SteveUK28: Messor spec. (23. Dez 2007 19:07)

Hi guys,
I've been looking around for some info on Messor spec. Basicaly i know they need a heat mat and a temp of around 25 - 30 °C a lamp and 2 basins.
What i dont know is do they need anything special for humidity or can they just be kept nicely in a ytong block?? Also how quickly do they grow?? and last how moist do they need the nest if it is a ytong??

Cheers for any help in advance guys & hope ur all ready for xmas :D

JimmyVe: (24. Dez 2007 12:56)

They don't need a specific humidity. You can keep them in a Y-tong but be ware, they have strong jaws so if they would they can chew trough the y-tong.
It is best to keep the y-tong half moist and half dry, (but i do that with almost every farm i have) they use the dry area to store the seeds (look at my Messor barbarus pictures on the dutch part of the forum) and the moist area for the larva.
If you give them a good temperature they grow pretty fast. ;)

Yankee: (26. Dez 2007 17:41)

I keep my Messor spec. in one bassin (60x30x20) with a ytong block built around a corner. Currently they are still in their glass-tube (don't know the english word) and won't leave. ;)
I also do not use a heat mat. My 60W lamp brings the temperature up to 25°C, which in my opinion suits them very well.

I'm filling up the reservoir of the ytong one time per day, which keeps the lower part moist and the upper part dry.

My colony is in very good condition and grows pretty fast, i think.

kashmir79: (26. Dez 2007 21:27)

testube do you mean ?

and yes Messor grow realy fast with a bit of heat and lots of food.....build the army up for Majors, there is some beautiful variation of castes in the workers......messor capitus have Huge ones :)

man i love Messor's

:)

JimmyVe: (27. Dez 2007 18:55)

@Yankee: do you also heat up your y-tong ? (with a heat mat ore something) It could be that the y-tong is cooler than the test tube, than they wont move at all. When i moved mine into a y-tong they moved in less than a day.

Yankee: (27. Dez 2007 19:51)

Yeah, I heat it up with another lamp for a couple of days now --> no reaction from the ants. I will not force them, they will go as soon as the water inside the testube runs out.

jimjam: (25. Jan 2008 19:33)

Hey i have tried to search around the fourms but i could not find the answer. i live in the UK, where can i get a ytong? I went to B&Q, FOCUS, HOMEBASE and wikes and they did not have a clue what i was on about!!!

Thanks all! :D

SteveUK28: (25. Jan 2008 20:01)

lol did u actually ask for ytong??? You need to look for aerated concrete blogs like the link below.. i get mine from wickes..

http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/154032

Hope that helps :D

jimjam: (25. Jan 2008 20:24)

LOL...oh dear...yes i did ask for y tong! #-o ! I looked around and went to wickes last and ended up getting a aerated concrete bloke. :grin: ! Im having one of those days!

How is your Ytong? I have started to carve it out using a file! And i have also sanded it down!! Going to get some messors in apirl! :D

Thanks Steve!

ashhad1: (25. Jan 2008 20:31)

Funny thing I also went to B&Q and wikes and thing is i also asked for ytong, then i think quickly its actually aereated concrete so i asked for that and boom the guy at wikes shows me them.
I have to say tho sawing the blocks thinner and into shape does get annoying.

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