ANTSTORE World of Ants

[trevstonbury]

Hey everyone,

I have a few concerns with regards to my Myrmica rubra colony. I bought them last year about 20 works and one queen. They successfully survived the winter in hibernation and this march I placed them in my basin arena in their test tude. Since then they have seemed rather sluggish and I have had several die over the last month. I have kept them fed and watered changing their food every couple of days and feeding them on a mix of honey water, crickets and wax worms. They do not seem very active or each much.

Within the last week they all moved of their own accord into the farm tank I have connected to the arena. However they do not seem over active and often just seem to be standing still not doing much. I cannot see the queen at the moment but the brood did not seem very large before they all moved out. They have dug a tunnel about 4 inches deep but currently the queen and most of the ants nest inside a small shell placed in the farm tank. I'm certain that I have the humidity right and its not too cold in the room.

Can anyone offer me any advice on what's happening, is this normal and I just need to be patient or am I doing something wrong?

Kind regards

Trevor

[Shiver]

It sounds like you're doing things right water and food wise.

I would say be patient as there isn't nothing obviously wrong with what you seem to be doing.. Wild colonies take a few weeks to get going after hibernation, perhaps this is also what you're seeing.

[Matt_LFC]

No need to worry, my colony is exactly the same. I am actually glad you have posted this as i thought my colony was behaving unusually. My colony is just over 150 workers strong and they are still very sleepy/static, only a few will venture out for food and what not. I put a beetle in 2 days ago and it was gone yesterday so they are obviously active at night. Just put in another couple of spiders so i'm sure they have enough food.

I keep them in a large/medium basin with a ytong block and a moat around the edge. Theres a few pictures in the thread i made.

I have actually been looking at other colonies for sale because of how inactive my rubra are.

[Matt_LFC]

My colony would appear to have woken up now, they are pretty active and take all the food i put down for them.