Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Questions from those who are just starting or considering getting into the ant keeping hobby. If you’re intimidated or confused by the in-depth posts of the other sections of this forum, feel free to post here, and we'll start from square one!

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Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60481Post Jetjones
Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:29 am

Hawkeye wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 12:42 am

I have 2 carpenter queens myself, would be good to exchange notes... Check out what I plan to build for them
Nice project! Ultimately, I want to do something along those lines as well. A little terrarium ecosystem with fish and all. I’ll have to be patient tho. From what I’ve gathered the colony won’t be big enough for that until two to theee years!

Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60482Post Jetjones
Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:31 am

If I understand correctly, I have to wait until the first workers are born until I introduce small cotton balls of honey into the tube?

Hawkeye
Posts: 1557
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:38 pm
Location: Almelo

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60484Post Hawkeye
Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:38 am

Jetjones wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:31 am
If I understand correctly, I have to wait until the first workers are born until I introduce small cotton balls of honey into the tube?
I didn't use a cotton ball, just a drop on baking paper or aluminum foil. But yes you queen won't need any food until she has fed her first offspring herself.

Hawkeye
Posts: 1557
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:38 pm
Location: Almelo

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60485Post Hawkeye
Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:39 am

Jetjones wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:29 am
Hawkeye wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 12:42 am

I have 2 carpenter queens myself, would be good to exchange notes... Check out what I plan to build for them
Nice project! Ultimately, I want to do something along those lines as well. A little terrarium ecosystem with fish and all. I’ll have to be patient tho. From what I’ve gathered the colony won’t be big enough for that until two to theee years!
I'll keep you posted on my progress. Will add you as a friend on the forum.

Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60490Post Jetjones
Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:13 pm

I will follow your project for sure! You’re just a bit ahead of me so I’m sure it’ll be of great help as well as being instructive. I’ll make an official thread for my colony as well :)

Found a tube with much more room for water and her offsprings. Also, this tube is 8 inches long which will allow me to pull the cotton ball (or remove water) to give them more room as they develop. Hopefully she’s fertile! Haha.

https://ibb.co/YpjnhYc
https://ibb.co/ZhHDvBN

Now time to let her rest.
I’m excited but only time will tell :)

Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60712Post Jetjones
Thu Jul 11, 2019 9:00 am

Couldn’t help but take a look this morning. Wanted to see if the cotton wasn’t too tight and still moist. Pleasant surprise, the queen had laid her first egg!

Image

Hawkeye
Posts: 1557
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:38 pm
Location: Almelo

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60718Post Hawkeye
Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:01 am

Congratulations :D Now control your urges, or she might eat it :oops:

Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60719Post Jetjones
Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:14 am

Will do, haha. Now that I know she’s all set-up it’ll be easier to not have a peek so often!

Hawkeye
Posts: 1557
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:38 pm
Location: Almelo

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60720Post Hawkeye
Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:23 am

Jetjones wrote:
Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:14 am
Will do, haha. Now that I know she’s all set-up it’ll be easier to not have a peek so often!
It's so tempting though.... Then again it takes anywhere up to 10 weeks for the eggs to develop into ants. So if you look at it like that, you're not missing out on much.

Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60726Post Jetjones
Thu Jul 11, 2019 3:43 pm

Patience has never been my strong suit so I’ll try to see this new hobby as a patience exercise :D

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