ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Varban]

Hey all,

I've decided to expand my humble little queenless colony supplied from my backgarden to a proper colony. I've set my eyes on Pheidole: Pallidula or Messor: Barbarus, but the Messors are more atractive so I probably going to get them. They have dedicated soldiers so I can feed them insects and eat seeds and stash seeds.

Now on to the colony itself! I really would prefer if I can keep an eye on what's going on in the nest, since the Messors are rather herbivor, seeing them stockpiling food for the coming winter should be quite interesting and also looking how the workers tend their queen. So an "ant apartment" I think it was it's called here is my plan, however would that be big enough? I will connect with a tube the apartment to a trash are.

Considering their herbivore nature, I was thinking to use a mixture of sand+loam (2:1 or 3:1) and a layer of mould on top so I can put some moss on top.

For humidity I read about the tube system with the cotton at the end, but I was thinking instead of that for supplying water I would use a small dish burried in the ground have an aritificial pond or even use a water spray (the ones used by hairdressers) since I will have to water the moss every so often.

That's the plan so far, I was thinking to order the queen now since she will have some time before the first brood is hatched and i can keep her in the tube, before I order the rest of the equipment as I want to finalise it first.

I think I've covered everything, I might be wrong and missed something but some input will be welcome, mainly on the apartment issue, I was considering for a brief second the display type of aquariums, but I assume those guys need a good amount of space to walk around and forage. Something Like that seemed more apropriate as it has 4x times the space for digging than the appartment type of settings.
Which also springs the question if I connect two of those with a tube will the colony expand in the 2nd bassin? Or I have to fill the ground above the drilling, fill the tube with mould and so that they drill theyr way in the 2nd bassin?

Oh and just one quick dumb question I noticed this: Glass Bassin with Farm Area and I can't understand its concept, it has a glass on the left side which suggest a display area but I doubt ants will go there...

One last thing whats the difference between the Capitatus and the Barbarus, apart from the suggested barbarism in the latter's name!

Thanks in advance for help, opinions and critiques of course

[JimmyVe]

Hi Varban, and welcome to the Forum.

It's seems like you did your homework that's good.
I like the idea for the apartment but you have to consider that you can't see "everything" what's going one in the nest. And don't forget to use red foil (like this one: Red PVC protective sheet sticking 30x20cm -antstore-) because ants don't like light in there nest, especially the queen.

You can connect two basins, make sure the ants can climb in the tube, don't make it to difficult.

Do not leave the queen to long in the tube, you can put the tube in to a small Formica so there is freche air. but cover it from light and make sure there is food.

Oh and just one quick dumb question I noticed this: Glass Basin with Farm Area and I can't understand its concept, it has a glass on the left side which suggest a display area but I doubt ants will go there...

You can put sand-loam mix between the glass on the left side, its small, but you can keep ants in it, if the colonie don't get to big

Happy ant-keeping and if you have questions, just ask !

Greets Jimmy

[Cephalothorax]

Hello Varban,
Welcome to our forum!!!

Congratulations, you seem to be very fair to ants, not to keep them without informing yourself prior buying them...

Just to help u with some questions:

I´m keeping Raptiformica sanguinea since this year in a very similar way to the mentioned glass bassin... They love it! If you put the designated Sand/Loam mixture into the Display and keep it wet, you won´t have to invite the Messors twice to make them move into it...

Make sure, you don´t put much sand into the other part of the Formicarium, because of the Messors trying to dig there.

The main difference between capitatus and barbarus is the colour.
While babarus has got red heads and a black body, capitatus is completely black...

The red foil is useful, but won´t help to see them longer, because they will probably cover the glasswall with sand in any case...

I hope this helps you a bit.

If you have detailed questions feel free to ask.

Last but not least, it´ll be a great pleasure to read your report of keeping Messor or what ever in the dessignated Forum.

Have a nice day...

[Varban]

Hi JimmyVe and Cephalothorax,

I am happy my homework was of good quality
Many thanks for the replies, her majesty won't spend too much time in the sealed tube, depending on how long it takes for the bassin to arrive, I will put the tube in the formicarium so she can wander out if she feels like but until the first brood is hatched I doubt she will.

I've also been working on my aritificial pond to keep the place supplied with water, I will use a Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar, not like the one in the picture but wich's edges are more plate like, put a small layer of mould on it and burry it in the furmicarium so that it will fit in with the surroundings. Put some water on the mould where the dish is should make the little pond and the water wont be absorbed by the rest of the ground. I will post pictures once I do it. Still reckon that will be a good way to provide water for them?

Make sure, you don´t put much sand into the other part of the Formicarium, because of the Messors trying to dig there.

I am not sure I understand what you mean by this, I plan to put the sand/loam mix in the 4 display sides where ants can dig and then the layer of mould on top and the centre to simulate a natural habitat. They cant dig in the center so that will be their forage area.

I can't wait to write my first reports! Just need to finish my exams next week and its buiding a colony time!

[JimmyVe]

It seems that the ant are in good hands. can't wait to see pictures

[Cephalothorax]

I´m giving them the ANTSTORE watergel to provide water ... They won.t drown and it lasts for some more days...

Keep us up to date...

[Varban]

Hmm do i need to water the nest itself or they do that themselves? The gel idea seems good I will look into it to see how i can integrate it in a subtle way

[JimmyVe]

Normally the nest get's wet from the rain. But in the Formicarium there is no rain.
So you better spray it wet sometimes. Not to wet that they don't drawn.

(sorry for my bad English)

[Varban]

Guess who arrived this morning just as I was leaving form my west politics exam? Yup HRM! Sadly I was in a rush to get to my exam so I didn't open the package straight away. Anyway now that I did she is doing ok, I noticed she was busy during the voyage as i saw 2-3 eggs. There was a tissue between the cotton at the end and the bottom of the tube which was constraining her moves so I removed that so she has some breathing space. Was wondering to transfer her in a small container with some soil but decided not to do so.
I noticed a lot of reddish seeds which assume is food, quite a lot of them should last her until the first brood hatches. Anyway will soon start making a diary!
Any comments and tips on how to make her as comfortable as possible are always welcome! And my exam went ok if anyone was wondering

[Alkio]

Cool, is this your first ant specie? . Please upload pictures and diary soon
Your text is very rewarding to read, i've learned alot from this conversation

[Varban]

Hey Alkio,
Yup this is my first ant specie =)
As soon as my camera is charged up I will put a picture and start the diary in the european ants experience thread!

[JimmyVe]

your sure have to do that

What kind of species did you ordered ? its nice to here that she is doing ok, just make sure she had something to eat and you cover up the tube so she is in the dark.

Did you already build a formicarium. make sure if you do that it is build for this species. if you now what i mean.

For now you can leave her in the test tube, you can connect it with a small outside world for feeding.

Good luck !

[Varban]

Discussion Thread
A Queen's Diary

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