Click to view full story of "Few questions from a beginner"

Daggy: Few questions from a beginner (12. Sep 2013 17:55)

I have a basin that is attached to a thin farm and at the moment the ants (Queen + 5 worker Camponotus ligniperdus) are in the tube that connects the basin to the farm. the queen has laid a few eggs and the workers have blocked both ends of the tube.

Please can you give any advice on the below.

1, I have not seen the workers in the basin for 2 weeks now so little worried re food and water intake ( they do seem a lot more active at night but booth ends are now totally blocked)

2, Little worried re hibernation as I know that they will need to go into hibernation by early November and they are stuck in this tube which will mean its a little awkward and also will the eggs turn into ants before then.

3, I also took a fan from an old pc and connected it up to a battery and placed it on the top of the basin to fan the air around but the queen and the workers went mad in the tube. should I stop or will they just get used to the fan.

wook: Re: Few questions from a beginner (13. Sep 2013 21:04)

I have C. vagus colony that used to be in tube that connects ytong nest with foraging area, no matter what I did I wasn't able to move them from tube permanently, they were always returning...
After some time, they decided (for no known reason) to move into ytong and they are occupying one chamber now.
I had in mind to use PC fan too, but they do mind airflow, especially strong. Maybe you should let them do what they want, they will keep queen where's best for her.
If they are upset by a fan, remove it but make sure air can flow.
I solved that issue by making two holes for air, one on top of foraging area and other on wall.

Daggy: Re: Few questions from a beginner (14. Sep 2013 10:37)

Thanks for the advice Wook :grin:

wook: Re: Few questions from a beginner (14. Sep 2013 11:30)

My pleasure Daggy! :)