Dinomyrmex gigas 16/10/15
Post 36226 - 21.10.2015 16:47:34
Hello, I'm Che
It's great to have joined this excellent forum. This is the only time that I have ever found active journals of Camponotus gigas and Paraponera clavata being successfully kept. Hopefully I can learn from all of the combined knowledge and experience from all the members of this forum.
I've recently acquired two Camponotus gigas queens on the 16/10/15. They were sent to me directly from a friend who lives in Malaysia.
They are being kept in total darkness right now and the temperature is between 23-26 Celsius depending on the area of the nest.
One of the Queens still has her wings(Iris) but she has already started laying eggs so I'm hopeful that she is fertile. 
Camponotus gigas 16/10/15 by che hawkins, on Flickr
Camponotus gigas 16/10/15 by che hawkins, on Flickr
The wingless queen(Hera) has also laid two eggs. She actually laid one in front of me as soon as she was removed from her packaging.
I have designed two simple nesting boxes for the Queens to reside in. Once the colonies have reached around 10 workers, I will move them into a large naturalistic basin 60x30x30cm.
Camponotus gigas 16/10/15 by che hawkins, on Flickr
Camponotus gigas 16/10/15 by che hawkins, on Flickr
Camponotus gigas 16/10/15 by che hawkins, on Flickr
The substrate I'm using is 100% Humus. For the actual nest I'm using a small flower pot and a long piece of cork bark wedged against the side of the nesting box. This has created a small tunnel for the queens to use as a nesting chamber.
Camponotus gigas 16/10/15 by che hawkins, on Flickr
After just 24 hours, the winged queen has already carried her eggs and moved into the cork bark tunnel.
The queens remain calm and I'm optimistic about their future.
Here are a few short videos of my Camponotus gigas on the first day that I received them.
Post 36246 - 22.10.2015 17:42:56
I have checked on both of the queens progress this morning. The winged queen(Iris)has layed 10 eggs in 3 separate clutches.
I wanted to take a photo but it is impossible with the condensation blocking visibility.
The wingless queen is more stubborn and stays on the plastic container. I can only see 1 of her eggs.
Both of the ants are housed in identical environments, it's interesting to see a difference in founding behaviour.
Post 36882 - 31.12.2015 02:28:13
Day 75 - The first worker has hatched
The first worker has hatched today. It has taken 75 days from egg to ant. The second cocoon should also hatch any day now.
I didn't feed the queen during her founding because she fully sealed herself in her chamber.
Hopefully the future progress will continue smoothly
Post 37290 - 04.02.2016 01:08:58
Camponotus gigas has been reclassified as Dinomyrmex gigas.
The two Nanitic workers plucked up the courage to drag a cricket into the nest tonight.
It was nice seeing them enjoy their first solid proteins.
Post 37529 - 27.02.2016 03:00:53
Day 135
The third worker was born today; she has a larger gaster than her two older sisters. She is currently hanging upside down inside the nest chamber.
Her colour is a pale orange at the moment.
There are three cocoons remaining and a small clutch of eggs that the workers always carry.
So far Dinomyrmex gigas are very lazy and unfazed. They sit in the nest all day and hardly move. I'm very happy to see that the workforce still grows larger in numbers 
.
Post 37637 - 07.03.2016 22:43:03
Currently this colony now has 4 workers. Last week a worker was cannibalised and I managed to capture the footage of the incident.
Post 38071 - 09.04.2016 18:36:04
Nothing much to report right now. The colony has 4 workers and a small clutch of eggs.
Yesterday morning I had the pleasure of being greeted by one of my "Dino" workers, during feeding.