ANTSTORE World of Ants

[bugsy]

If they are accepting food then they will feed the queen for about 2 weeks, once her energy is back she will start to lay again. Make sure you provide a constant supply of sugar/honey solution. Feeding your fruit flies sugar solution is also a good idea, my whole colony is situated directly under the heat matt. They must really like it under there, it also makes a massive difference to the speed of their development. I was surprised to wake this morning to find a second major. I've also expanded the nest so they have access to 2 more chambers, think there gonna need them this year.

[jbc]

Nice to hear it.

My ants always have access to honey water, but I haven't seen them drinking it. I will change something in their diet. This evening i will give them more protein tho. Maybe give them meat too?

[bugsy]

Update, as you can see many more workers ready to hatch.

[ProXi]

Looks like they are doing very well!
The colony is going bigger and bigger.
Keep up the good work.

[thenamesche]

What a fantastic read, Bugsy you have a superb Colony right there . This article persuaded me to purchase a small colony of Camponotus ligniperdus 1 queen and 10 workers.
I made the mistake of putting a small dead tree stump inside my formicarium. Now my ants have nested inside the dead wood and are quite happy to not come out(annoying since I built them a beautiful Groutlite nest).
Iv decided to allow them to remain in their natural home of choice but am worried about how I'm going to moisten the wooden nest. I put a wet sponge behind the stump in the hope of good moisture levels and have added an aquarium pump to combat possible mould .

Just wondering whether you guys think I should leave them in their own home or add a separate nest to their arena and allow the tree stump to dry out.

[bugsy]

Hi thenamesche and thanks, I'd leave them now. If you want them to move just let the stump dry out and make your nesting area more attractive for them. Just be careful you didn't bring in anything unwanted with the tree stump, like mites etc. You'll also have difficulty viewing them now. I'd leave them for a while and see what happens. The only trouble with a small colony that you cant see is exactly that, you'll only really see a couple above the surface for limited amounts of time. Could get boring. Good luck any way, hope your colony grows fast and big.

[thenamesche]

Thanks for the advice, I think that I'm going to attach the new plaster nest and make it cosy in the hopes that they will move out because at the end of the day I would like to see my ants.
BTW the only food my ants seem to touch is apple and house flies, they never touch the honey water or any other fruit. What foods does your super colony thrive off as its obviously done you very well.
thanks for the help, Cheers mate

[bugsy]

Mine don't seem to like honey water either, they never accepted it when the colony was small. As it got bigger they started to take it but still not much, they prefer plain sugar solution. As for protein i give them cricket, i try to avoid insects from the garden etc to minimize the risk of mites, but i give them spiders every now and again. Spiders seem to be their preferred food as the nest empties quick to drag them back. A colony as young as yours wont eat much anyway. I'm going to try house fly maggots from a fishing tackle shop, they are soft and would seem an ideal food source but I am yet to try them with any of my colonies. Advice on this from anyone reading who has tried them would be good????

[ProXi]

Maggots wil make a big mass.
When they bite into the maggot, the body juice will leak into the nest or outsideworld like water.
They also develop fast into flies.

[DigiSERBIA]

Keep them in the refrigerator they wont develop fast

[karikas]

I will now start a colony of this species has some counties to me? temperature, type of food etc ...

[Niallr2012]

Awesome thread guys just read through the 6 pages!

Keep it updated, how are your colonies doing now?

I just ordered my Camponotus ligniperdus colony today can't wait to get it! I will post pics when it arrives.

[ProXi]

My colony doesn't develop anymore for two months now.
The eggs won't turn into larve anymore. That was kinda strange, because it was summer the last two months and it was really hot here sometimes.
They only drink sugerwater.