ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Chalky723]

Hi All,

I got my Lasius niger queen last week (23rd), she had 2 workers & some pupae in the test tube with her.

Now she's got 6 workers & a couple of pupae (I feel like a new dad!) - I'm just wondering if this means she is likely to move out of the test tube in the near future? At the moment she has totally sealed herself & the workers in.

I've got some honey water & a dead cricket (fresh every day) outside ready for when she opens up but was thinking that the workers at least will be needing some food soon....

Cheers,

Chalky

PS - I'm in the process of uploading some pics of the setup & will post them soon.

[mpir]

Hey,

looks like your colony is doing just fine. Lasius niger doesn't like to move much. I think they will move only when the water in the test tube will completely dry out and the moist nest will look more apleasing. Be patient.
It is normal that a young colony seald themselves as other, already established colonies, represent the greatest danger to young colonies in nature. Don't worry about feeding them. When they will be hungry they will come out. And if you look at them, they are a small sistem. And as such they don't need much energy to run.

Looking forward to photos.
good luck

[Chalky723]

I'm glad to hear that!! I can't help worrying about them as they're my first colony & I want it all to go right!

Pictures will hopefully be ready for Friday...

Chalky

[fernando_regio]

You are more lucky than me, my Queen just layed her first eggs, got about 50 days or so to whait.

[Chalky723]

2 of the workers are out & about quite a bit now - plenty of food around for them & hopefully they'll persuade the Queen to move into the nice nest I've prepared for her!!

Finally put some pictures on the web - not very good I'm afraid, I'm going to have to invest in a decent camera I think!

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Cheers,

Chalky

[JimmyVe]

Looks very nice Chalky. Your page and your farm.

You are doing a fine job as a new dad.

[badman]

the queen's first eggs can take 50 days to hatch?

[ashhad1]

It depends on the temperature

[jon2thefish]

Looking good m8

[Bob]

good luck!

[JimmyVe]

the queen's first eggs can take 50 days to hatch?

Depends on the conditions, i think 50 days is a long time but it could be. Normally around 30 days.

[Varban]

When a queen founds a colony she has loads of energy reserves so she can survive the whole process without ever eating unti the 1st workers are born. Some of it is stored in her, a lot comes from the wing muscles. Since she no longer is going to use those. In nature there is no one to feed her unlike in captivity. Once the 1st workers are born they will immediatly start looking for food to feed the queen because at that stage she will be exhausted and would have lost a lot of body mass. You can check this by the size of her abdomen .

Still if you leave food close by and she goes hungry she will eat it. Since Lasius niger dont like to move and tend to seal the test tube you can leave a drop or two of honey/water in the test tube and wath her eat it. Don't be shocked if sheats an egg or two it's normal, but to avoid that make sure there is food near by. Once the workers come it's much easier as they will forage and feed the queen.

Queens can only pull this once. Meaning if for some reason all your workers die she won't have the strenght to do this all again without a constant supply of food from you. But of course this doesn't happen often at all unless you starve your ants to death or something. So don't worry, feed them and they will grow