ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Wildbird]

All

OK I got this ant farm for my 40th birthday which made a real change from socks, hankies and aftershave that passes as acid . Amazingly though once I actually went and bought the ants they were truely fasanating

I do have a couple of questions the ants came about 3 weeks ago (no queen) after a couple of issues like opening the box "damm there fast" all settled down until this week, I had put a small bit of Banana in the feeding box and then I had to spend a week away when I got back the banana was mouldy and 5 ants were dead, the next day another and today another 3 I only have about 10 left so my 2 questions are this.

Was it just the mould that killed so many? Are they really that sensitive? and at what point does the lack of ants make the whole colony (such as it was) break down, I don't really wanna kill the ones that are left as they've been fun to watch but I also don't want them to suffer in any way.

I also have about 4 ant nests in the garden filled with the same black ants can I trap and use these instead of buying more

all kind of newbie advice greatly accepted

Thanks

Paul

[miszt]

No point in collecting or buying ants unless they have a queen, they will die fairly fast, the black ants u see in your garden are probly Lasius niger, its probly one colony, unless u have a huge garden, Lasius niger often have satelite nests over a large area.

If you would like a Queen to start a colony off I have plenty that have eggs and larvae, for the cost of P&P (~£2) u can have a Queen within 3 months you will have a small colony in your farm

I'd recomend killing off the ants you have, u can do this humanly by leaving the farm in the freezer for half an hour, and then start with a new queen

if u'd like a queen, drop me a pm with ur address

[mpir]

Hi Wildbird, welcom to the forum.

Was it just the mould that killed so many? Are they really that sensitive? and at what point does the lack of ants make the whole colony (such as it was) break down, I don't really wanna kill the ones that are left as they've been fun to watch but I also don't want them to suffer in any way.

Mold is something you really don´t want to have in your farm. Ants produce chemicals to fight it but when it is overwhelming they can´t deal with it.
At what point colony breaks down? At the very moment they don´t have a queen. Colony without a queen is like a body without head. Eventually all the workers will die off. To have a healthy prosperous colony you NEED to have a queen.

I also have about 4 ant nests in the garden filled with the same black ants can I trap and use these instead of buying more

Sure. If you want to only observe few workers running around that will do. Don´t mix up different ants even if they are from the same species. Most likely they will fight and kill eachother.
Do what miszt suggested = get a REAL colony with a queen. It is so much fun to observe the growth and how they cooperate and take care of the brood.

Do look around the forum you´ll get a lot of answers to your questions.

Good luck, have fun

[Wildbird]

Thanks for the help and info

I have purchased the Antstore mini starter kit and it should arrive in a week or so, Miszt Thanks for your kind offer i'll PM you and sort once the stuff from antstore arrives.

I'll keep you all posted about how I get on, i'm sure i'll have lots of newbie questions along the way as well

Many Thanks
Paul

[miszt]

Most of my queens have cacoons now, so worker ants will be hatching in the next ~20-25 days np, let me know wen u want her

[JimmyVe]

Hi Wildbird and welcome,

I'll keep you all posted about how I get on, i'm sure i'll have lots of newbie questions along the way as well

Look around the forum a bit, there is much of information for newbie's here (there is a search engine)
If you still have questions just ask them and we will be glad to (try to) answer them.