Few questions not in FAQ

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Few questions not in FAQ

Beitragvon Camoth » 29. Jul 2014 08:03

Hi everyone,

I've been visiting this forum off and on for a few years now and I'm finally ready to take the next step: get my own colony!However, I do have a few questions that I haven't seen answered here yet.
Let me first eloborate what my plans are:

- Species: Myrmica rubra (first choice) or Lasius Niger
- Build: I want to build my own Y-tong with the arena on top. I want it to be of a medium size, because I don't have a lot of space (yet). I'll be moving to a large house somewhere next year

My questions are:
- What do you do to control population? I have seen colonies of Lasius Niger on YouTube which are HUMONGOUS. I will never be able to house these types of colonies. How do you guys deal with population growth?
- How do you hybernate the colony? I want to build mine large enough for it to fit in my refridgerator, but I will have to open the fridge a few times a day to get stuff. Is that going to disturb them too much? How do people with those huge colonies on YouTube hybernate them??? Seems impossible to me? (see links such as this: Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar )
- Do you put soil/sand in setups like this one in the arena part?:
Bild

Final question: why is my forum in Italian (I don't speak Italian?) and how do I change this? #-o
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Camoth
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Re: Few questions not in FAQ

Beitragvon Camoth » 29. Jul 2014 08:32

Another few questions I just came up with :P :

- How do you clean the antfarm?
- How do you prevent them from getting wings and taking flight in the summertime?
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Re: Few questions not in FAQ

Beitragvon Sojave » 29. Jul 2014 10:45

Hi, i try it in english.

- Both species are quite tough and show a lot activity even at the smaller numbers. They are very good for beginner, but antkeeper with much years of experience keep these later on too. Nothing wrong with them, good to watch with their size. Flexible with insects as food.

-You can use a Acrylnest with an Acrylarena for 1-2 Years without problems. Compare the size of these setups with your conecpts for the ytong.
-Populationcontrol isnt a problem with a lot of species even after 5 years. The size of the colonies in the discriptions are for older ones. A lot colonies dont get old enough, that the population will be a problem. If its getting to big, just give them less insects, but dont stop. They need new young worker or the minerals ect in the insects too. Take worker out of the setup. To do so, you can offer a platform with honey and take it out easy. Good luck and much fun until it gets so old.

-hm, hard to say. gardenhouse, garage ect. The setups are disconected and put in boxes with isolationstuff. Never done this. I disconnect all and put it into the gardenhouse. Some towels over it and it was everytime good. One time, i got nervous at -14°C and changed the place with the cellar. Never had problems with RGs in the refridgerator, dont open it with to mcuh force. Put something over it, so that the light is no problem.

- I wouldnt to it, but theres nothing against it. Its just dirty.
- Before the login, there should be a box, i think. I have also often different languages here, but most of the time i can guess. Of course after the first change, you know where the box is and even its in not with our letters.

-Some farms are hard to clean or its just impossible. I dont open the nests, the arena is secured with PTFE, but i dont know how to open the arena from your ytong safely... Even with 4 ants there, they can break out. You have to watch every ant there. Nothing for me. I think, thats just a solution for the beginning. Is there an adapter for a new arena integrated? Nest neednt to be cleaned normally.
-New Queens and males need some years. Myrmica rubra males could be appear early, but its not on purpose. A lot antkeeper colonies dont last long enough. If they appear, you can try to catch them in arena (if they go out) or ignore it. They will die after some time. Myrmcica rubra have a rare behaviour. It could be happen, if they cant get out of the setup, that they try to do the mating flight, without flying and with their own males, new queens. It possible but very rare. They are only a few species with this behavoiur and myrmica rubra is one of them. If there are disadvantages, its only, that you have a lot more new ants. But as i said, every antkeeper have to reach the point where males ant young queens are hatching.

Uff, hope its ok. Here are some people from NL too, but maybe you have some german knowledge? Or you can watch the pictures :D
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Re: Few questions not in FAQ

Beitragvon Camoth » 29. Jul 2014 11:44

Hey Sojave, thanks a lot for your answers! They really help me out!

I have decided to start with this setup:
Bild

I have also decided to go with Lasius niger because they are smaller and if they sting it doesn't hurt as much (yes, I'm a coward :lol: )

I have ordered this sand http://www.antstore.net/shop/ground/Sand-Loam/Ground---forest---1-Kg-5082.html. Although I'm a little bit concerned that they might decide to tunnel in the sand instead of using the upperside of the setup. But if they do: it's okay with me. As they grow they will probably choose the other chambers anyway. And I'll make the upperside with the chambers darker (put something over it) to try and make it more attractive.

During my summer holiday (in a few weeks) I will build a proper ytong. I've already ordered tubing which I can connect to my still to-be-build ytong to give them more space when they need it.
As you can see, I live in The Netherlands where Lasius niger is native, so if worse gets to worse I will find a good place and release them (if it gets too out of hand in a few years time).

How do you feel about the setup I ordered?
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Re: Few questions not in FAQ

Beitragvon Sojave » 29. Jul 2014 12:58

In this Acrylcombination is 1-2mm sand enough for the arena, or nothing, the nest itself dont need sand. How big is the colony you wish to order? For colonies from this year, its way to big. I also recmomment to use the full acryl version, not this with wood. Yes, you have to darken the nestpart, small towels, CD boxes ect. In my opinion this red stuff doesnt do the job properly, Lasius niger exspecially can see the light through this UV filter.

A problem with this sort of nest is, to get the water in it when the colony is bigger. There are 2 openings, where you can put sponges or wool like in the RGs.

Lasius niger can bite, but you nearly cant feel it. The Acid isnt strong enough too, to get an unpleasent feeling either. Mostly they will be running on your hand without trying.
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Re: Few questions not in FAQ

Beitragvon Camoth » 29. Jul 2014 13:28

I ordered one queen with 5 - 10 workers. The one with only acryl I didn't get because I thought cork would be easier to get humid and still breath? I don't know, I just thought that made sense. Lol.

I'm not planning to keep them in there forever. In my holiday I'm building that ytong with the arena on top that I was planning before and if they want to, they can move there if they like.
Yes, I'll put wet cotton on the openings for water.
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