camponotus ligniperdus

[Deleted]

Hi,

I've never joined a forum before so this is a little confusing to me. I've been keeping ants for a few months now and have 2 very successful hives, a l. niger and a m. ruba colonies.

I recently bought a carpenter ant queen and a brood of 7 workers and a load of eggs, and they seem to be staying in their test tube, and sending out workers in 2's or 3's. However one has died already, and I rarely see them feeding. My set up is 2 basins, the main one is 20x10x10cm from ant store, with an old cricket tub as a feeding, dumping area connected by a 2 inch section of tubing.

I guess my questions are 1) what is the best insect food to offer as they are ignoring dead crickets (I've currently ordered flightless fruit flies and mealworms to try, but should they be live or dead) and 2) is this set up ok, or should I invest in something like ytong as I don't want to buy yet more equipment if I don't necessarily need to yet.

I am really aware that these are quite a tricky species but I am committed to trying until I succeed. Any advice would be helpful! Thanks!

[Deleted]

I would give the fruit flys dead, you can put 5 in a tub with a lid and freez them, this is a quick way to kill them, and can kill any mites that could be living on the food, but camponotus are a slow growing species, and can take a year for their first 10 workers, from what I have heard. So that worker may be the first worker, and died of age

You can read this guide - www.myrm.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=spfactsheets&thread=4645&page=1#46138 Limes did a great job making this guide

[Deleted]

Welcome!

I've found it's all about trial and error as every colony seems to take different foods. For smaller colonies the insects should be dead.

[Deleted]

Thanks guys-

That's what I suspected- I do see them feeding each other if I go in in the middle of the night an have a quick look- maybe I'm just being really paranoid.

I've ordered fruit flies and they'll arrive today so hopefully that'll really help! They're so fascinating though- though my ruba colony is by far the most active. I'll just give them a little time to settle then, thanks again for all the help!!!!!!

[Myrm]

Hi GreenChameleon

Welcome to the forum and thank you for supporting us by joining. I hope you enjoy your time here. We are a vary friendly bunch and there are some vary helpful people on here.

[Deleted]

Yeah so helpful already- I'm really glad I found this place as its such a delicate thing and so specialized a hobby. Thanks again for all the support!