I used to keep a colony of trapjaw ants (O. brunneus for anyone curious) as pets. Had them for almost three years. Raised them from the queen to dozens of workers. I loved those damn things; always wanted to keep them when I was a kid. They suddenly died today, don’t know how. Main theories are nest dehydration cuz of a shitty hygrometer or poisonous food. I just made such a nice terrarium to move them into that they’ll never get to enjoy now =(. I cried, said a few words for them, and returned them to the earth.

Goodbye Medusa & the Girls.

    • FinnTheComrade@lemmygrad.mlOP
      22·
      14 days ago

      Unfortunately, not the case. Ant Queens can live even up to or beyond 20 years in some cases, and colonies can go on living longer depending on the species. From my investigation, the girls unfortunately moved some of their soil away from the sponge I used to give them water, meaning they couldn’t go as long without water as they used to be able to. I kept my typical frequency of supying them water, expecting all to be good, and their nest became very dry. They require a good bit of humidity and water because they were a tropical species. Just a really unfortunate situation that I could’ve remedied by being more of an attentive keeper.