How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

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AntsCalifornia
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Location: INDIO CA

How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

Post: # 34838Post AntsCalifornia
Tue Apr 03, 2018 12:38 pm

I found my dream species this week a pogonomyrmex Queen!!!!! :D :D :D :D (barbatus or californicus not too sure)
I learned that she is "semi claustral"....So, I plan on feeding her as much as she needs. but, I don't want to over or under feed....
Please help
1.What types of food should i feed my most prized ant queen??????

-I know that almost all ants love sweets. So, I put a VERY Small drop of raw honey in her test tube. (is that ok for this species?)

2. How often should i feed my pogonomyrmex queen???

I'm so in love with this ant queen... I don't know if she is mated or why she was out so early in the year... But, she has already started laying eggs!! So, i have high hopes at the moment...

ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!! ;)

Thanks for your help! :)

look at those colors on her gaster!!! SOOOO COOOL!!!!!
Image

P.s.
I know I shouldn't question a good thing... but.... Why do you guys think she was out so early???? I thought they fly late July.... Maybe, it's because I live in the desert where it almost never rains. It was a bit cloudy the day I found her... Can a rare cloudy day start a nuptial flight??? If I took a queen coming out of hibernation, what are her chances of survival??? I have so many more questions but ill end it here lol.

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AntsCalifornia
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Re: How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

Post: # 34882Post AntsCalifornia
Thu Apr 05, 2018 7:39 pm

Update:
week 2

Life is Good :D
Housing-Large test tube set-up (Thinking about getting a minihearth)
Queen-Active and feeding.
Brood-Small pile of eggs.
Temp:80 degrees F

Please let me know if I do anything wrong... I do a lot of research but this is my first time with a "semi claustral" queen...
1.The honey I added is all gone. So, I added a bit more (honeycomb).
2.I found they like seeds. So, I got some mixed bird seeds and added some to her tube.
3. I pre-crushed a small cricket from pet-co and and put that in there too.
4. I put all food VERY close to the end of the test tube (so its easy to clean).
P.s.
Ill keep adding these updates (every so often) for people who are trying to raise a pogo queen for the first time. That way you can see my successes and/or failures.

ANY advice is welcome...
Ill put another update 4/12/18 to see how much of the food was used.

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AntsCalifornia
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Location: INDIO CA

Re: How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

Post: # 35057Post AntsCalifornia
Thu Apr 12, 2018 4:49 pm

Update
Week 3
OMG! :lol: She was very busy this week!!
Housing-Large test tube set-up ( soon moving to a larger set-up)
AC is making a NEW product for founding "semi claustral" queens. I was told it could be available sometime later in the year.
Queen-Active and feeding.
Brood- Surprisingly large pile of eggs.
Temp:80 degrees F

This is so cool! When I went to check on her today she was feeding on some seeds. As soon as she was exposed to light she ran towards a very impressive pile of eggs. She picked (about half) up and move them to a darker part of the test tube (under the cotton)... I did not want to disrupt her for too long. So, I just took a quick picture for you guys. ;)
Food
1. most of the food looked good (no visible growth of molds)
2. All food seem moved/used
3. The seeds seemed to be turning a yellowish color (from white)
4. I Think I'll wait a bit longer to change out the food. she will be moving into a "tubs and tubes" set up soon (I'll change food then. So, i don't stress her out too much)
Well, That's it for now.. This is the photo i managed to take... Sorry for the poor quality. I have a macro lens coming soon too ;)
Image
I wish I got the picture before she hid the eggs. I can't believe she did all that in a little over a week.
Ill post again when i move her (sometime this week)

FolloweroftheWay
Posts: 71
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Location: Mississippi

Re: How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

Post: # 35061Post FolloweroftheWay
Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:34 pm

Nice! I enjoy the updates.

M.
Solenopsis Richteri x 2
Lasius Neoniger x 2
Camponotus spp. x1
Wish List:

Monomorium pharaonis

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AntsCalifornia
Posts: 39
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:53 am
Location: INDIO CA

Re: How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

Post: # 35128Post AntsCalifornia
Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:38 pm

Update
Week 3
The move was a success!! :D
Housing-Tub and tube set-up
Brood-large pile of eggs.
Temp:80 degrees F

The move was VERY easy!
I just unblocked the test tube and placed it in a tub with sand from where I found here. But, before i did that...
1. I made sure to sterilize the sand (I placed the sand into a couple zip lock bags and boiled it in water)
2. I made sure the tub was escape proof...
-I found a worker pogo while collecting the sand (to be my test subject :ugeek: 8-) )
-I put the worker in the tub to see if it could escape .... They are very poor at climbing :lol: (no way she is getting out)
-After leaving worker in the tub for a day (with no escape) I returned her home with some seeds ;)
3. I added lots of food (seeds/honey/crickets)
- I'm learning that I was asking the wrong question from the beginning... It's not "how often"...
The answer I'm finding is that she will always need access to a variety foods all the time. Also, I can not let that food go bad...
Here is a my set up. What do you guys think?
Image
Image
Image
I cannot remove the cover again for a while. I'll check on her again 4/23/2018 to take a quick picture and leave an update.

FolloweroftheWay
Posts: 71
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Location: Mississippi

Re: How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

Post: # 35130Post FolloweroftheWay
Mon Apr 16, 2018 4:13 pm

I assume you plan on leaving the test tube in the area. They will need housing of some sort of you don't. Looks cool to me though.

M.
Solenopsis Richteri x 2
Lasius Neoniger x 2
Camponotus spp. x1
Wish List:

Monomorium pharaonis

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AntsCalifornia
Posts: 39
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:53 am
Location: INDIO CA

Re: How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

Post: # 35137Post AntsCalifornia
Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:12 pm

FolloweroftheWay wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 4:13 pm
I assume you plan on leaving the test tube in the area. They will need housing of some sort of you don't. Looks cool to me though.

M.
For sure,
I'm hoping the "test tube" will act as a suitable founding chamber.
My hopes for the tub.... I need it to be....
1. A suitable foraging area.
2. Easy to clean
3. Escape proof
4. Easy to move into a professionally made set-up later on...
Only time will tell....
I'll keep you up to date ;)

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antnest8
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Re: How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

Post: # 35148Post antnest8
Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:21 pm

did you add a barrier the workers may be bad at climbing but still it never hurts to put it on. i suggest just talc powder or baby powder and get cotton and brush it on (no alcohol)

also have you considered putting this in the journal section of the forums?
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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AntsCalifornia
Posts: 39
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:53 am
Location: INDIO CA

Re: How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

Post: # 35149Post AntsCalifornia
Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:31 pm

antnest8 wrote:
Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:21 pm
did you add a barrier the workers may be bad at climbing but still it never hurts to put it on. i suggest just talc powder or baby powder and get cotton and brush it on (no alcohol)

also have you considered putting this in the journal section of the forums?
Your right, It's better to be safe than sorry. I'll be adding a barrier today.
and...
Yes,I will be putting this in the journal section of the forums from now on.

I would also like to apologize to the AC Forums if I posted this in the wrong area...

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antnest8
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Location: Detroit, MI

Re: How often do you feed a "semi claustral" queen?

Post: # 35150Post antnest8
Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:59 pm

it's OK. I just thought it would be easier to navigate to
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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