McK: Re: new colony advice needed (7. Feb 2009 15:16)

At the bottom of the nest I've put a lot of little stones which absorb the water, I also poured water in the farm before I filled it with sand.
If you don't take the lid of too much, the nest will stay moist for years to come.
The green hose is used as a fail safe if the nest gets to dry so I can refill the water at the bottom of the nest, but I didn't have to use it yet.
The other bigger hose is to connect the nesting area with the foraging area.

JimmyVe: Re: new colony advice needed (10. Feb 2009 13:34)

Hello Formicking and welcome.

Its nice to hear that you are going to start with an easy species. ;) And that you first ask for advice before you buy/capture the ants.
If i where you i would make a tube (test tube) and capture a queen during mating flights, its not that hard and you can watch the colony grow from 0. That way you also have plenty of time to make a good farm. You can keep the colony in a tube for a few months without any problems.

[1] [2]