No eggs for months.

Discussions about the care and keeping of ants

Moderator: ooper01

Muttonchops1227
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2019 11:29 am
Location: New York

No eggs for months.

Post: # 58978Post Muttonchops1227
Sat Jun 01, 2019 11:44 am

I caught what I though was a queen in the fall. Today is June first. I have had to change her test tube several times because the water ran dry. I can’t believe she is still alive after not eating for 7 months. I’m starting to get nervous though. I don’t think she is going to have enough stores, I don’t know if she is going to lay eggs, and I know it’s only a matter of time before I have to change her test tube again.

User avatar
AGENTSCEPTILE
Posts: 52
Joined: Wed May 08, 2019 2:25 pm
Location: MAINE
Contact:

Re: No eggs for months.

Post: # 58983Post AGENTSCEPTILE
Sat Jun 01, 2019 1:05 pm

.... What species is she?
Keeper of
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus
Camponotus Novaeboracensus
5 Annoying anklebiter chickens :lol:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2IzQmOdK5n09xcAzyaIJWA
Happy Anting! :mrgreen:

Muttonchops1227
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2019 11:29 am
Location: New York

Re: No eggs for months.

Post: # 59027Post Muttonchops1227
Sun Jun 02, 2019 10:26 am

I think she is just an ordinary garden ant.

Muttonchops1227
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2019 11:29 am
Location: New York

Re: No eggs for months.

Post: # 59044Post Muttonchops1227
Sun Jun 02, 2019 4:19 pm

Ok so after doing some reading this is what I did. I covered her tube in paper and I’m not going to check on her for awhile. She should have enough water to last. I keep her in a hallway closet because it stays cooler in the winter and I thought she would hibernate and it stays warmer in the summer because there is no air conditioner. I’m thinking she didn’t lay because I check on her too often and we do open that closet door from time to time. I’m convinced I stressed her over the winter and spring having to keep changing her tube when she ran out of water. I’m still mind blown that she is alive. I found her in September or October of 2018. None of the ants I caught in the fall of 2017 made past a few weeks. I’m worried and confused. I think I want to try and find a syringe with a long needle so i can add water to the tube.

User avatar
Quizzie
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:45 pm

Re: No eggs for months.

Post: # 59163Post Quizzie
Wed Jun 05, 2019 1:46 pm

She's probably not fertile. Either because she didn't mate or for some other reason.

User avatar
DonBao
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu May 23, 2019 6:09 pm

Re: No eggs for months.

Post: # 59182Post DonBao
Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:53 pm

Probably definitely infertile. After 7 months she would've layed at least 1 egg (And if she's been stressed out to not laying eggs, she would've died by now). Also how much water do you put in those test tubes? Confused on why it keeps running out.
Such small creatures they are... yet so organised!

Housing and caring for a Calomyrmex Albertisi Species

JoeHostile1
Posts: 409
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:51 am
Location: Canada
Contact:

Re: No eggs for months.

Post: # 59210Post JoeHostile1
Thu Jun 06, 2019 8:44 am

Well the last 5 out of 7 months were winter. Ants hibernate in the winter. Also if she hasn’t eaten for 7 months than feed her, especially if you didn’t allow her to go into diapause during her hibernation. That’s pretty obvious I think.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA

PAants
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2018 10:46 pm
Location: Pennsylvania

Re: No eggs for months.

Post: # 59227Post PAants
Thu Jun 06, 2019 3:36 pm

I’m having the same issue with a Crematogaster alate. Caught her last August and she’s still alive, but no eggs. Sounds like we’re in the same boat here. I’ve reached the point of considering releasing her, because keeping her feels pointless and worrying over her mysterious continued health is just giving me anxiety.

Ant108
Posts: 102
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2018 1:55 pm

Re: No eggs for months.

Post: # 59247Post Ant108
Fri Jun 07, 2019 5:02 pm

I'm going on 1year with a queen and no eggs. I don't know what to do .if I let her go she will just die.
Keeper of:
* Messor Barbarus
* 1 Crematogaster Scutellaris queen 1 worker.

Muttonchops1227
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2019 11:29 am
Location: New York

Re: No eggs for months.

Post: # 59398Post Muttonchops1227
Tue Jun 11, 2019 9:04 pm

*** SPAM *** wrote:
Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:53 pm
Probably definitely infertile. After 7 months she would've layed at least 1 egg (And if she's been stressed out to not laying eggs, she would've died by now). Also how much water do you put in those test tubes? Confused on why it keeps running out.
I’m guessing that I can probably get between 7-10 ml of water plus the water in the cotton in each of my test tubes.

So should I give up on her?

Is there something else I should try?

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests