ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Alby]

HI!
I bought a Lasius niger colony in september, and today is dead!
The ants were in the test tube in the arena and were not so much active, so I put under the glass a carpet for reptile to improve the temperature, from 17° to 25°.
And I put in the arena to use the warm temperature another test tube with another queen without workers but closed.

I've made some mistake???the workers ate all the body of the queen...
I've another possibilty that they make some eggs with a queen??
thanks!!

[SimGee]

Hey Alby,

the ants haven´t been so active cause they were in their hibernation... they need a temperatur about 8-10°C from about october till march.

Without hibernation again and again time the colony will just die after a couple of years.

I had the same problem once that the workers ate the queen... i think its because there wasn´t enough water for the ants so the queen just died and "got eaten".


Condolatory
Simon

[Alby]

I have another queen without workers from antstore...and so what I have to do?
get away the old test tube and open this one in the arena???she hasn't any eggs..I don't know what to do with her...
thank you very much

[SimGee]

yes... put away the old tube. also remove the old workers!

Put the tube with ur queen into the arena and dark it down. Just put some thick paper or so over the tube. At what temperature did u keep that tube with the queen in it?

Be sure to offer the queen food and water that´s all u can do so far...

[SteveUK28]

if it was me id leave her in the test tube.. she should have enough food in her to keep her going untll she gets her first workers.. Id put her somewhere dark n warm.. n just leave her alone for some time.

[SimGee]

sure she should be left in the tube. but if she was kept warm like the colony that died now, she had no hibernation... but she still should be there for at least a month... so i would offer food and water... can´t be bad...

[JimmyVe]

Sorry to hear that Alby,
First of all, European ants need hibernation, don't skip that. If she is out of hibernation now keep her out, it is to late to give her one, give here some food and water and rest. Hopefully she will lay eggs soon.

[Alby]

thank you very much for your supports!!!today I took off the old test tube and I opened the test tube with the only queen..then I gave for her a little piece of meat on the enter of the tube and honey not far, I covered the arena to become dark in down..
now I don't use the hot carpet, is right???and how many times I can control her health???

[JimmyVe]

She is out of hibernation ? You could use the heat mat but it is not a must. On what temperature are you keeping her now ?

You could take a look at her once a week. Don't disturb her to much.

[Alby]

I don't know, how can I understand if she is out of hibernation??
now is about 15/17° inside the glass...in my home the temperature is always 19/20...When I used the heat mat the temperature was 25° and in the evening I turned it off...

[SimGee]

well ants go to hibernation when the temperature is falling down... they rest there from about october till march. If u keep the temperature about 25 all the year, they wont go to hibernation... just by giving them the right temperature they "know" when to start hibernation. The temperatures outside and the "free nature" should be ur guide in this case.

the ants haven´t been so active cause they were in their hibernation... they need a temperatur about 8-10°C from about october till march.

[JimmyVe]

Well if temperature never dropped below 15°c she probably didn't get hibernation at all. At this time of year 19 would be enough, in summer 25 is fine to. Now it is to hot.

[Alby]

and so now I keep them inside or in a colder place???

[SimGee]

keep her where she is now, but dont´t use heat packs and so.
Perhaps it was better if u answer the questions posted here...

On what temperature are you keeping her now ?

but if she was kept warm like the colony that died now