Deanola: (10. Jul 2005 01:49)

Things like centipedes and earwigs i would not recommend as these themselves are predators. And make sure you kill things like spiders as Azer said otherwise the spider will become the predator with smaller insects!

If you have trouble catching insects your local reptile dealer will supply a good variety also,

I have a couple of colonies of Pheidologeton diversus which i feed locusts, crickets, mealworms, waxworms, fruitflies, aswell as the insects i catch, i occasionally give these fruit or honey as they are a carnivore and mainly hunt other insects in the wild..

keep us informed how your ants are doing,

I agree Azer, Watching them dismantle an insect and take it bit by bit to the nest is fascinating

barnettgs: (10. Jul 2005 22:22)

Thanks, I understand.

True, they seemed to be interested in legs and wings! Ha ha

I have Ant Display and Ant box at the moment. I wasn't impressed with Ant Island.

For second colony, I'm considering in Antstore's Ytong but the width of ytong block seemed to be too narrow (I think) to cut to put in water tank for moisture.

barnettgs: Restless/inpatience queen (18. Okt 2005 20:38)

Hi, all is going well with my first lasius niger colony with around 50 or more workers since i got it last April. They seemed to be settled down and eat less food than recently, I think it's a sign of them getting ready for winter hiberation?

Second colony of the same spec, at the moment with just one queen and one worker. First worker hatched less than a month ago so I decided to take off the plug to allow first worker to roam around outside test tube for food.

A week later, queen becomes restless and went out of test tube to wander around the basin all the time and she is still doing it for a couple of weeks to this day. I have tried flies, honey water, sugar water but these seemed to be ignored? Not sure if it is to do with humity but she still have test tube to live in. I have run out of ideas of what to do but decided to put plug back to test tube 15 mins ago and the queen seemed to be settled down ok?

Any advice will be appreciated here, cheers

Here is a picture of queen, see the lump on the back? Not a good sign of health I think.

LeonofLondon: (20. Okt 2005 12:33)

Your colony is still very small and when your test tube was opened the queen would be left feeling vulnerable so just leave her in the tube until you have at least about 20 workers.

barnettgs: (20. Okt 2005 20:56)

Update: I thought test tube with plug on would settle her down but no...

She is still trying to get out of test tube, getting in between wall of tube and plug! She might get struck so I decided to connect tube to ant display and see how she goes.

padje: net building inside tube (8. Feb 2006 10:41)

I just (two days ago; antstore is really fast) recieved my queen with about 8 workers and a bunch of eggs (lasius niger). i placed the tube without the plug on top of the proposed nest area, but they are staying inside. they are actually taking sand from outside the tube inside, like they are builing themselves in. what should i do? will they move out at some point, or should i help them a bit? I don't want the tube in my formicarium perminantly.... hope someone can help, thx!

Pagodin: (8. Feb 2006 16:28)

You need time, Lasius niger is very slow with moving out and it might take a while before they start to search for a new place. Meanwhile they make the tube save, thats why they carry sand into it.

Everything is fine, dont worrie, just be patient.
If you have more question, just write :) good luck with your new colonie.

greetings
Pagodin

Alkio: (14. Mai 2006 21:01)

I havent yet got my firs colony, lasius niger but its just a matter of time :).
But the question i had was, that do i need to cover the nest with something, that it would become darker? or is it okey if i led it be right the way it is (roomlight?).

Would darkening the nest make their moving any quicker?

And when i will get my ants in a tube, should i open the tube right away? or led them be there for a week or so?

Cephalothorax: (15. Mai 2006 07:16)

Hi Alkio,

Darkening the nest is definetly better. I suggest to cover it with a transparent red foil. Lasius niger, like many other Ants, can´t see red light very good, so that they think, they´re in darkness and you can watch them through the foil.

Please make sure to open the test tube immediately. Perhaps, if you´re lucky, they leave because they didn´t like to be transported in it, if not, you definetly should feed them!

Greetz, from Germany

Alkio: (15. Mai 2006 15:25)

Im also thinking that is it necessary to darken their nest? or will they live happily even without darkening? :)

Also if anyone knows what lasius niger loves to eat, i would be happy to hear :)

Oh, and also how long it does take for lasius niger workers to become a "adult", from birth to full size, or atleast some size capable of working :)

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