Workers dying, dead in nest.

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abeaucaire
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2018 5:13 am

Workers dying, dead in nest.

Post: # 51963Post abeaucaire
Sat Oct 06, 2018 5:31 am

Hi Guys,

About two weeks ago I’ve connected the test tube ( queen + 15 workers ) to my new formicarium. By uncovering the test tube and covering the formicarium nest the ants moved about three days later.

I fed them live and dead fruitflies and self made sugar water in the outworld.

Now, for the past four days, about 5-6 workers died/are dead inside the nest. There is pretty much no activity. I’ve put sugar water, dead fruitflies and a new covered test tube outside but they still don’t move/do anything.

A friend told me I have to force them into the test tube but that would mean more stress to the ants. What do you think I should do?

Image
In this picture you can see the outworld, with a new test tube, water, fruit flies and sugarwater

Image
In this picture the nest ( normally covered in red foil ) with the queen, eggs and ( dead ) workers

Thank you for your help

AdamKnapp
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 7:42 pm
Location: USA Va

Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.

Post: # 51973Post AdamKnapp
Sat Oct 06, 2018 9:01 am

They are probably dying to stress an or are unable to find the food you gave them. That colony is way too small to be put in that formacarium. At that stage, you should probably keep them in a testube or a miniature nest. Normally, ants prefer to be jammed packed rather than spacious.

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.

Post: # 51981Post AntsDakota
Sat Oct 06, 2018 9:21 am

Are you watering the nest? It looks pretty dry to me.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

Boomdale
Posts: 110
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2018 8:49 am
Location: Tennessee

Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.

Post: # 51984Post Boomdale
Sat Oct 06, 2018 9:44 am

I was also going to say water. I believe that is what happened to my colony, they were not moist enough and essentially dried up and died, poor ladies.
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Founding - Cremagastor & Solonopsis Invicta

abeaucaire
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2018 5:13 am

Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.

Post: # 51986Post abeaucaire
Sat Oct 06, 2018 11:40 am

I did moisturize the nest, that’s why they decided to enter it in the first place.. But maybe not enough. Now what should I do:

- Leave them, keep moisturizing, food nearby
- Force the queen, eggs and workers that remain into a test tube

Please let me know, appreciate your feedback

TheAura
Posts: 23
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 8:47 pm
Location: Brooklyn NYC

Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.

Post: # 51989Post TheAura
Sat Oct 06, 2018 11:55 am

you shouldn't have moved into that nest the colony is too small for that right now

abeaucaire
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2018 5:13 am

Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.

Post: # 51990Post abeaucaire
Sat Oct 06, 2018 12:05 pm

TheAura wrote:
Sat Oct 06, 2018 11:55 am
you shouldn't have moved into that nest the colony is too small for that right now
Yes I know that now but would you suggest I do?

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.

Post: # 51991Post AntsDakota
Sat Oct 06, 2018 12:14 pm

abeaucaire wrote:
Sat Oct 06, 2018 12:05 pm
TheAura wrote:
Sat Oct 06, 2018 11:55 am
you shouldn't have moved into that nest the colony is too small for that right now
Yes I know that now but would you suggest I do?
I would move them into a test tube and not check them for a very long time.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

TheAura
Posts: 23
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 8:47 pm
Location: Brooklyn NYC

Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.

Post: # 51992Post TheAura
Sat Oct 06, 2018 12:14 pm

try to move them back into the test tube, dry out their nest and make an entry point back into a test tube or make it somewhat uncomfortable fo rthem but not too uncomfortable, you want to make them move on their own accord
abeaucaire wrote:
Sat Oct 06, 2018 12:05 pm
TheAura wrote:
Sat Oct 06, 2018 11:55 am
you shouldn't have moved into that nest the colony is too small for that right now
Yes I know that now but would you suggest I do?

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