Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
Powered by phpBB Social Network © phpBB SN Group
Deutsche Übersetzung durch phpBB.de
Time : 0.014s | 42 Queries | GZIP : On
Oh how do you keep the net moist, do you pour water on the top and let it soak through.
I don't, tis dry as a bone but being inside a plastic container it should be humid enough...i think :) Someone said on this thread that this species dosent need moisture so i have never bothered.
Interesting you say that as I too thought the same, my Messor erectus originate from North Africa causing me to assume they would prefer it very dry as is the climate in that region. I moved them to a small y-tong with a small basin attached, they happily collected seeds and made bread, but the queen didn't lay and the 3 larvae that came with the colony never grew. 2 months later still no development and no further egg laying so I decided to moisten the nest. To my surprise the following morning a small batch of eggs had been laid, so following the success I tried to keep the nest as moist as possible but the y-tong design wasn't suited to this. After a further 2 months the eggs just didn't develop and the original larvae were now smaller. I decided to but a test tube with the usual cotton and half full of water in the basin and cover it up. Over night the whole colony moved, 1 month on the queen is laying furiously with many eggs, larvae and dolls of various sizes. So what I'm starting to conclude is that as a young small colony the queen needs it moist, but as the colony grows it becomes less important as the colony probably provides her with every thing she needs. I believe yours started life in a moist test tube too so maybe this is the case, as the workers increase they are able to ferry water to nest and create the conditions needed.
Just a thought.
Over the weekend i decided to give the ants a new nest. It was the one i had made for my Canponotus fellah as they are still living in their test tube. I wanted the old nest for my C. singularis as its nearly time for them to expand. I took the heat away and uncovered the old nest to encourage them to move. It took about 2 days for them to move out, taking with them all their stores.
http://hawgs.co.uk/antblog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/P1010854.jpg
http://hawgs.co.uk/antblog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/P1010855.jpg
It did’nt take long for the ants to spot the gap i had accidently left, and quickly moved into the space under the false floor. Grrrrrrr!!
http://hawgs.co.uk/antblog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/P1010856.jpg
Experience with ants has taught me that no gap should be left unchecked! You have your work cut out for you now if you wish to repair this.. I wish you luck!!!
Cheers,
Vasi
My fault i just didnt notice the huge hole :oops: Messors will eventuall chew through the y-tong anyway so i think ill just leave it. The space will hold alot of seeds.
What are you using as out break protection? Is it grease, if so what sort and how well does it work?
Yea, its castrol bearing grease and works a treat, the ants won't even try and walk over this. It dosent run either. It would probably look better if put on with a grease gun rather than just smeared. I also use it with my Camponotus xiangban which are escape artists and its kept them in so far.
I'm thinking about Buying these ants and I live in the uk so a heat mat will be needed?
+ I am going to all lengths to make there home as good as possible = Recreating the Desart Land they cam from
Anything I should know?
Thanks
Edward
Hi, if you are planning to buy a queen with perhaps her first brood its important not to disturb this species as the queen may panic and eat/destroy her brood. So leave well alone. Also remember that they also need to hibernate and although a heatpad is useful in our climate for them to emerge from hibernation and to extend the summer for them in our climate, you probably wont need to heat them through the summer. Saying that though they do like it hot in the arena but as long as temps are around 25c they will be fine. The colony will grow quickly and the arena will look like a tip if its not large enough or you get lazy like me lol, and don't clean up after them as much as you should. I bought my first queen in March or late feb, by then hibernation was nearly over so wait until then perhaps before you buy. Its up to you of course.
Thse ants will eat just about any kind of protein and of course seeds, foreingn fix mix is good, niger is loved and dandelion seeds when you have your first brood as the seeds are soft any easy to deal with for the first workers. I keep the nest bone dry but the ammount of ants probably give of enough moisture to provide the required humidity. In a test tube you will need the water reserve still until they have outgrown it. Hope this helps a bit.