ANTSTORE World of Ants

[abz-uk-ants]

Hi guys I have bought these ants that should be here soon!

I want to start a journal with lots of pictures and question's

My first question, any tips on keeping them?

I will take a pic of the set up i will put them in when they arrive.

[abz-uk-ants]

I have come up with this set up that they will hopefully live in until they reach 100 workers then i will add a abzantz nest for them.

[bugsy]

My first tip would be to read and research the previous archives, preferably before you buy your ants!

[abz-uk-ants]

I have read every one of them! lol

[abz-uk-ants]

I recieved them this morning. There testube was flooded and the queen was in the water, luckly i got her out and 20-25 workers. They have no brood and have been moved in to a new testube. I covered the testube with sock and rubber banded it on. It has been placed in the area and i left them a died fly and honey. They havent eatten and I havent seen them since this monrning.

How long should i leave them, before they have brood?

[MrIglo]

After two weeks there schuld be brood.

They will need silence now. Try again to feed them with flys or drosophilia or other freshly killed insects. Deat insects MUST be fresh. Sugarwater isnt taken so mouch by Pheidole. But you can try fruits nuts and seeds.

And dont panik if some workers die, its normal.

I guess your arena is too dry maybe. Too low air humidity isnt so good. Cant you place a moist sponge or sth. inside?

Greetings

[abz-uk-ants]

I have done what you said and I think you are right. So I have added a damp sponge and some passion fruit for them and a fly is this ok and should i look at them in 2 weeks or longer?

[MrIglo]

It looks good. I hope they can easy leave and enter the testtube...?

What did you wrap around the testtube? Aluminium foil is often perfect.

Can you intersect the fly? So the ants have it more easy to eat. (They wont the inside)

Change the fly each day and put fresh inside.

I propose to look for brood each week.

Is there a hole in the box for fresh air? It would be good for the climate.
Maybe you drill one and adhere tee-filter-paper or whatever to prevent escaping ants.

[abz-uk-ants]

Foil dosent keep the testube dark does it? If it is ok i will change it and I will cut the fly up. I cant find the lid so I have put ptfe on the sides and it works. Should i still put a lid on the set up?

[ant kid]

He means tin foil, not wrapping clear foil. Yes aluminium/tin foil is good as keeps a bit of warmth and keeps the test tube dark.

[abz-uk-ants]

I have used it but it dosent keep the ants realy dark but if it works I will leave them. I have given them 5 sesame seeds and 1 chopped up fly and 1 sqaushed bean weevil. Hope they eat! Found 1 dead worker in the testube but this is aparrently normal.

I hope they grow strong. They are realy realy realy realy small but I like them. I hope they grow strong and realy big.

I will look and update you on them next saterday! (cant wait)

Are there any other tips, you guys would recoment.

Tomorrow I will add a little piece of fruit prob orange.

I am hoping this will turn into a jornal

I will add a fresh bean weevil every day for them.

(I recoment bean weevils, sooooooooo much they are small and you never have to buy new once, they are always breeding!)

[abz-uk-ants]

Well looked in there area there are 4 died workers is this ok. I am a bit worried! What do i do just leave them and give them food and water every day and look at them evey 2weeks. how many workers do you think they will have in 1 month

[MrIglo]

Sounds like you care good about them. I hope they will do it.

Its a realy nice species, very active and agressiv (when colony is bigger) no hibernation and nice soldiers... But not as easy to keep as Lasius niger for example.

I think in a month there is a lot of brood and most workers are dead. The transport is stressing for the workers and reduces their life-span (normal 3 months for workers)

If the queen is healthy the colony will recreate in maybe 2 months. Be patient, later they will grow very very fast.

4 dead workers is still ok. dont worry about, but keep counting.

I never gave bean weevils to my pheidiole. Do they like them? Flys they like for shure.

I have one further tip for you. Make a ground of gypsum (CaSO4) in your arena. They like walking on gypsum more than walking on plasic. And you can keep the gypsum ground moist. Gypsum aspirates a lot of water if you cast it on. A moist ground is profitable for P. pallidula. At my colony moist ground has reduced the mortality . The gypsum should be 1-3cm (0,5-1,5 inch) thick.

If you use gypsum be carefulm that no shugarwater etc. is aspiratet by the gypsum. it would be possibility of mildew.

Greetings

[abz-uk-ants]

Thank you sooooooo much i have given them a new weevil. Am i right vy you sayibg that they dont hibernate if soooo i am very happy. One thing my house is never quite my siater is always.playing music the the next room is there any other thing they need. I realy want them to grow! Is there any thing ekse they need.

[abzantz]

I have now changed my acount and will be using this one from now on!