Uncletommy: How to get new Lasius niger queen and eggs into antworks??? (30. Jul 2007 19:40)

I recieved a queen last wednesday and i have been keeping her in the tube she came in, i also have the antworks gel antfarm and wanted to keep her in that if thats at all possible. Only problem is i have no idea how to get her into it. She has aroung 10 eggs under her which i can only assume are at least 2 weeks away from hatching. The antworks is a sealed container with only access from above and the curvature of the farm means i cannot lay the tube in there.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as i don't want to miss an opportunity.

????Shall i wait till the first wokers hatch then try to move???????

Frico: (30. Jul 2007 19:59)

hello,

I dont want to start over again and explain have bad the antworks is, please use "search" for infomations.
Antworks is rubbisch.

Frico

MrILoveTheAnts: (30. Jul 2007 20:01)

Don't bother. AntWorks gel isn't healthy enough to sustain a queen ant or the developing eggs.

JimmyVe: (30. Jul 2007 20:44)

Hi Uncletommy and welcome.

I'm sorry to say but Frico is wright, if you are willing to keep a colony please first read a bit on this forum, you will find several treads that explain how 'bad' antworks is. These 'farms' are not meant to keep a colony in.
If you like your ants and you want to keep them alive, build a real farm. One made of y-tong ore wood ore something else.

We do not mean this in a bad way, we only want what is good for the ants, i think you would like that to.
So like i said, read a bit on this forum and if you still have questions than, feel free to ask. ;)

Greetings.

Uncletommy: (30. Jul 2007 21:21)

Can i not try?

miszt: (30. Jul 2007 21:27)

if you want them all to die, then go ahead! seriously, they cannot support a colony, they dont have the right nutriants, protiens, vitamins, sugars & minerals that an ant colony needs to survive

for the moment she will be quite happy in the test tube, I usually transfer colonys when they are @ about 10 workers, she will probably be happy in the test tube until next year if u hibernate her over winter late oct - feb

You can get a proper farm very cheap :) or even make one urself if you have a couple of picture frames (or get them for £1 in ur local pound shop) and a bit of DIY common sense :D

miszt: (30. Jul 2007 21:29)

MODS: as this topic comes up quiet a bit, pherhaps a sticky thread and a link at the top of the forum wuld b useful for people :)

Uncletommy: (30. Jul 2007 21:31)

well i'll try. see wat happens

Frico: (31. Jul 2007 01:00)

you will try what?

Arcais: (31. Jul 2007 07:18)

4mykids gave me a great idea of what to do with the antworks gel farms.

First, get rid of all the gel. That stuff will just mold and mildew anyway... trust me on this. This add some of the loam/sand mixture they sell here.

Second, I added several extra holes in the top the same size as the tiny air holes in the sides. I put a tube to the bottom below one of these holes to add water to the bottom of the soil.

Finally, the antworks is really not big enough to forage in, and it's difficult to pop the top off and put more food in. So I used the tube that comes with it and set up a passage to foraging grounds.

Don't laugh, I have a nice formicarium as well, but my new queen just moved in there :-D

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