Hiya Peeps, New to the forum.
Ive just ordered a Queen and about 20 Workers or Lasius Niger, I have a lot of experience breeding certain Insects (Crickets and Mealworms for my Gecko's) but Ive never kept ants lol and before it gets thrown at me, Yes Ive done my research on the species but there is a few things I can't find answers for (Hence why I am here asking).
One other thing I will say which has me pickled: The site I bought the Ants from states that "Lasius Niger eat gass seeds" now this may well be true but almost every site I have found states that they don't..... Which is rather annoying considering I bought a Kilo bag of seeds when I ordered them
I am going to buy sand tomorrow as I need it for both my Gecko's and for the Ants that are on their way. Thinking of it, I should probably get in contact with my Mailman and tell him to front seat that parcel as he has a habit of tossing parcels around (Receiving shattered panes of glass is not amusing!)
I will keep them in a 11" x 4" x 5" Exo-Terra Faunarium, I also have a 15" x 15" x 21" Tank waiting for when the colony picks up.
My main question is: I do create mass amounts of Decor for my Gecko's out of Polystyrene coated with Grout/Plaster and/or Varnish.
Would It be OK to make some Decor for the ants out of such materials? Excluding the varnish as I am pretty sure that would be bad if they had a chew on it.
I know that eventually they will probably chew through the polystyrene and tunnel it but is it harmful to them?
Another question is: I use Coco Husk/Coconut Fibre (Compressed/Water Expansion) Bricks for my geckos, would this be OK to top the sand with? It holds moisture extremely well and I have tons of it bagged up.
Can anyone recommend a brand of honey from a supermarket that has no pesticides, I don't want to take the chance and kill my ants on day one because of a stupid error.
Once the colony picks up I may put it in the larger tank I have or I may make some Aircrete/Ytong/Hebel Nests with the Exo-Terra on top.
Also does anyone know when the Mating flights for Lasius Niger are in the UK? I have a MASSIVE nest in my back garden under one of the slabs I am pretty sure it is Lasius Niger but then again all I can say right now is that it is a Native small black ant I have seen a few winged ants about but haven't found any Mated/Wingless Queens yet. I remember a few years ago I did spot 8 or 9 *What I would assume to be* mated queens plus a hefty amount flying about. If its like that again this year I could possibly get another colony going from them.
The slab which the colony was under is now broken into 3 large pieces, I will take a look under one of the pieces about 11 today and check to see if they are still there.
Cheers!