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Hi, Im new too the ants world. I will soon be opening an exhibit, tropical zoo "Livingstone". I need advice, help for my showing of leaf cutting ants. What I've seen so far is tube/pipes...I have huge space of terraries...my plan is too keep em in such space= more natural (I think?!)...My question is:
1. do I have too build a nest myself?! what shall it looks like then pics? (would be great too build it towards a glass, for people too see inside!)
2. what ground material is suitable?
3. does the nest/ farm itself have too be at higher temp? than the rest of inviroment, extern heat source?
4. If I provide enough food/ leaf, will they stay inside the terrarium, or will they digg them self out? ( no! its not entyering made of glass!)
anything else I need too know?
for your help I'll offer a day ticket for you and friends, and my friendship!
pics will be of great help!
Sincerely: Hakan in Sweden
If you look for pictures on this forum you will find a lot.
Leafcutters are often kept like you imagine it, in a system of many basins. It is the only way to keep a big colony really. At least one basin for the fungus, one for rubbish (fecees, dead ants, and other waste) and another one for feeding.
The ants only need a basin with a small amount of water absorbing ground material, commonly seramis (a lay product for plants) is used but gypsum can also be used. The nest is entirely made out of the fungus as it grows and the ants dont really mind light that much. I am speaking of big colonies of course, small ones prefer smaller spaces to build a nest in also that helps keep the humidity which is needed to sustain the fungus. Those basins should always be heated, I don´t know what the temperature is outside of the basins but a lower temperature will surley lower the activity of the ants!
The ants will always try to chew away all they can (silicon used in building the tanks) as the colony grows.
Here is a post (in German) about a zoo in Germany that keeps ants:
http://eusozial.de/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2566
There are some more threads about zoos that keep ants, however I can´t seem to find them.
Regards
Kaj
Hi. I was thinking of something like this at the san diego zoo. the space/terrarium in mind is almost 4 meters wide x 2 meters widht, 2,5 meters hight... what you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCSlMg7MBNQ
I have a video, but don't know how to upload。
Community takes a lot of space，Small communities in as little space as possible is better，To avoid unnecessary sacrifices，Advice for difficult withered leaves，Po Kong in the process of growth itself, their bacteria to produce temperature and humidity，So it's better they adjust themselves，Several elements of the Ant-like growth：temperature，air humidity，food。Leaf cutting ants have a benefit that is not afraid of the light and vibration。
I'll be a little English，excuse。We here very late，I went to bed。bye
This one is better than that one
appriciate it!!!
One more. If I build an island...water around, are they able too swim at all, if falls in??? (leaf cutters)...
Any other suggestions, other interesting ants for an exhibith, has too be tropical and south american spieces!?
again... finding my way around on this great forum...I have many answers now! But 1: What size as minimum or too use acrylic piping?! 50mm???... let me know please.
Zize/diameter of the acrylic "pipes" too leafcutter ants. need answer for my exhibition friends!
For Leaf cutters the ideal diameter of tubes is 25-30 mm. If it's bigger they will use it as nestchamber and fill it with fungus. If it's smaller it will slow down the ants with leaves.