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Hello there
I've been wanting to buy an ant farm for a long time, I have checked out the basic ones (such as the 'uncle milton') but when I realized that it is not a complete colony, that the ants die after 6 months, I got put off.
What I want is an ant farm that requires low maintenance and that is self sustaining apart from the occasional introduction of food. And it will continue to exist for years to come, not go through one life cycle and then end. Furthermore, I wish not to engage in micromanagement but Iinstead let them function for themselves.
Can anyone recommend the right equipment to buy to have a complete, functioning ant farm. I wish to have a basin as well as a viewing box (the ones with glass panes close together) And all the soil/loam mix needed to sustain the ants.
Thanks!
-Joe
Edit: Oops global announcement
Id recommend just going to the shop part of this site. To the anstore berlin. "Starter kits" Have everything you need and theres a plastic one availible that has a small basin and a gallery. L.Niger ants are low maintenance and only need to be fed maybe twice a week. Youl need to order them seperatly. From the "ant collony" section.
ok, but would I have to order extra sand and food. What do these ants eat? Will the colony be large or small? How doI find out this information?
Lasius niger are the small black ants you see every where in your garden and such you probably even have seen the virgin queens flying last month. They will eat adead insects flys, gnats caterpillers etc you would start of with a small colony and the ant farm depend on your choice there are some good straters sets on antstore berlin. The problem you might have with Lasius niger though is that they will soon be going into hibernation, so you might want to consider a more exotic species that lives in a climate where hibernation is not in its nature or at least as importnat to it. You could also make your own ant set up out of plaster of paris easy to make and maintain and you would be able to view all nest activty.
there are about 10 workers and a queen when a L.niger colony arrives. They arrive in a realy well packaged little test tube. (at least mine did) :)
You dont NEED more sand than is provided in the starter kit. But its nice to mess around and make it look as nice and individual as possible. Lots of neat stuff is availible to you from antstore for example you could buy blue gravel for your basin or some woodchip ect.....But much of it is availible in your local garden center also.
L.Niger are the cheapes option when it comes to ants. They eat honeywater (some is provided in the starter kit) and small insects. The best thing is just to squish a bug and put it in. You can try them with tiny bits of catfood. Even candy. The most economical thing I give mine is suger with some water.
Basicly all you need is a start kit and the ants but id reccomend taking the time to mess about with extra decoration ect.
Search on web and in this forum you can find every info to start a colony.
Anyway you can start with simply species and small colonie. Like lasius or mirmica. The starter set is completely but a extra sand-mix is good for any unexpected, food any species have a bit different diet, but lasius and myrmica diet,need honey-mix and some death insect.... however young colony not needed much....
Max
thanks alot!
no problemo
Ok, I've decided to get a Myrmica rubra colony. On the colony page under planting it says grass (monycotyl) Does this mean I have to plant grass in one of the ant chambers??
You don't have to, Myrmica will do fine without grass, but they might like it and it looks more natural. In the end it is completely optional, and your choice. Personally I'd stay away from it as a beginner. You can still add it later, if you want.