SteveUK28: (27. Jun 2008 22:29)

not at all.. new colonys are very timid the best of times barbarus even more soo.. plus there is a good chance they are munching when u are not look like at night.. and u would never notice as the colony is still very small.

gabranth: Re: Messor barbarus setup (29. Jun 2008 10:57)

Maybe best place for settle down is a small gel farm?

don't put any ants in gel farms the gel only feeds the workers not the queen and larvae and they will all eventually die

gel farms + ants + time = mouldy ant graveyard

Deveant: Re: Messor barbarus setup (6. Sep 2008 12:23)

Guys should I be worried if my Messors don't eat any honey? They it insects and collect seeds... But no sugar or honey...

KiamCameron: Re: Messor barbarus setup (6. Sep 2008 12:34)

Honey no my messors dont eat honey at all mostly everyones messors dont eat honey some peoples ones do :) but its very rarely they will eat it.

Deveant: Re: Messor barbarus setup (6. Sep 2008 15:58)

Honey no my messors dont eat honey at all mostly everyones messors dont eat honey some peoples ones do :) but its very rarely they will eat it.
So Lasius niger eat honey? But messors not eating any sugary contents?

Kale^^: Re: Messor barbarus setup (6. Sep 2008 19:37)

Messors get what they need from seeds and insects.

JimmyVe: Re: Messor barbarus setup (7. Sep 2008 16:09)

Its normal, none of my Messor species eat honey.

SteveUK28: Re: Messor barbarus setup (8. Sep 2008 12:18)

I dont think my messors are even eating insects atm.. just the seeds i give them.

JimmyVe: Re: Messor barbarus setup (8. Sep 2008 21:32)

Could be Steve. If there is no (or not much) brood they don't need a lot of insects.

mpir: Re: Messor barbarus setup (10. Sep 2008 07:21)

Guys, guys... It has been told like million times on this forum: M. barbarus will not eat sweet water. They don't even like fruits. So if you want to keep them alive provied them with normal drinikng water and seeds. As the colony is small there is the problem that most of the seeds are too big and too hard for them to open and eat. So the best food for small colonies is DANDELION seeds. Google it if you don't know what it is. All my Messor colonies grew up on that and are doin fine. As the colony gets bigger also ants get bigger and they can start eating normal seeds that pet stores sell for small birds. Until then dandelion is your and ants best friend. And keep the nest as dry as possible.

Good luck