ANTSTORE World of Ants

[heeksy]

what type of seeds are best for them. i went to get grass seeds as i read these will be good, but every where only has big bags for loads of money. is it worth feeding seeds yet ? its a bit annoying because my wifes friend stayed with us until last week and she lived on mixed seeds??? thats all i ever saw her eat, she was still big.

thanks for the help everyone

[darradar]

she was still big

I like it......

You can buy grass seed at your local "Wilkinsons" store, if you have one in your area, it can be purchased in whatever quantity you like, and very cheaply as its sold loose.

Did you sort a plaster nest?

[heeksy]

yeah iv got a wilkinsons around the corner so ill try them. I made a plaster nest yesturday it just needs a little more time to dry properly and i got some arcylic to put on top.

i made a reservoir in it to keep it moist. dont know if it will work so i put an extra hole in it to add a water tube incase.

the only problem iv got now is heating, its not 22 to 30 degres. i was thinking a heat matt if i can get one in the next week. just sit the plaster nest on that?

[darradar]

yeah I have a small 4x5 " heat matt, wich I have placed to one corner of the nest (obviously outside under the galss tank) it is positioned in such a way, that 2 chambers are above it, at first they settled in to the chamber right on top of it, but i guess it was a little too warm, so they moved to the one above, which must be providing the temperature they prefer, as they are now thriving, and the eggs,larvae and cocoons are growing much faster with the added warmth.
So just make it so they heat is distributed in a way that different chambers get differnt amounts. (ie don't get a heat matt to cover the whole area of the nest)
Aslo it's the same for my water reserve, ther are chambers close to it, and chambers father away, so as the colony grows they can utilise them to thier own needs.

[heeksy]

the nest is only small, about 300mm x 200 with 6 chambers. i didnt make it to big to try and stop them using it for trash as well.

il have alook on the internet and see how quick i can get one and thats small enough.

do you use a thermostat or just leave it on. i dont know how they work so im guessing you need a thermostat to atleast turn the temp up and down or do they run constant at the same temp.

the biggest problem i got now is talking my wife into keeping them inside the house somewhere.

[Sced]

@darradar

Hi, i have a heat map but im a little unsure on how to work it, did you get your 4x5" from cornish crispa? Because i have a 4x5" too. Can you help me out?

[darradar]

Heesky, No I dont use a thermostat for this one, as it only generates a small amount of heat, it bieng the smallest you can buy, I have many heat matts larger as i also keep tarantula, none of which i use thermostas with, heatmatts are really used for a constant source of low heat, yuo would need a thermostat for a heat bulb, as they give out greater amounts of heat.

Sced, no i didnt get mine from cornishcrispa, though it will indeed be the same kind of matt, just position it to where you want the heat to be, for ecample, if yuo have a place where chambers are empty, I would think about placing it there, then as the ants realise its warmer, thay can move on thier own accord, however, if yuo place it directly to where yuor queen is, she might find it too warm, and not have a place to move out to, I hope yuo understand what I am trying to say here.

[heeksy]

thanks for the help darradar, iv just seen a 4 x 5" heat matt on the net so i might get that its only a tenner with delivery.

im only using a small plater nest and a small tub for now until or if the coloney gets bigger, so shall i put half under the nest and half under the container (basin)? and with the heat matt shall i put something under the heat matt to protect the table, and something between the heat matt and the nest like some glass? iv got loads of thin acrylic?

[darradar]

yeah sitting it on a some acrylic will, be ok, i guess yuo could sandwich it between 2 pieces protecting yuor table also, but like i said, they are very low heated, and mine is directly on the wooden shelf, and has not left any marks, (lol but then i dont got a wife to be nagging me, so maybe yuo should, i dont wanna be the reason for yuor divorce ) and yes only put half under the nest, just so there are heated chambers and un heated chambers, In the wild they would naturally have warmer/colder chambers, and as we are creating a sythentic enviroment we sould strive to make them as close as possible to this.

(My nest is only 400mmx150mm upright so the heat in mine rises through the nest)

Wow I can't believe that I am able to offer help to others, I have learnt sooooo much within these forums, I really have spent hours and hours reading, I find the ant economy/world fascintaing, I do hope if any experts out there will correct me, if any of the advise i have offerd here is wrong. I myself still have much to learn.

[JimmyVe]

Wow I can't believe that I am able to offer help to others, I have learnt sooooo much within these forums, I really have spent hours and hours reading, I find the ant economy/world fascintaing, I do hope if any experts out there will correct me, if any of the advise i have offerd here is wrong. I myself still have much to learn.

That is the great thing about a forum like this. Every one has his one experience with a species that you can share and help others with it.
I to learn more about ants every day.

[heeksy]

thank you for the help, it was unexpected to get the queen so making a quick set up was hard work finding the materials and stuff.

she is still going. i set up with a plaster nest and have now got the heating going. i wanted messors from the start, but now i know that jumping in the deep end can be a mistake if you dont have a good set up ready. i got her unexpected and got all my help from this forum and the people that replied to my questions that have probly been asked so many times before.

i didnt expect her to last this long, its amazing she has as i didnt even have any where to keep her when i got the queen.

i will keep you up dated how shes doing, thanks again for the help.

[heeksy]

im going to go and buy seeds now, i was just thinking will i have to be careful of pesticides on them., maybe i should wash them?

[heeksy]

i have a problem, iv set everything up and the heat matt is on. there is alot of condensation build up on the plastic cover. i know its the temprature diffence in side the nest, but could it also be that the nest is still holding water from when i made it and it will soon stop? maybe a glass cover would be better than acrylic?

[JimmyVe]

Hi Heeksy,

no i don't think you need to worry about pesticides, if you buy seeds to that they normally give to birds there are no pesticides on them.

about the condensation, if it is not to bad it isn't a problem, i use heating lamps so you don't have much condensation form it. with the heat matt you do. glass or acrylic is about the same for this problem you also have condensation on it.
if you leave the heat meat off it does the condensation stays on long ?

[darradar]

hmm i think condenation is a problem for most nests with glass/acrylic lids, especaily when it's plaster/ytong, I myself have the same problem, but to remedy it, I have gotten some of the fines mesh from antstore and made a wooden framed lid, using the mesh, allowing for air circulation, it is still a little condensed in the nest, but the lid is not, (I had it coverd with a glass sheet before)
However, my nest is inside a fishtank and is up right, is yuor nest laid down? if so that could prove more difficult to remedy?