ANTSTORE World of Ants

[darradar]

I am hoping to get some Camponotus cruentatus, but cannot find any specific info on this species, and I really have spent many hours searching, for the most part the info found was not in English, I know they are a European species.
I have found an overwhelming amount of advice, on how to care for new arrivals, but would just like a little reassurance, so when they do arrive, I have the correct set up ready and waiting.
I have the ANTSTORE Starter Set - acrylfarm/arena already on the way, and would like to have the Camponotus cruentatus queen, please can you just give me some helpful hints on how to settle them in, and the correct set up for them.
Though I actually think I shall get a ytong sorted for when the colony grows.
Thank you
Darran

[Skippy]

Hi darradar

I think ,Camponotus cruentatus is very nice ant ,but I think it is not more good for beginners ,because queen making eggs very slowly - population growth very slowly. For camponotuses is better ,if they are in ytong nest.
It is all what can I help you.

Greetings Skippy

[JimmyVe]

Hey darradar and welcome to the forum.
The advice i give for starters, keep the queen in a tube (they are probably in one as they arrive) until you have several workers and than let them move in to a bigger farm. make sure they have a little out world where you can feed them.

Greetings

[darradar]

Hello Jimmy

Thanks for the advise, and I actually thought it best to order a queen with 5-10 workrers, as was advertised, I just thought it best she arrived and travelled with some security (if you get my meaning) and that she would settle much eaiser, so I guess i should still leave them in the tube for a few days, before letting them out. I have learnt petaince is the best way, I do keep many tarantula, and have had mantids, so im not tottaly new to the whole Entomological world.
I will post when they arrive, and seel guidence if needed

Darradar

[JimmyVe]

No problem.

You don't need to keep them locked in the tube, put them in a small out world. I use little plastic boxes where i put the tube in. So it is easier to feed them. This way they are not going to dig them self in, they just use the tube as there natural home.

Happy ant keeping.

[darradar]

yippe so they arrived today, and wow they really are pretty ants, not like our native's at all, quite delecate actaully, there are 8 workers, and about 4 eggs with the queen in the tube, they seem very active considering their long journey.
So im putting them into the small arena and taking the bung off the test tube, and allowing them to move out when they so desire.
I shall keep you up to date.

[JimmyVe]

Nice to hear, looks like you love them already.
Give them something to eat. Some honey (or sugar) and a little bug. Also give them a place to drink (water). If you can, place some pictures.

[darradar]

wow i gave them the honey, and one of the workers emeidietly fed some to the queen, i find it just fascinating, how they tend to her.... i'l try sort some picks.
I decided not to attach the antfarm part, as im gonna fix up a ytong at the weekend, and there really doesnt look like there's enough room inside the antfarm for the queen to turn around, I guess they will be happy in the small arena for a week or so, till i sort a more permanant home.

So you suggested adding more water, i shall do that first thing in the morning, i thought they had water at the other side of the test tube.?

And yes, i do love them already, i think more than any other of my tarantula's, they are sure to become my favourite.

From what i have manged to work out on the foriegn web sights, that have a translation option, it seems like these particular species, do not seem to like damp areas within there nest. As the web sights are in german, and you have become most frindly, i wanderd if you could take a look for me, i simlpy typed Camponotus cruentatus in the search engine and up they popped, lots of references, mostly in german....

thanks
Darran

[JimmyVe]

Sure, they will give there lives for the queen, they where probably very hungry.
They have in deed water at the other side in the tube, this is meant to keep the nest moist, not for drinking.

My German is not so good nether... (I'm from Belgium and we speak dutch here) but if you post the site (are part of it) i shall try to translate what i understand. (maybe a bit more than you, but I'm not sure about that )

[darradar]

here are but 3 if you copy ans paste them into your browser, you will find them, the first has an impressive ytong colony,

Camponotus cruentatus - AmeisenWiki

Camponotus Cruentatus Nid - Fourmis :: Forum Acideformik, Tout sur le comportement et l'élevage des fourmis

Fourmis :: Forum Antslab, élevages et observations des Fourmis :: Voir le sujet - Camponotus cruentatus:

i managed to find identify that my ants have a bundle of tiny eggs, all at differnt growth rates, it was hard to make out what it was exactly, but after readung through the sight here, i was relieved to know its eggs, there are also what i presume are 2 larvae, as they are the size of the ants, and have a kinda head, not quite an ant head, but they are for sure beyond eggs.
I hope you can translate a little for me, in order to correctly care for mine in the future.

With in those threads, though old, are some amazing colonies.

[JimmyVe]

The first link: Here you can find a bit of information about this species, maybe you understand it but i shall give what i think is imported.

This species have major and minor workers, the queen is about 18mm big, the workers are about 8-16mm and this species is one off the largest ants in Europe, they need a high temperature from 25-40°c and a low humidity. (does not say how much, but i guess something about 40%)
You can keep them in a y-tong nest are a sand-loam nest.

The second link: i can not find the page, do you have a direct link to it ?

The third link: is very nice, you can find a lot of information about a lot of species.

About the Camponotus cruentatus, there is a guy who write his experience;
16 July he captured the queen
17 July there wash the first egg
2 august he had his first larva
11 august his first cocoon
31 august his first worker.


I hope i help you a bit, if not maybe you need to be a bit more precise what you need to have translated.

[darradar]

Thank you Jimmy
My main worry was the temperature and humidty, I shall check through the forums, to see how to humidify a ytong nest, I shall be making one at the weekend.
Perhaps you could advise me, incase i over look anything.

Your most kind with your help, I thank you again

[darradar]

00 I just also manged to pick up a small spider, wich I took the legs off, (well about half as they were rather long) and gave it to them, and wow, it was crazy in thier, 1 found it, went running back to the tube, as if to say, "guys LIVE FOOD I need some help" four of them promplty went to it, proceeded to kill it, then drag straight back to the queen, who is now gorging on it... I think I did read somewhere in those foriegn sights that this species are particulary carnivorous, yippe, I like the sound of that.....

this is probably all old news to you guys, but I guess for you it's nice to see another excited enthusiasd, perhaps it takes you back to when you got your first colonies......

[mpir]

Yes yes... you are right... I still remember my first time. I was so young and inexperienced. I just couldn't believe that it is really happening. At first I was just siting there all stiff and waiting for it to happen. And then... the ant grabed the bug and killed it.

And they say that ant keeping is for nerds...

[JimmyVe]

lol (nerds...)

Nice to hear you like it so much. For me the first time with every species is different, they all have there one way to feed.
I enjoy it every time when i feed them, it is like little soldiers marching up.

Advice to keep the Y-tong wet. Take a look here
Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar
It is a dutch site but the pictures says it all.