ANTSTORE World of Ants

[SteveUK28]

Hi guys,
I've been looking around for some info on Messor spec. Basicaly i know they need a heat mat and a temp of around 25 - 30 °C a lamp and 2 basins.
What i dont know is do they need anything special for humidity or can they just be kept nicely in a ytong block?? Also how quickly do they grow?? and last how moist do they need the nest if it is a ytong??

Cheers for any help in advance guys & hope ur all ready for xmas

[JimmyVe]

They don't need a specific humidity. You can keep them in a Y-tong but be ware, they have strong jaws so if they would they can chew trough the y-tong.
It is best to keep the y-tong half moist and half dry, (but i do that with almost every farm i have) they use the dry area to store the seeds (look at my Messor barbarus pictures on the dutch part of the forum) and the moist area for the larva.
If you give them a good temperature they grow pretty fast.

[Yankee]

I keep my Messor spec. in one bassin (60x30x20) with a ytong block built around a corner. Currently they are still in their glass-tube (don't know the english word) and won't leave.
I also do not use a heat mat. My 60W lamp brings the temperature up to 25°C, which in my opinion suits them very well.

I'm filling up the reservoir of the ytong one time per day, which keeps the lower part moist and the upper part dry.

My colony is in very good condition and grows pretty fast, i think.

[kashmir79]

testube do you mean ?

and yes Messor grow realy fast with a bit of heat and lots of food.....build the army up for Majors, there is some beautiful variation of castes in the workers......messor capitus have Huge ones


man i love Messor's

[JimmyVe]

@Yankee: do you also heat up your y-tong ? (with a heat mat ore something) It could be that the y-tong is cooler than the test tube, than they wont move at all. When i moved mine into a y-tong they moved in less than a day.

[Yankee]

Yeah, I heat it up with another lamp for a couple of days now --> no reaction from the ants. I will not force them, they will go as soon as the water inside the testube runs out.

[jimjam]

Hey i have tried to search around the fourms but i could not find the answer. i live in the UK, where can i get a ytong? I went to B&Q, FOCUS, HOMEBASE and wikes and they did not have a clue what i was on about!!!

Thanks all!

[SteveUK28]

lol did u actually ask for ytong??? You need to look for aerated concrete blogs like the link below.. i get mine from wickes..

Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar

Hope that helps

[jimjam]

LOL...oh dear...yes i did ask for y tong! ! I looked around and went to wickes last and ended up getting a aerated concrete bloke. ! Im having one of those days!

How is your Ytong? I have started to carve it out using a file! And i have also sanded it down!! Going to get some messors in apirl!

Thanks Steve!

[ashhad1]

Funny thing I also went to B&Q and wikes and thing is i also asked for ytong, then i think quickly its actually aereated concrete so i asked for that and boom the guy at wikes shows me them.
I have to say tho sawing the blocks thinner and into shape does get annoying.

[jimjam]

Yeah tell me about it!!! I'm going to saw the block tomorrow and make it thinner. What tools have you used to shape the nest? Im thinking about getting a dremel!

Glad i wearnt the only one who asked for a ytong!

[ashhad1]

I used the old fashioned way of doing it, a hammer and various sizes of chisels.
I just finished it now but will put on some pics tmoz of my finished ytong.

[SteveUK28]

LOL im guessin that ur cuttin it as you gonna put it into a tank.. I've not done that.. and i prob wont either.. im happy with the ytong as it is.. and putting glass over the top.. connected to a basin
Be nice to see some pics once u guys have finished tho.

[jimjam]

Yeah not a problem, i will get some pics on here as soon as i am done. Even though thoufg i do have trouble attaching photos on to a message, my files seem to be to big! Oh well, i will keep trying! Just finished my lasius niger set up! Got plenty of time to tweek it whilst they are in hibernation!

[ashhad1]

I think the concrete block u get from wikes is to thick thats why i sawed mine a lil more than halve, Now i just realised i forgot to make a ytong leg for the water... but im still thinking for a way any help or advise would be great =)