Failing Colony
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Failing Colony
I am looking for help with my Tetramorium colony, which I received last year. When i got the ants, there was the queen and 4 workers. In the weeks afterwards, it showed signs of growth and progress, and I made sure to keep them in a warm environment and with their test tubes watered. But then the number of workers dropped to 2, and by the time I put them up to hibernate in a cool environment, there were no workers left. The queen has now woken up, but shows no signs of making more workers, and seems weaker if anything. I have supplied fresh water and some sugar for food, but I don't know what else I could do, or what has gone wrong.
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Re: Failing Colony
Just do what your doing but give her an insect from time to time now that she has no workers to forage for her. She will probably lay eggs soon.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
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Re: Failing Colony
Eggs (and larva/ants) are built out of protein.
Ants use carbohydrates for fuel.
Your queen is not laying new eggs because she doesn't have access to any protein left from her claustral phase to lay more eggs with, and she has no workers bringing in new protein from the environment.
Tetramorium queens are relatively small. I'd put a small piece of chicken, or maybe a piece of a cricket leg into her test tube in addition to the sugar/water you have already been giving her. This will allow her to replenish her protein stores, lay more eggs, and hopefully raise a successful colony.
Just remember, ants NEED protein to produce the next generation. I have a 20-strong Tetramorium colony, and they eat a couple small pieces of chicken each week (the chicken I give them is about the size of a Tetramorium worker, maybe two workers -- anything more will go bad and will start to mold before the ants can finish it). I'd give your queen half of that -- roughly half a worker of chicken per week. And remember to dispose of any leftovers before you put new chicken in. You could also spice things up and give the queen a really small piece of cooked egg-white (it's basically pure protein) or a cricket leg. This should give her the protein boost she'll need to rush another batch of eggs out.
And remember, don't watch her often or you might frighten her. When you aren't feeding her (once a week), leave her alone in a dark spot or she might choose to not lay fresh eggs because she doesn't feel confident in being able to safely raise them to adulthood.
Ants use carbohydrates for fuel.
Your queen is not laying new eggs because she doesn't have access to any protein left from her claustral phase to lay more eggs with, and she has no workers bringing in new protein from the environment.
Tetramorium queens are relatively small. I'd put a small piece of chicken, or maybe a piece of a cricket leg into her test tube in addition to the sugar/water you have already been giving her. This will allow her to replenish her protein stores, lay more eggs, and hopefully raise a successful colony.
Just remember, ants NEED protein to produce the next generation. I have a 20-strong Tetramorium colony, and they eat a couple small pieces of chicken each week (the chicken I give them is about the size of a Tetramorium worker, maybe two workers -- anything more will go bad and will start to mold before the ants can finish it). I'd give your queen half of that -- roughly half a worker of chicken per week. And remember to dispose of any leftovers before you put new chicken in. You could also spice things up and give the queen a really small piece of cooked egg-white (it's basically pure protein) or a cricket leg. This should give her the protein boost she'll need to rush another batch of eggs out.
And remember, don't watch her often or you might frighten her. When you aren't feeding her (once a week), leave her alone in a dark spot or she might choose to not lay fresh eggs because she doesn't feel confident in being able to safely raise them to adulthood.
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