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Lawrence: Rhytidoponera metallica Formicarium (11. Nov 2005 12:13)

I am now building the enclosure for the Rhytidoponera metallica and I plan to use 2 tanks next to each other.

If I build a rope walkway between the 2 tanks will the Rhytidoponera metallica climb and cross the rope ladder to get food from the second tank?

I can supply a drawing if you don't follow me.

Regards
Lawrence

Lawrence: Building the Formicarium for the arrivals (14. Nov 2005 23:01)

I visited the waterwold shop near us at the weekend and bought a couple of tanks they had on display.

Here are photos I took as I prepaired it.

1. Loaded the base with clay.
[right]http://www.w4x4mud.co.uk/ants/clay.jpg[/right] you can also see the water tube installed and the extra sections of glass siliconed at the top. The glass overhang with be smeared with oil/vasalene to stop the ants from escaping.

2. Next is to fill with the soil/sand mixture. I purchase a bag or steralised topsoil/loam and a bag of silver sand from the garden centre.
http://www.w4x4mud.co.uk/ants/sand.jpg

Next I added a rock and a piece of bog wood to make it a bit more interesting :)

Then today! my first delivery arrived :D :D :D

Here they are in their tube.
[right]http://www.w4x4mud.co.uk/ants/tube.jpg[/right]

I placed the tube close to the wood so they might like to go under where it is dark.
http://www.w4x4mud.co.uk/ants/tube2.jpg

Here is a shot of one of the workers feeding the queen.
http://www.w4x4mud.co.uk/ants/queen.jpg

The other worker exploring the area.
http://www.w4x4mud.co.uk/ants/worker.jpg

More later.
Regards
Lawrence

Lawrence: (15. Nov 2005 21:41)

Progress in 24 hours,
Overnight they have dug into the soil and have moved out of the tube.

That is probably the last time I shall see the queen :( but the 1 worker at a time is popping out to forage around.

regards
Lawrence

Cephalothorax: (16. Nov 2005 22:05)

With you having the ability to make good photos and the Rhytidoponera metallica not being that popular to everybody, I suggest that you write a description of keeping your R. met. in the designated forum...

It´ll be interesting to read it, so please do if you want to!

Greetings...

Stefan_K: (25. Nov 2005 20:35)

Yes, that really looks interesting, Lawrence. Please keep us up-to-date with some pics and some other details.

I collected the queens in Australia together with Gerhard. Could be that yours went through my hands ... ;)

Good luck!!!

Stefan