ANTSTORE World of Ants

[SteveOh]

Hi folks.
I have just received my Alpha-Ants Starter kit A and queen ant (Lasius niger) but unfortunately there are no instructions on how to setup the colony or maintain it.
I would of expected there to be a sheet in there letting me know how to setup the substrate and feeder container etc.
Can anyone help me out with this in a hurry?

Thanks for any help

[Cordovan]

SteveOh!

Usually there should have been an instruction sheet included in the delivery parcel.

Nevertheless, will try to give a nice little step-by-step instruction...
1. seal the drainage with cotton wool on both ends and place it in the farm (upright, needed to moist the nest later)
2. fill the granulate evenly into the farm (the drainage needs to reach the granulate)
3. add the sand/loam mixture (about 3/4th of the farm's height)
4. connect the 10/14-hose with the farm and the arena (you'll need the hose adapter for the arena)
5. close the second drilling/connector of the arena and the farm with the rubber plugs
(6. If you want, you can put the rest of the sand/loam into the arena)
7. moist the farm (and the arena, if you used the sand/loam there, too)
8. add the food cup and the test tube with the colony into the arena
9. finished

For the moisture in the farm: The farm is meant to be moist, but not wet. For moisting the drainage is used. The water will be soaked from the granulate into the sand/loam by capillary action.
Remember to let the sand/loam in the arena completely dry, before adding the test tube, so that the colony won't dig in the arena.

If the colony already has workers, remove the permeable plug from the test tube and start feeding the ants with honey- or sugarwater and small insects. For good sake you should also have a water source in the arena (a wet piece of cotton wool on tinfoil or a second food cup will do).

The farm needs to be moisted from time to time, yet not very often. You should be able to see the right time by the colour of the sand/loam. Left food needs to be removed to avoid fungus...

Good luck with your colony!

[SteveUK28]

Hello Steve and to the forum

I have to say i think Cordovan covered everything really well there for you, if you have any more questions feel free to ask them

@Cordovan, i edited your post and added the bit you wanted

[tomorrownight]

hello,
i dont think i have any drainage? is that the dark coloured stones? in my farm, i just mixed this in a bit with the small grain sand, but didnt use much of it, is this nessecary? also i didnt add any water to the arena bit at all, is that ok? i wish i had found this post before!