Click to view full story of "Tubes, Basin and Y-tong setup question"

maxfly: Tubes, Basin and Y-tong setup question (16. Aug 2008 09:15)

I have no photo, I try to explain my doubts about my setup, I have a Lasius Emarginatus queens with cocoons and workers comes very soon....

I have Y-TONG ready, I have one small forage basin 20x10x10...,
eventually I change that with one more large when colony grows.

I think I place my setup that the tubes with queen and first worker on left side directly connected to basin and to the other side ytong connected to the basin too...

My doubt is about setting up the forage basin, I dont want to put much loam-sand mix for reach the holes that are 4-5cm high......(because first generation worker are not very strong...and they dont move very much) I thought to put some solid material(as a piece of ytong) to fill up some basin space and in order to prevent that ants make nest in the forage area....

what you think? any advice?

thanks

cheers

mf

SteveUK28: (16. Aug 2008 10:22)

I never put anything in my basin, maybe sime tissue or cotton wool to help them climb to the nest, but i get a peice of ytong could do that too.. or even a match stick/twig ;)

maxfly: (16. Aug 2008 10:55)

Thanks for quick answer, I guess to use some loam-sand mix because I notice that ants like to personalize the nest with that in order to reduce the entrance or carrying some soil inside the nest....and I like to see that

JimmyVe: (16. Aug 2008 13:05)

If you use to much loam or sand in the out world it could be that the ants will make there nest in there. I'm more like Steve, i don't use anything in the out world, believe me, it is easier to clean up when you have nothing in there. :) But i know, it looks much nicer when you have plants and stuff.

maxfly: (16. Aug 2008 14:20)

@Jimmy

Infact I dont want to use too much loam-sand as I say, but I try to use/find other solid material in order to help climb-foraging first generation ants...I found nice and smart to put anything in basin....but you have not climb problems in your setups....with basin connected directly over the y-tong nest....

Stick/twig or tissue/cotton... I dont know are seriously a solid climb help...

Now I have modelized a piece of Ytong... that stay in the basin and reach the two holes drills...but also if I made it very near to the basin measurement...there are some fissures against the glass board... that could invite ants to create nest....

cheers

JimmyVe: (18. Aug 2008 15:44)

I have a few setups that don't connect directly to the y-tong (the out world i mean) and i also use a twig or a stick. It works fine by me. And the ants don't seen to mind it.