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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2011 13:53:17 GMT 1
My Lasius Niger arrived about a week and a half ago (1 queen, about 10 workers) and Ive placed the test tube with water inside a forrero roche box at the moment. It has some soil and stones in it. Ive got a few issues or questions if you like. In the last week and a half I have fed them 6 baby spiders, 1 medium sized spider, 2 small flys, 1 moth, 2 small pieces of strawberry, 2 baby worms, 2 cotton balls soaked in water-honey. Is that normal? They seem to be going through so much food. I was under the impression they would leave food they dont want but everytime I put something in, the workers quickly grab it within a minute and take it to the queen. I dont see where their rubbish dump is, are they eating it all ? Il post a picture tonight when I get back from work, but I have noticed a small amount of what looks like mildew/fungus growing on the side of the test tube right next to the queen and brood live. I made a very small hole in the plastic box two days ago and when I checked it this morning 5 workers had escaped into the outer box I keep them in, so I had to put them back in. The hole was absolutely tiny and I thought they were too big to fit through, my mistake How often should I open the lid for them to get air? My plan is to keep them in the plastic box with the test tube until the first or second batch are born and then hook them the box into a ytong nest ive already made.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2011 14:04:25 GMT 1
With regard to the holes, I used a sewing needle (the thinest one I had) and heated it then pushed it through the roof of the tupperware lid I used. No escapees yet, but then I haven't seen them even climb the walls, never mind the roof, so perhaps they just haven't found the hole yet.
If the food is right I am underfeeding mine! They have had all the sugar water they want (plus whatever is still in the tube liquid) plus a woodlouse in the last 5 days.
My test tube... cotton? The bit holding the liquid back, looks odd, like it is moulding, but I assume I am imagining it...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2011 17:07:43 GMT 1
That does sound a lot of food for such a small colony, assuming our impressions of 'small', 'medium' etc for spiders/flies are the same... They are probably taking it all because it's there but not eating it :/
My colony of Formica fusca (twice as large as Lasius niger) have about 75 workers and similar amount of brood and they only take a mealworm every other day at present, I put 2 in last weekend as I was going away for 4 days and they only took 1 into the nest and left the other out completely so I am pretty sure I'm not underfeeding... If that comparison helps. I am just talking protein by the way.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2011 22:16:47 GMT 1
I don't think you should be worried. If they are feeding, let them. You may see the rate they take in decrease eventually. My phiedole fattened up the entire colony for a couple of weeks and have only just started feeding again three weeks on.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2011 23:06:48 GMT 1
Does the colony have a lot of larva as this might explain some of the amount of consumption?
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