My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

[CANant]

Sorry for the almost identical post. I was having connection issues and didn’t think it posted so I rewrote it. Unfortunately I can’t delete the 1st one

Don't worry, it's not a big deal.

By the way, a temperature between 8-10 °C is perfect, there is nothing you should be afraid of. Just make sure they always have a clean water supply during the whole winter and you're good.

Last winter I hibernated my Camponotus Barbaricus colonies for the first time at around 12 °C and everything went smoothly.
Oh, and the best part is they started in spring with 8 workers and exploded ever since. I'm now probably at around 50-60 workers with plenty of eggs ready for the next spring!

Hello UnrealSparks and thank you for your reply. Your post does make me feel a bit more at ease. If all my workers make it through and more importantly the Queen, I will have a great start to next spring.
It’s going to be the longest winter yet I think haha

[UnrealSparks]

Hello UnrealSparks and thank you for your reply. Your post does make me feel a bit more at ease. If all my workers make it through and more importantly the Queen, I will have a great start to next spring.
It’s going to be the longest winter yet I think haha

Ahahaha I bet, but once your colony will grow by the hundreds you'll be thankful for such a break.

[CANant]

Hello UnrealSparks and thank you for your reply. Your post does make me feel a bit more at ease. If all my workers make it through and more importantly the Queen, I will have a great start to next spring.
It’s going to be the longest winter yet I think haha

Ahahaha I bet, but once your colony will grow by the hundreds you'll be thankful for such a break.

Haha I bet. People think it’s crazy I only have 1 colony. I’m sure it will keep me busy enough.

[Hawkeye]

Hello UnrealSparks and thank you for your reply. Your post does make me feel a bit more at ease. If all my workers make it through and more importantly the Queen, I will have a great start to next spring.
It’s going to be the longest winter yet I think haha

Ahahaha I bet, but once your colony will grow by the hundreds you'll be thankful for such a break.

Haha I bet. People think it’s crazy I only have 1 colony. I’m sure it will keep me busy enough.

I wouldn't want to start with more than one either!

[UnrealSparks]

Haha I bet. People think it’s crazy I only have 1 colony. I’m sure it will keep me busy enough.

Indeed it will... don't make my same mistake starting off with many more and then realizing how fast they can actually grow...
Furthermore it can be more enjoyable to tend to a single one, watching them develop through each stage and keeping their numbers mentally without being distracted by others.

[CANant]

Haha I bet. People think it’s crazy I only have 1 colony. I’m sure it will keep me busy enough.

Indeed it will... don't make my same mistake starting off with many more and then realizing how fast they can actually grow...
Furthermore it can be more enjoyable to tend to a single one, watching them develop through each stage and keeping their numbers mentally without being distracted by others.

That’s exactly how I am looking at it. I know they will grow into the 100s+ quick enough. I will have to add more outworlds for sure and from my research they usually have quite a few satellite nests so I will definitely need more formicarium's as they grow. That will take up quite a bit of space on their own. Although it would be awesome, not everyone can have an ”Ant Room” and staff to help look after them all right.

[CANant]

Oh wow! Do you see what I see??!! Just when you think that’s it for the season. Yep! That’s another pupae on the top of the cluster of larvae. She’s tiny but I’m not surprised because they haven’t been eating much protein.

[JustABitAntsy]

Oh wow! Do you see what I see??!! Just when you think that’s it for the season. Yep! That’s another pupae on the top of the cluster of larvae. She’s tiny but I’m not surprised because they haven’t been eating much protein.

wow that's awesome! congrats!

[UnrealSparks]

Oh wow! Do you see what I see??!! Just when you think that’s it for the season. Yep! That’s another pupae on the top of the cluster of larvae. She’s tiny but I’m not surprised because they haven’t been eating much protein.

They've definitely been busy!
And looking at that larvae pile it's already looking good for spring.
Mine are still producing pupae too, I'll be waiting a little bit more, but not too much.

[UnrealSparks]

Oh wow! Do you see what I see??!! Just when you think that’s it for the season. Yep! That’s another pupae on the top of the cluster of larvae. She’s tiny but I’m not surprised because they haven’t been eating much protein.

They've definitely been busy!
And looking at that larvae pile it's already looking good for spring.

Mine are still producing pupae too, I'll be waiting a little bit more, but not too much.
I could post a photo or two if anybody would be interested.