Formica's First Atta.

Let everyone see the story of your colony(ies) over time. Pictures, developments, success and failures, what works / what doesn't, and your plans for expansion as time goes by!
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Formica123
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Re: Formica's First Atta.

Post by Formica123 » Sat Jul 30, 2016 7:29 pm

Well, yesterday the temperature hit 33 degrees, it's not my Thermostats fault but rather the house heating was turned on because it was too cold, typical. But it was only for an hour or so, now everything is stable...

Look at the progress
Image
I keep over 20 species of ant, inc. Acromyrmex Octospinosus
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Formica123
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Re: Formica's First Atta.

Post by Formica123 » Mon Aug 01, 2016 11:45 am

They took the trip from England to France very well, and although the fungus was completely ruined I'm transport, they quickly reassembled it and it's already started re-growing! I gave them a lot more peat than before which seems to have helped a lot
I keep over 20 species of ant, inc. Acromyrmex Octospinosus
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Deansie26
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Re: Formica's First Atta.

Post by Deansie26 » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:11 pm

Great news Marco, must be pleased.

Formica123
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Re: Formica's First Atta.

Post by Formica123 » Mon Aug 01, 2016 2:48 pm

Deansie26 wrote:Great news Marco, must be pleased.
Yeah I'm really chuffed. After 4 tries at Acromyrmex, I got atta right so far on the first go haha.

But I'm not going to jinx it now...
I keep over 20 species of ant, inc. Acromyrmex Octospinosus
Owner of AntKeepingShop (www.antkeepingshop.weebly.com)

Formica123
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Re: Formica's First Atta.

Post by Formica123 » Thu Aug 04, 2016 3:20 pm

There's been a nice amount of fungus growth overnight, I'll post pictures every week I decided so it will be a big surprise at how much they've grown
I keep over 20 species of ant, inc. Acromyrmex Octospinosus
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Acromyrmexbob
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Re: Formica's First Atta.

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Tue Aug 09, 2016 8:44 pm

Marco, nice to hear things are going well. Did you carry them in your hand luggage or in the hold.

Formica123
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Re: Formica's First Atta

Post by Formica123 » Tue Aug 09, 2016 8:45 pm

Acromyrmexbob wrote:Marco, nice to hear things are going well. Did you carry them in your hand luggage or in the hold.
In the end they just went in the hold, it's a lot less strict and not as many worries when opening bags etc
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Acromyrmexbob
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Re: Formica's First Atta.

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Tue Aug 09, 2016 9:08 pm

All aircraft holds are pressurized these days. I have never lost any livestock via this route. Traditionally the problem with this route is not temperature related, its handling by the baggage handlers. Chucking cases around and not being there to watch the damage caused is the most common source of damage to colonies travelling by that route.

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Re: Formica's First Atta.

Post by Formica123 » Tue Aug 09, 2016 9:15 pm

Acromyrmexbob wrote:All aircraft holds are pressurized these days. I have never lost any livestock via this route. Traditionally the problem with this route is not temperature related, its handling by the baggage handlers. Chucking cases around and not being there to watch the damage caused is the most common source of damage to colonies travelling by that route.
Yeah, I squealed when my bag was thrown onto the coveyer belt in the airport, even after I'd said to be careful, the fungus was in a bad state, but they've rebuilt it now.
Queen still hasn't laid eggs
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Acromyrmexbob
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Re: Formica's First Atta.

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Wed Aug 10, 2016 1:42 pm

Not sure Ive ever interpreted the health of a colony by whether the queen is laying eggs or not. Not even sure how I would know this. If the fungus is being added to and the ants are active, the colony is fine. Egg laying by the queen is not a measure of the health of the colony, I would think it is more likely a measure of the availability of resources such as healthy fungus. The more fungus, the more stimulus to lay eggs. I wouldnt worry about, or try to monitor, the egg laying or otherwise of your colony.

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