ANTSTORE World of Ants

[towelie]

Hi!

Do you know how long the formicarien gel will last once it has been made up and placed in an ant farm? Is it agar-based? Does it contain any bacteria inhibitor (like the antworks gel supposedly does) to prevent mildew? I do not want the gel to become mouldy after several months...

Also, does it contain nutrition like the antworks gel, or is it simply a substance they can tunnel within, and they will still need to be fed separately?

Thanks

[towelie]

Just to clarify, I would like gel that did not contain any nutrition if possible, so they can be fed in the normal way. Also I believe the sugar content affects the possibility of mold/mildew growth, but not sure how exactly.

[JimmyVe]

Hi Towelie,

if i am correct this is not a feeding powder it is more like gel that is in antworks. So they dig tunnels in it and it gives them water (kinda) but it is not enough for keeping a colony a live. (if that is what you want to do)
If you like keeping ants you better build a nice farm for them.

Hope this helps you along.

Greets

[towelie]

Thanks JimmyVe - that's great. Yeah, I just want it so they can tunnel, I want to feed them myself and build a proper farm with area for foraging etc. Just want to see their tunnels easier than you can in sand/soil

[JimmyVe]

you have a point there. For a good look in the nest i use a Y-tong nest, but they don't dig tunnels in there. You have to make them yourself.

If you are new at keeping ants, check out the rest of the forum, there is lot of good information about keeping ants in there.

Greets and good luck.

[Fabian]

Hi!

Keeping ants in a gel farm is not very naturally, the ants wont feel like they do in the nature, like JimmyVe i suggest a ytong nest, or a very natural nest in the earth. The gel was developt for space, because scientist wanted to know what the ants behavior ist with out the gravitational pull of the earth, not for a long living of the ants!

[sithmaster676]

even with a ytong nest it is not completely natural because they don't have to build nests like in the garden or ground that is why i generally use old fish tanks it provides lots of room for digging and exploration on the surface as my tank is at least a meter and a half in length so it gives them a lot of room
Sithmaster676
please don't take offense by this post it meant no one any grieve

[LeonofLondon]

I think ytongs are ok though especialy if substrate is avialable for ants to add for them selves.

[sithmaster676]

yeah that makes it better because then they can add sand to the nest itselve if wanted
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

That is true, the only reason i use y-tong nest is because you can see in the nest. With a sand nest this in not possible.

[sithmaster676]

with a colony that my best friend kept, his was kept in a smaller tank than the one i have my colony in and they used the sides of the tank to get heat from the the side that is covered in sunlight so that side has many chambers so viewing them is simple but i do agree until a colony gets to several hundreds in size it is unlikely that you will see under ground nest activity
Sithmaster676