Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

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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RubyAntKeeper77
Posts: 127
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:31 pm
Location: powell wyoming

Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

Post: # 98223Post RubyAntKeeper77
Thu Mar 16, 2023 2:57 am

I have a queen that had 3 workers. One worker died the day after I got them. What do I do now? I added a drop of ant nectar for them to drink. I put them in a towel wrapped around the tube in my closet for now.
Why don’t more people like ants?
Is anyone from Wyoming who wants to sell ants?

You can email me about ants at Tucker.reynolds13@gmail.com

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antperson24
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:01 pm
Location: North East Iowa

Re: Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

Post: # 98230Post antperson24
Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:17 am

RubyAntKeeper77 wrote:
Thu Mar 16, 2023 2:57 am
I have a queen that had 3 workers. One worker died the day after I got them. What do I do now? I added a drop of ant nectar for them to drink. I put them in a towel wrapped around the tube in my closet for now.
Did you buy them online, or did you catch the queen? What species of Manica are they? If you bought the colony online the workers could be pretty old and just dying from age. I think they will be okay, just make sure you give them a protein source too so that the queen can lay more eggs.
Why keep ants that aren't found in your yard?
There are so many fascinating ants right where you live!
I disagree with the keeping/buying of ants that aren't in your area.

Join Ants, Plants, and Myrmecology: https://discord.gg/BeQuNf8yTN

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RubyAntKeeper77
Posts: 127
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:31 pm
Location: powell wyoming

Re: Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

Post: # 98233Post RubyAntKeeper77
Thu Mar 16, 2023 11:52 am

I did buy them online before I learned about the Gan Project , I think that they are Myrmica rubra. I also think they are old just was wondering if I made a must that killed it. I did see a single larva but no eggs.

Do you know if walking ruby ants are fully or semi claustral?
What protein should I give? Because I gave her a tiny piece of ham and she seemed to eat it.
Why don’t more people like ants?
Is anyone from Wyoming who wants to sell ants?

You can email me about ants at Tucker.reynolds13@gmail.com

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antperson24
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:01 pm
Location: North East Iowa

Re: Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

Post: # 98234Post antperson24
Thu Mar 16, 2023 5:21 pm

RubyAntKeeper77 wrote:
Thu Mar 16, 2023 11:52 am
I did buy them online before I learned about the Gan Project , I think that they are Myrmica rubra. I also think they are old just was wondering if I made a must that killed it. I did see a single larva but no eggs.

Do you know if walking ruby ants are fully or semi claustral?
What protein should I give? Because I gave her a tiny piece of ham and she seemed to eat it.
I don't know this for sure, but I believe they are fully claustral. That should work, chicken seems to be my ants favorite, however, I do not keep Manica.
Why keep ants that aren't found in your yard?
There are so many fascinating ants right where you live!
I disagree with the keeping/buying of ants that aren't in your area.

Join Ants, Plants, and Myrmecology: https://discord.gg/BeQuNf8yTN

User avatar
RubyAntKeeper77
Posts: 127
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:31 pm
Location: powell wyoming

Re: Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

Post: # 98237Post RubyAntKeeper77
Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:19 pm

SOS I just checked in on my colony and now a worker just disappeared in the time from the last time I checked.

What happened :shock:?

Can the queen eat her workers like brood?
Why don’t more people like ants?
Is anyone from Wyoming who wants to sell ants?

You can email me about ants at Tucker.reynolds13@gmail.com

User avatar
antperson24
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:01 pm
Location: North East Iowa

Re: Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

Post: # 98248Post antperson24
Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:54 am

RubyAntKeeper77 wrote:
Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:19 pm
SOS I just checked in on my colony and now a worker just disappeared in the time from the last time I checked.

What happened :shock:?

Can the queen eat her workers like brood?
Did you check the outside cotton ball? The worker could have burrowed in there a little.
Why keep ants that aren't found in your yard?
There are so many fascinating ants right where you live!
I disagree with the keeping/buying of ants that aren't in your area.

Join Ants, Plants, and Myrmecology: https://discord.gg/BeQuNf8yTN

User avatar
RubyAntKeeper77
Posts: 127
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:31 pm
Location: powell wyoming

Re: Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

Post: # 98255Post RubyAntKeeper77
Fri Mar 17, 2023 6:17 pm

I checked the cotton on the seal and the water source but no worker.
Why don’t more people like ants?
Is anyone from Wyoming who wants to sell ants?

You can email me about ants at Tucker.reynolds13@gmail.com

User avatar
antperson24
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:01 pm
Location: North East Iowa

Re: Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

Post: # 98256Post antperson24
Fri Mar 17, 2023 7:03 pm

RubyAntKeeper77 wrote:
Fri Mar 17, 2023 6:17 pm
I checked the cotton on the seal and the water source but no worker.
Was the cotton ball tight?
Why keep ants that aren't found in your yard?
There are so many fascinating ants right where you live!
I disagree with the keeping/buying of ants that aren't in your area.

Join Ants, Plants, and Myrmecology: https://discord.gg/BeQuNf8yTN

User avatar
RubyAntKeeper77
Posts: 127
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:31 pm
Location: powell wyoming

Re: Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

Post: # 98259Post RubyAntKeeper77
Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:28 am

Very tight, in fact I was a little worried that the cotton was to tight.
Why don’t more people like ants?
Is anyone from Wyoming who wants to sell ants?

You can email me about ants at Tucker.reynolds13@gmail.com

User avatar
antperson24
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:01 pm
Location: North East Iowa

Re: Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

Post: # 98262Post antperson24
Sat Mar 18, 2023 12:26 pm

RubyAntKeeper77 wrote:
Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:28 am
Very tight, in fact I was a little worried that the cotton was to tight.
She could have died, and the queen and other worker could have eaten her. I don't think they would eat her alive.
Why keep ants that aren't found in your yard?
There are so many fascinating ants right where you live!
I disagree with the keeping/buying of ants that aren't in your area.

Join Ants, Plants, and Myrmecology: https://discord.gg/BeQuNf8yTN

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