New Ant Keeper Needs Help
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- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:54 am
New Ant Keeper Needs Help
Hello everyone, I’m a new ant keeper with a 2 month old colony of lasius niger.
Sorry if this is the wrong place to post!
They are currently living in a sandwich style formicarium filled with sand and connects to an outworld via tube. I can’t see inside their nest but as far as I know, the queen is still alive. Two or three workers will come out regularly to escape/look for food but seem uninterested in any food I offer.
So far I’ve tried:
Protein syrup
Sugar water
Honey water
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Sorry if this is the wrong place to post!
They are currently living in a sandwich style formicarium filled with sand and connects to an outworld via tube. I can’t see inside their nest but as far as I know, the queen is still alive. Two or three workers will come out regularly to escape/look for food but seem uninterested in any food I offer.
So far I’ve tried:
Protein syrup
Sugar water
Honey water
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!
- UnrealSparks
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
- Location: Turin - Italy
Re: New Ant Keeper Needs Help
Hello there,
There could be different reasons:
1. If you live in a temperate region they should now be in hibernation and they have a sort of "internal clock" that tells them when to slow down their metabolism to prepare for winter.
2. It could also be that since they're only a two months old colony they may be eating but little amounts.
And also, how much concentrated is the sugar water you provide them? And do you offer them the protein syrup not diluted?
There could be different reasons:
1. If you live in a temperate region they should now be in hibernation and they have a sort of "internal clock" that tells them when to slow down their metabolism to prepare for winter.
2. It could also be that since they're only a two months old colony they may be eating but little amounts.
And also, how much concentrated is the sugar water you provide them? And do you offer them the protein syrup not diluted?
Keeping the following colonies:
- [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
- [2x] Lasius Flavus
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- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:54 am
Re: New Ant Keeper Needs Help
We have warmer winters here so I don’t think that’s it. I’ve tried protein syrup with and without water and I don’t think they have eaten it. Would there be any way to tell if they are eating?
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- Posts: 79
- Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2018 1:00 pm
- Location: Connecticut
Re: New Ant Keeper Needs Help
There are 3 ways that I am aware of: if you see them eating, then they are eating; if you see their gasters extended when they weren't previously, then they are eating; and if the colony ends up growing in size (and they are past the nanitic stage), then they are eating. Hope this helps.
First year and already enjoying it!
Founding:
1 Solenopsis molesta colony with ~10 nanitic workers and lots of brood
Genesis 1:24
Founding:
1 Solenopsis molesta colony with ~10 nanitic workers and lots of brood
Genesis 1:24
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- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:54 am
Re: New Ant Keeper Needs Help
Ok they seem to like honey!
Thanks!
Thanks!
- UnrealSparks
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
- Location: Turin - Italy
Re: New Ant Keeper Needs Help
If you want you could try to mix a tiny drop of syrup with concentrated sugar water (with concentrated I mean adding sugar until the water becomes like a syrup), thus making it more appetizing.AntFarmer7 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 07, 2018 10:18 amWe have warmer winters here so I don’t think that’s it. I’ve tried protein syrup with and without water and I don’t think they have eaten it. Would there be any way to tell if they are eating?
Keeping the following colonies:
- [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
- [2x] Lasius Flavus
-
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:54 am
Re: New Ant Keeper Needs Help
How often should I feed them? Also, should I offer them water in addition to the protein syrup/sugar water?
Keeping one colony of Lasius Niger
Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;
Proverbs 30:25
Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;
Proverbs 30:25
- UnrealSparks
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
- Location: Turin - Italy
Re: New Ant Keeper Needs Help
Water must be always available to them. What I usually do is to place a test tube filled with fresh water in their outworld so they can drink from it anytime they want.AntFarmer7 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 09, 2018 10:47 amHow often should I feed them? Also, should I offer them water in addition to the protein syrup/sugar water?
As for feeding, considering your colony is still very young, I'd say a drop of honey and a little amount of proteins every 7 days should be enough for now (I guess you don't have more than 30ish workers?).
Keeping the following colonies:
- [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
- [2x] Lasius Flavus
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