Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

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isaiase
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Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 1:06 am
Location: Argentina

Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

Post: # 34992Post isaiase
Tue Apr 10, 2018 4:34 pm

Hello. As you may see in the tittle, I ve been loosing ant conlonies. I am really sad, I ve put a lot of time and effort to get to this point. I really love ant keeping and I am a very responsable person. I really looked after them trying to give them all they needed. Today I lost the biggest one i had, a 70 members camponotus colony (the queen died). Ants in all different colonies dies de same way, they just start to act weird, fall facing up like trying to walk, and approximately 24 hours trying to get up they die, one by one.

This colony I ve reacently lost was the only one that was not in a test tube setup, the others six colonies are in their test tube. I dont really know what may be happening. I ve looked for help in other ant forums and got no solution. I think that I might be having a general problem which includes all colonies like feeding or enviroment, otherwise there would not be death ants in all setups.

I have a red runners croaches farm and that is part of their diet (I put the cockroach in a mug with hot water, like 90 degrees) for 2 minutes before feeding. The other thing I give them is honey and water with sugar. They dont usually eat fruits when i give them. I tend to give them some insects I find too.

I live in the north of Argentina without any really cold day and lots of hot days with high humidity. Right now temperature is around 32-35 Celsius maximum but it can get higger.

I tried to be as informative as possible. Please fell free to ask if I have missed something and I will answer as fast as I can.
I would be really thankfull if you guys could help me solve this situation

Thanks, I will be waiting for an answer,
Isaias

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antnest8
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Re: Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

Post: # 34993Post antnest8
Tue Apr 10, 2018 4:41 pm

isaiase wrote:
Tue Apr 10, 2018 4:34 pm
They dont usually eat fruits when i give them. I tend to give them some insects I find too.
that would be your problem for some deaths. insects found in the wild or in your house can have bad stuff in them. also i have heard of cases where camponotus will climb up a wall fall down convulse and die. is this what your experiancing :?:
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isaiase
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Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 1:06 am
Location: Argentina

Re: Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

Post: # 34994Post isaiase
Tue Apr 10, 2018 4:50 pm

"Combulse". That would be something very similar to what is happening. The thing is the colony went from 70 ants to 15 in a week. all those ants combulsed and died.
Those insects I give them are previously put in hot water too, as well as the croaches. Do they have to be boiled? that hot water is not hotter than 90 degrees.
Maybe they need more variety in their diet. what do you think?
I have realised that, generaly, the test tube which have a dead ant dont recover anymore. it just keep going worse and worse (lost of appetite and slow moves)

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antnest8
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Re: Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

Post: # 35000Post antnest8
Tue Apr 10, 2018 6:10 pm

hmm maybe the hot water works maybe it does not. i would try for now using chicken or wet dog or cat food just in case
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isaiase
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Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 1:06 am
Location: Argentina

Re: Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

Post: # 35002Post isaiase
Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:06 pm

I have already tried with wet dog food. they did not eat it at all.
Is giving honey ok? I tend to give them a big amount and just leave it there. is it ok? or should i just put a bit?

PwnerPie
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Re: Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

Post: # 35013Post PwnerPie
Wed Apr 11, 2018 10:53 am

Do small drops of honey so they dont get stuck, I lost an ant last week to too big of a drop. But honey and meal works are a great diet for them. Definitely do not feed them wild insects, too high of a chance of pesticides.
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isaiase
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Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 1:06 am
Location: Argentina

Re: Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

Post: # 35020Post isaiase
Wed Apr 11, 2018 1:15 pm

Thanks for your answers. anyway i still dont know what may be happening with the test tubes colonies, i ve never fed them wild insects. here i have some questions, it would be nice if you answered those.
What are you refering as "meal"?
so just croaches and honey would be ok?
how many times a week should i feed them?

Thanks for your help!
Isaias

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antnest8
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Re: Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

Post: # 35022Post antnest8
Wed Apr 11, 2018 2:27 pm

i think he means meal worms just spellcheck ruined it :D
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https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
Includes :
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    How To Identify Ants
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isaiase
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 1:06 am
Location: Argentina

Re: Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

Post: # 35024Post isaiase
Wed Apr 11, 2018 2:40 pm

So i shoud not keep giving them croaches?

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antnest8
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Re: Almost all my ant colonies are dying. Help!

Post: # 35025Post antnest8
Wed Apr 11, 2018 2:41 pm

i would keep giving them roaches if you breed them or buy them
Some of My Informative Sheets
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
Includes :
  • Ant Care Sheets
    Queen Hunting
    How To Identify Ants
Goal is to become #2 poster on the forum

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