Beginning keeping colony of ruby ants.

[RubyAntKeeper77]

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.

[antperson24]

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.

[RubyAntKeeper77]

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.

[antperson24]

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.

[RubyAntKeeper77]

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 ?

Can the queen eat her workers like brood?

[antperson24]

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 ?

Can the queen eat her workers like brood?

Did you check the outside cotton ball? The worker could have burrowed in there a little.

[RubyAntKeeper77]

I checked the cotton on the seal and the water source but no worker.

[antperson24]

I checked the cotton on the seal and the water source but no worker.

Was the cotton ball tight?

[RubyAntKeeper77]

Very tight, in fact I was a little worried that the cotton was to tight.

[antperson24]

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.