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popeye87: A little help in resolving my mistake please (15. Jan 2008 01:05)

Hello all,

I am after a little advice. I made the mistake of purchasing an Antworks ant farm, i know i should of done some more research!! This hasnt yet arrived in the post, i was thinking whether or not it would be possible to remove the *cruel* gel environment and adapt it so that it could contain a mixture of soil/sand and thus a more natural environment. I am then going to try and modify this further by attatching tubes, etc to lead to a larger container for foraging for the ants as well as adding several more small air holes.

Would this be possible? Obviously this would not be a long term solution if i am succesful in starting my own colony (probably of L.Niger), as the colony hopefully grows i would move it in to a larger more adequate nesting area. Was just wonderin if anybody has done anything similar?

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks for yout time,
Kyle.

MilitANT: (15. Jan 2008 02:18)

Hi, popeye! I just recently read a thread on a different ant forum where someone attempted to make a commercial ant farm into a more functional one. It did not succeed. Here is a link to the forum where he documents his efforts: http://antfarm.yuku.com/topic/841

tail__: (15. Jan 2008 09:48)

I think is possible, you have only to keep the soil moisture, so you need to water it sometimes. But i'd rather buy or make new, real, more convenient formicarium.

SteveUK28: (15. Jan 2008 10:53)

Hi popeye and welcome to the forum, I believe it probabily is possible... However you will need to do it correctly. If i was you id you some clay balls at the bottom of the farm, with a straw at one side then filled with sand/loam, then use the straw to wet it from the bottom... I would also use 2 other basins.. 1 for foraging and the other for them to build a nest.. I would only use this as a expansion. mmm Hope this makes sense lol.
The problem with these Gel ant farms is 1... They dont have remotely enough protein to sustain a colony and 2. They are simply not big enough for a colony.
Steve

JimmyVe: (15. Jan 2008 16:31)

Hi Popeye and welcome,
Possible maybe yes, but like Steve said, it is just to small for a colony, it is better if you take a bigger farm.

popeye87: (16. Jan 2008 14:32)

Thanks for all the replys you have been of much help. Think i will start by keeping them in the antworks (with the removal of the gel) and then move them too a bigger farm. Just use this temporarily until i build a larger farm. Thanks again.

JimmyVe: (16. Jan 2008 17:52)

Just use this temporarily until i build a larger farm.

Don't wait to long to build one. ;) Better for the ants to have a nice home.