SteveUK28: (9. Jul 2008 12:28)

Just thought you guys might like to know that most places dont send ants with water in the test tube in case it floods and drowns them.. I sent some ants last week and it did just that and i lost the whole colony :(

Anyway.. its gonna be great to see your colonys grow.. I got some Messor ebeninus on the way.. so il be creating a diary myself ;)

JimmyVe: (9. Jul 2008 16:27)

very nice Ashad...

its exciting to see new colonies, and makes me wonder if is should get more, but my better jugdent tells me to keep to my creuntatus and specialise in them.....

OOPS..... :oops: i didnt read the top of the post, please mod move my comments to the correct thread.....

polyp: (9. Jul 2008 17:44)

Just an update on my messor, currently while the rest of the ants tend to the queen in the test tube one worker seems to be painstakeingly carrying sand grains one at a time into the test tube. anyone seen this behaviour before?

ashhad1: (9. Jul 2008 17:51)

Ya mine were doing the same, only 1 worker was taking sand grains to entrance of the tube but the worker stopped doing it this morning

SteveUK28: (9. Jul 2008 18:47)

I wouldnt at all be suprised if they seal up the test tube entrance..

damondeionno: (9. Jul 2008 20:46)

Ashhad

I also followed your lead when I saw your post on Sunday morning. Thanks for spotting the deal. I figured at that price, I couldn't lose. My M barbarus arrived today. I have a healthy looking queen and 11 workers. There are 2 small larvae, no eggs and 2 dead workers in the tube.

I have placed it in a small arena and the workers are busy foraging. They seem to like the small bit of apple I gave them. They took it into the tube and even the queen has been feeding from it. They also like the spirulina flakes I feed my fish and I have given them a small mosquito.

I don't think they can eat it all at once, and I will take out anything they don't want.

ashhad1: (9. Jul 2008 21:49)

Well im glad i helped you out in buying a M essor barbarus colony :D

SteveUK28: (10. Jul 2008 09:06)

Sounds good Damon.
@Poly, just wondering but how are you heating that big setup of yours ?

JimmyVe: (10. Jul 2008 22:37)

Just an update on my messor, currently while the rest of the ants tend to the queen in the test tube one worker seems to be painstakeingly carrying sand grains one at a time into the test tube. anyone seen this behaviour before?

I wouldnt at all be suprised if they seal up the test tube entrance..

Yes, a lot of ant species do this, they feel saver if the entrance to there home i not so big.

ashhad1: (11. Jul 2008 16:36)

Lol i need to buy a heat mat for my setup because it is really big (well the biggest i got) and all i got to heat it is my lamp hehe...
But they seem to do fine and the temp is around 22C-24C max
I hope when i get the heat mat it will increase to 26C-30C

Oh ya and today with my messors i noticed i have 10 workers not 9 hehe