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EV^: Need help with buying an antfarm (18. Sep 2006 12:38)

I have a lasius niger queen. I don't yet have a nest for her and I need some hints. I have been thinking about following ones (you can also recommend different ones if you like):

1. http://www.antstore.net/shop/product_info.php/language/en/products_id/361/cPath/58/starter-sets/ANTSTORE-Starter-Set---mini-farm-arena

and

2. http://www.antstore.net/shop/product_info.php/products_id/848/cPath/58/starter-sets/ANTSTORE-Starter-Set---acrylfarm-arena

Which one should I choose or take some other product?

Do these starting kits have everything I need or do I need to order something else too? The 1. kit doesn't seem to have but only 1 bag of sand (for the arena?) so if I buy 1. do I need to buy sand for the farm? How much sand?

How do I moisture the nest? The online manual was in germany :)

ps. I'm a beginner

NuEM: (18. Sep 2006 15:30)

The sand is for the nest (farm), not the arena. If you want to put sand into your arena, which would be mostly for visual reasons, you have to get extra sand.

Both sets are equally well suited for keeping a small Lasius niger colony. You may want to buy red foil (transparent) to cover the part of the farm where you want your ants to dig. They are bad at seeing red light, so you can watch them under the foil while they percieve it is dark.

The easiest way to keep the nest moist is to carefully drip water on the sand. Alternatively you may use a small hose to moisten it from below.