antsogood: A few questions from a noob (3. Nov 2007 21:28)

Ive owned an ant farm before but it was with only workers

this christmas (christmas over here in UK) Im going to order a queen L asius niger (the easy type to look after) and 4-10 workers

As im new to this i have a few questions, and ive already searched these forums but i havent found an anwser or im still not certain of a few things

1)• Im going to order a cork nest along with other stuff and also a queen ant. The cork nest has been sold out. Would i be able to 'reserve' one, and if so, would i ever be able to make an arrangement so that all my orders and the queen ant will be posted only when a cork nest is available?
Because i cant do anything unless my cork nest has arrived, and if all my other stuff arrives before the cork nest ill have to wait a week or so untill a cork nest is posted over

2)• Im going to carve tunnels and rooms into the cork nest. And im going to tip the queen and the workers into one of the rooms carefully (and then quickly seal the nest). Ive read that this can cause stress to the queen

but is this still ok?

3)• Lasius n iger ants make their colonies in sand, soil and beneath stones etc.
You reckon they would be capable of digging through the cork? (highly unlikely but im wondering)

4)• Ive read in the forums that hibernation extends life and keeps the ants active.

There is no way that the ants are going anywhere near my fridge (but there is always the option of the shed)

is it ok if i dont make them hibernate? as in will there be any big damage done to them?

5)• There is going to be an open tank involved with my colony. Will any winged ants that may appear in my colony, fly off?

6)•Im going to order a tub of "Pinky Maiden", would this be efficent enough to feed my ants?
Link to "Pinky Maiden" - http://www.antstore.net/shop/product_info.php/info/p575_Pinky-Maden-50ml---100-pcs.html/XTCsid/f0bd13b542521bf738093fff8294c9cb

7)• This is about providing water for my ants (ive forgotten to search this on the forum sorry)
Im going to get a small circular glass dish and place water in it, is this an efficent way of feeding water to my L asius niger?

8)•Im also going to order the PTFE liquid, does one layer last forever or do i have to apply a new layer every few months or weeks?

I speak fluent english but i might have spelt ' L asius niger' wrong

sithmaster676: (3. Nov 2007 21:58)

hi i shall try and answer as much as i can :)

1. with antstore i don't think it is possible for you to reserve a cork nest but if you order a queen and a nest at the same time then they should both come together but you will have to wait for the nest to come into stock.

2.it can be done i have done it before and it has worked successfully but the best thing to do is to put them in a place that is below 5 degrees c for 10-15 mins so that they go to sleep them you can easily tip them in.

3. L asius niger have strong jaws but are unable i believe to dig through cork as it is quite solid.

4. hibernation is a key point in a colonies life it gives the queen time to rest from egg laying. i hibernate all of my colonies in my garden shed so that would be fine as long as it doesn't go below 0 degrees c. hibernating your colony is important because if you don't the queen may not live as long and she will lay less eggs the following year.

5. you will most likely not get flying ants until a god few years of having the colony so this shouldn't be a risk but workers can climb glass so the best thing to do is buy some ptfe and use this to prevent escape.

6. this pinky maiden will be fine to feed your colonies as long as they are killed and boiled so that they carry no disease but colonies also require sugar substance like honey or fruit.

7. the way you suggest of giving water risks the lives of your colonies workers the best way is to use cotton wool so that your workers cannot drown.
hope this has helped L asius niger is a very good colony to start with and very interesting to watch.
Sithmaster676

antsogood: (3. Nov 2007 22:26)

Ty for the expert advice =)

miszt: (3. Nov 2007 23:07)

i dont recomend cork nests for lasius niger, they like it damp in the nest, and cork will warp allot if its kept damp, if you dont keep it damp your colony may die out

Best bet is a Farm Basin, or Farm and a Basin with loam/sand mix or soil

antsogood: (4. Nov 2007 00:28)

I c what u mean. yeah ill try not to cave the tunnels and rooms too deep into the cork coz lasius niger ants arent tht big. Apart from the queen. But if the cork does go all warpy then...smeh lol.

thanks for all the advice

miszt: (4. Nov 2007 00:47)

then the glass will not fit, and your ants will escape

tail__: (4. Nov 2007 17:46)

3)• Lasius niger ants make their colonies in sand, soil and beneath stones etc.
You reckon they would be capable of digging through the cork? (highly unlikely but im wondering)

Lasius niger CAN dig in cork! Constant humidity make it softer and with some effort they can build new corridors. Maybe they look small and weak, but their close cousins, Lasius brunneus, live in dead wood, like Camponotus, and sometimes even damage living trees. Soil is more natural for L. niger, but they adapt easily to any environment and cork isn't also bad for them.

antsogood: (4. Nov 2007 18:55)

hehehehehh ill hide traps in some carridoors... tht'll stop them

oj lol

*sigh* this whole ant keeping business is proving to be difficult lol

but what happens if the ants dont have any humidity at all?

sithmaster676: (4. Nov 2007 19:06)

the best nest to keep your colony in if you wish to be able to view them is a ytong nest you can make the tunnels, it keeps humidity and temperature, can be made moist and lasius niger cannot dig through it.
Sithmaster676

miszt: (4. Nov 2007 19:24)

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