ANTSTORE World of Ants

[plewi]

I am considering geting a colony, I have never kept ants before so I was considering geting one of the starter sets but I dont really like any of the Formicarium that comes with them.

I was wondering if it is posible to get the content of the starter sets without the Formicarium or with the choice of Formicarium as I much prefere the 'Glass basins 30x20x20 cm as an apartment' because it is one unit instead of two, you can still view the ants nesting at the front and it still gives the option to extend via the two holes at either side.

It would also be great if in the description of the Formicarium gave the required quantity of sand/ Loam.

Another thing, posibly a different topic but why is there no English books on ant keeping, or are there?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to getting into this fascinating hobby.

(Sorry for posting this twice I think I put it in the general forum instead of the shop)

Paul.

[Martin S.]

Dear plewi,

It would also be great if in the description of the Formicarium gave the required quantity of sand/ Loam.

- I will work on the description

Another thing, posibly a different topic but why is there no English books on ant keeping, or are there?

- please look by Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar but the most users use our forum to get informations.

Greetings Martin

[plewi]

So is it posible to get a starter set with a different Formicarium obviously I will pay the difference?

Ive looked on Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar before but never found anything on ant keeping, but I guess your right about the forums here, they have been the most useful thing on the net about keeping ants so thanks for this great resource it has been my main source of knowledge so far and I knew nothing about ant keeping before finding your web site.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Paul.

[plewi]

Hi Martin,

This is what I am thinking of getting is there anything you think I am missing?

1. colonie: Lasius niger
2. Glass basin 30x20x20 cm with farm area (I decided I prefere this because it is deeper so I can have plants and branches for ants to climb and explore)
3. Lid glass + grid 30x20 cm
4. rubber plug 9,0 - 13,0 mm x2
5. sand loam mixture 1000g (is this enough for the nest part? I have some coral sand left over from a marine fish tank will this be ok to use for the farm section?)
6. Seramis granulate 200g (this stuff goes as a thin layer in the bottom of the nest bit?)
7. tweezer "spring steel"
8. sugar-honey-fluid 10ml
9. Feeding dish "round" 30/40mms x2 (geting two of these one for food and one for water)
10. sponge for feeding dish round 30mms (for water)
11. plastic pipette

Hope this is all I need, is it corect that you use a test tube with water and cottonwool to keep the nest damp, does that mean I need to place the test tube on top of the nest area so it slowly seeps onto the sand / loam keeping it moist or do the ants do that them selves or do I need to use the pipette to moisten it every so often.

If I get some black card fixed to cover the front will this be sufficient to cut out the light from the nest?

If I use normal vegetable cooking oil around the rim of the Formicarium to stop the ants escaping is this ok?

Sorry for so many questions but I want to get it right!

Thanks again for your help.

Paul.

[uta]

Yes, the rubber plug is the right for the 10mm hole and the lid glass + grid is OK for the 30x20x20mm glass basin.

I don't know what you mean with "black card"?

Yes, the normal vegetable-cooking-oil is possible to stop the ants escaping.

[plewi]

I have placed my order now so hopefully it will be here in a few days hopefully all this stuff will be ok.

I don't know what you mean with "black card"?

All I meant is if I get something to cover the front were the nest is that will cut out the light so the ants are more likely to dig up to the glass so when I remove it I will be able to see them.

Where is the best place to keep the formicarium is it ok to keep them in my bedroom? I know it's summer at the moment but do they need to be moved outside during winter for hibernation? Do you still feed them and give them water when hibernating? How do you know when they are ready to stop or start hibernating and how long will this be?

I will get some pictures posted on here when I have it all set up to make sure it is ok.

Thanks again,


Paul.

[Martin S.]

On the window is not a good place, because the sun can make a very high temperatur and the ants will died.

In the hibernation is water important for the ants.

Greetings Martin

[plewi]

Hi,

I will definatly keep it out of the sun there is no where in my room that gets direct sunlight anyway.

Thanks again for your help I will keep you posted.

Paul.

[plewi]

I got my ants a few days ago all seems to be going well so far I have started a web log to show how things are getting on which you can see here

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Paul.

[Martin S.]

Thanks, perhaps you can upload some photos of your new formicarium.

Martin

[plewi]

Thanks, perhaps you can upload some photos of your new formicarium.

Ive added some pictures, click on the thumbnails for a closer look, I will put some more on soon I might even make a gallery if I get chance.

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