ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Andie]

No idea how many but at a guess at least 100
So i have given them another test tube next to this one so perhaps they may move into this or use it as a store for the seeds they have moved. The water in the original test tube has now about gone. There are about 3 -4 of the majors but i think there is bigger to come

[Markus]

I can imagine 90 ants, looks good!

[Andie]

Well it has only taken them a couple of days to move their store to the new test tube but they have only moved the millet and have left the dandelion seeds where they were outside. Just incase anyone is wondering, i have 1/2 a toilet roll covering it all

[Markus]

In another holding-thread someone could see first, that they started to put seeds first in a nest an little time later they moved in it!
It could be a sign for moving into the new nest.

PS.: Another possibility to cover the nest is aluminium ...-Folie (searching the english Word),
it could help to just cover the new nest, sometimes they follow the darkness (and heat)!

[Andie]

Come to think of it Markus, i had recently removed the foil and replaced it with a half of toilet roll tube so i could see better, so perhaps as you say they were looking for a darker place. I have left it as it is and now the new test tube is full. I was hoping the queen would have moved into this as the water reserve has gone but she must be happy where she is.

This pic shows the ants taking a piece of cooked chicken back to the nest, a change from crickets and roaches. I don't bother with sugar/honey water any more either as i found that they really wer'nt interested. Water is available from the second test tube water reserve.
There is cotton wool everywhere outside the entrance,, such a mess.

[DigiSERBIA]

I am jealous ! what a nice colony u have i've been in egypt and 2 of my Lasius niger queens have died .... have 4 more and 2 more Formica rufibarbis queens but your colony has more then 100 workers in the first year is that good or am i not doing something good if my Lasius has only 10 and Formica rufibarbis 4 workers...

[Andie]

Thanks I don't know the differnt rates of development from other species as i'm still pretty new to keeping ants, but compared to my Camponotus they are fast. I think that keeping them in the test tube for as long as possible rather than rushing them into a new bigger nest gives them more security within themselves, so they are happy to expand their numbers, well thats my theory anyway. After the next hibernation i will be giving them something bigger. My other colony are also doing just as well.

[Markus]

Good evening!
How are your ants growing?
My colonie seems to start going to their winterslumber - I worried for a time, that the queen died, but she just covert herselve inside the ytong...
Does your colonie slow down too?

If you allow, I would put the Link to my holding-thread in too or better the discussion-thread, I linked your thread from there too -
I will complete the story before the winter-period ends, so that you have something to read while the ants are asleep... if you want of course!

Here the link:
viewtopic.php?f=165&t=16751&p=140299#p140299
The rules stand there too, if you can't read german:
the thread starts simply just after the other two, because Messor barbarus' winter-time beginns later...
If you can't read german, I hope, that you enjoy the pictures!

(I have no Internet at home in the moment, so don't worry, if I just answer some days later...)

[Andie]

Hi, thats fine Markus
Mine have slowed down somewhat and are no longer collecting seeds but continue to take dead cockroaches. Both my colonys seem to have done really well and i'm going to take their heat away at the end of this month i think, so they can begin hibernation. My first colony nearly fill one test tube but i will wait until next year until i give them anything bigger.

[Markus]

Thanks Andie!
How about pictures? ^^
The problem I had with most bigger colonies, was that they destroyed the water-tank,
is yours fine?

[Andie]

Yes, if you can remember i supplied an extra RG mainly for water but that to has gone, i just add water to some cotton wool that is laying on the floor once or twice a week. I know this sp is prone to drowning so i just add a few drops, it seems to serve them well.

[Andie]

As you can see the tube is pretty full. I had previously given the arena a light spray of water which caused the sand to stick together and the ants have dug underneath the test tube. Of course i have taken off the piece of toilet roll holder so you can see.

[Andie]

I tapped the side and they rushed out, they also brought out two different sized pupae

[Andie]

Just a short piece to show development in 7 months..

[youtube]9tBFe3mdlXo&feature=youtube_gdata[/youtube]

Climate chart is a good idea Markus, mine are from Southern Portugal.

Courtesy of wikipedia

[Andie]

Today i have decided to turn of the heat in preparation for their hibernation. Lowering the final temps might be difficult for me as i think the lowest i will get, will be around 15 - 16c in the room they will be kept. At present the temp is about 20c and this should gradually fall over the next few weeks. I have provided them with a small water bowl near th entrance with cotton wool in to stop them from drowning and i've placed it next to the test tubes as both reserves are empty. Hopefully this will be adequate with frequent monitoring. I have never kept anything that has needed hibernating before so this is a new experience for me, so fingers crossed it all goes well...