World of Ants

[bugsy]

I keep it slightly moist, the colony is big enough now for the workers to constantly carry water to the nest. However in the winter when they hibernate i tend to keep it more moist to prevent dehydration etc.
If your y-tong is dark, warm and moist and your tubes are exposed to the light then they should move on their own fairly quick. The key is to make one place nicer than another. That way they will move on their own.

[ProXi]

Well I have helped them very carefull to move out of the testtube.
But 50% of the colony now lives in the outside world and 50% lives in the ytong nest :p
For some reason the minor workers, the queen and brood are in the ytong nest.
The big workers are in the outside on a piece of wood.

[bugsy]

As long as the queen is there, the others will eventually move with her. All sounds good to me.

[ProXi]

As long as the queen is there, the others will eventually move with her. All sounds good to me.

You where right.
The moved.

A while ago, I had promissed to make some video's of how they are doing.
Now they are in the Ytong, it is possible to make them.
So I made them today.
Also to be sure my big workers are majors, cause I'm not sure.
But they are very bigg But my colony is kind of small.
When I had my first major, the colony was even smaller.

The results:

[bugsy]

Very nice, yes that looks like a major to me. Your lucky to get any when the colony is so small. My Camponotus nigriceps are 80+ in size, still no major yet so you've done well.

[bugsy]

This colony went into hibernation early September, were experiencing a very mild winter in the UK at the moment. The colony has now started to accept small crickets and the queen is now moving around the nest. I think they may be waking up already has anyone else experienced this so early. 4 months hibernation should be enough but I guess we'll see. I'm not going to add any heat until February though. Thoughts anyone??????

[bugsy]

Over 5000 views, barely any comments or thoughts to questions asked. Nobody seems to know or worse are not willing to divulge or share information. I'm closing this thread and won't be posting any further.

[DigiSERBIA]

Don't please i find your thread very interensting thus i've wanted to buy ligniperda and i have a question, how old is your colony? and how much workers can i expect in the first year of my Camponotus vagus colony? they are similar that is why im asking

[ProXi]

I hope you will continue too!
I am a follower and I posted!

[Lewis]

me too!!
please continue

[bugsy]

Okay, but only by popular request. They are now out of hibernation, I know it seems early but they always go in early, normally September time so she has had enough rest. I've kept feeding them this year small amounts to keep the larvae alive. It worked 70 +larvae survived and only 2 workers died. Where as last year almost no larvae survived, but I didn't feed them. I have a good feeling this year, some of the larvae have already pupated too. The queen is still yet to lay, 2 more weeks should see this happen, again based on previous years. Its basically a carbon copy of last year, however I learnt from last years mistakes and have managed to keep many more alive. I have adjusted the nest too so its got more moisture than last year. Once the queen has built up her protein reserves she should lay a hugh batch of eggs.

[DigiSERBIA]

Great cant wait to see some pictures and more updates !

[bugsy]

A new diet of fruit flies and the colony is doing very well.

[DigiSERBIA]

I wish i had ur colony Its so great !! Keep it up

[jbc]

Great to hear bugsy!

My Camponotus ligniperdus are eating too fruit flies but the queen hasn't even started to lay eggs.