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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 0:29:47 GMT 1
I advise that you place a new, fresh test tube in there. Make sure it is covered.
It seems to me that she is uncomfortable, and placing them in a nest would pretty much be the best thing at this point. As Myrm, said, don't meddle too much.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2012 22:07:25 GMT 1
She doesn't look well does she... Ok, so I had a look over the tank, and couldn't see any mould or spores, but the testtube that had just been vacated was looking a little rank, so I decided it was time to move them into the more secure box I had set to one side for them. At this point Ripley was in a corner, hunched up, and covered in her children. I steadily moved each worker to the new tank (7 in total) and then moved Ripley. She walked about a bit, then lay down at the side of the tank. After a few minutes her 7 children were around her, 3 went and had a drink of sugar water, the other 4 fussed over her. The photo is from then. Oh, and she isn't throwing her daughter in the air, she is actually climbing the wall I then made a little hide, cut a hole in it, put Ripley on a bit of sand then put it over her. I then buried the hide in sand so she is in the dark. The hole is big enough for her to come out if she wants, but otherwise she should be ok in there I hope. We'll see. As a side point, I am finding all sorts of fascinating things out. Mainly that the ants can, I assume, smell Ripley and where she has been. I suspect this as, where Ripley was, there are now 5 ants all in a pile, like they are wondering where she is. Given she went from there to her new home without touching the ground, I assume they can't follow her. But hopefully they will find her. She has a couple of children with her at the moment, plus as and when I spot an ant in the old tank they get moved over.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2012 22:19:00 GMT 1
A sad, but very good photo.
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Post by Myrm on Feb 9, 2012 22:19:06 GMT 1
Sad to say but she does not look like she will live much longer. I hope I'm wrong and that she makes a full recovery.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2012 23:16:03 GMT 1
I know, she is still wandering inside the hide, but she hasn't looked good for days now. Sadder yet, if I replace her, I have to get rid of the workers don't I. Why can't the new nest just take them on as cleaners or cooks or something
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Post by Myrm on Feb 9, 2012 23:27:49 GMT 1
It is not a good idea to replace her with another queen, unfortunately.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2012 9:46:41 GMT 1
So I need a clear box for the new Queen and her brood. Most humane thing to do (assuming Ripley does indeed die)? Will the ants go insane without a Queen or will they be as happy with or without her in their own tank?
Would releasing them kill them? Do they live as long without a Queen as with one?
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Post by Myrm on Feb 10, 2012 12:11:41 GMT 1
So I need a clear box for the new Queen and her brood. Most humane thing to do (assuming Ripley does indeed die)? Will the ants go insane without a Queen or will they be as happy with or without her in their own tank? Would releasing them kill them? Do they live as long without a Queen as with one? Once the queen dies and the brood develop into adults you'll notice that life in the colony becomes vary lethargic as if they feel Whats the point of carrying on?I tend to keep them or give them away to some bin lid who is interested in keeping ants but never has before. It's a vary good introduction for them before marking on keeping a queened colony.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 18:17:01 GMT 1
You could keep an eye out for the springtime Lasius umbratus. She would have a decent shot at being accepted by the workers if their queen has been dead for a few months. You might want to get the workers and brood into a tube and stick them in the refrigerator until then, if it isn't too cold.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 18:38:11 GMT 1
To be honest, at a quick look at your photo, is her gaster damaged ??
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 19:51:53 GMT 1
Forgive me, but how would I tell? I'm aware of what one is (her bum effectively), but I'm not 100% sure what a normal one would look like. How could she have damaged it? #Edit# Hmmm, now you draw my attention to it, it doesn't look right does it... I'll go through my photos and check it isn't just the angle (she's cloistered away in her den at the moment and I don't want to disturb her for a first hand look). Hmmm, from the back she does look damaged.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 20:10:26 GMT 1
I am sad to say that your queen does look damaged, mostly in her gaster. If you look at other pictures of Lasius niger, you will see that the segments fit almost perfectly, and that one of your queen's sticks out. I have pointed this out here: Your colony's best bet if she does die would be the introduction of a social parasite queen like Lasius umbratus.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 21:20:19 GMT 1
The damage could have made her infertile and banished from the colony. But always look on the bright side of life! (Doo doo... doooo doo.... do dooo doo doo !)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 11:55:10 GMT 1
You might (and I mean MIGHT) be able to introduce a solo L.niger queen to your workers. I remember once one of my queens dies in a formicarium, so a couple of months later in introduced a new queen to the formicarium only to find the 30 workers were still alive! They quickly raided all the breed, killed the 2 other workers and 'stole' the queen and made her their own.
Now, I don't know how common this is or the chances of this happening, but it might be an option for you. Other members might disagree though lol.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 13:50:47 GMT 1
It's worth a shot and could keep the colony going.
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