ANTSTORE World of Ants

[JimmyVe]

In my setup i never had mould... (with this species and this setup)

[sithmaster676]

i have definitively decided that this species will be the new colony that i will although i have heard that they need dry areas in the ytong so that the seeds done germinate so im not sure how i could make part of my ytong dry and the rest moist.
Sithmaster676

[mpir]

You still haven't figured it out? lol It's quite easy actually. The trick is to have only part of the ytong block in the water. Lets say only the far right part. In this case only the right part of the ytong will be moist and the left will be dry. Or in case you have vertical nest like this guy on this photo:

http://www.antstore.net/album_mod/uploa ... 340021.jpg

only the lower part of the nest is wet and the upper is dry.

No big deal.

[Purifier]

@JimmyVe: I´m jealous of you

Maybe when i change from grits to millet.....i pray for that! Dont want loose my little lovely Messor spec.

[JimmyVe]

Thanks

@ Sith: they in deed need a dry place to store there seeds.

[sithmaster676]

well i cant make one part dry and the other moist using that method because my block isn't actually ytong is what we call a breeze block, it absorbs water but most of it has to be sitting in it so im either going to have to corner of a bit of the tray they are in so that water cant get past or think of a different way.
also the size of the block worries me it is around 12 inches by 8 inches the biggest chambers are around 2 inches across and the same in height, will this be suitable
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

To start with i think it is suitable.

[SteveUK28]

Hi guys... I've been thinking about what ants to get next summer after ive got me a bit of experience i dont want nothing thats gonna need to much work.. I was thinking about dives.. but i think they might need a little bit more experience than i have.. which atm is like practicaly none lol So ive been looking at Messor spec. Do you guys think that would be easy enough?? I have read they are very easy to keep??
Just need it warm with a dry climate.. I was thinking i could probabily create a setup simular to the one miszt made with a ytong block in a tank and sand on top... Let me know what you think please

[damondeionno]

Can anyone tell me the main differences between structor, capitatus and barbarus. I know about the colour of barbarus, but what other differences are there? Behaviour? Size? Environment? etc.

[Purifier]

@Steve: I believe Polyrhachis dives is easier to keep than Messor. They are a little bit special (dry and wet nest, seeds for meal, problems with the seed like germination or molding of em). So i believe Polys are easier....but thats my opinion

[JimmyVe]

Messor species are more stress sensitive also. Especially the queen.

Can anyone tell me the main differences between structor, capitatus and barbarus. I know about the colour of barbarus, but what other differences are there? Behaviour? Size? Environment? etc.

structor is a more central Europe ant.
capitatus and barbarus are south Europe ants.
barbarus are the biggest from the three (as for as i know)

They behave about the same, they are all harvest ants.

[damondeionno]

Thank you Jimmy. I have seen them all in their natural habitats. I thought capitatus was the largest from memory - but that could be wrong.

I know their behaviour is likely to be mostly the same, but if anyone has kept more than one species, I would love to hear about the little differences.

[JimmyVe]

Cant help you with that, i only keep barbarus. I told you i'm not sure about that being the biggest one.

[mpir]

@SteveUK28

I think M. barbarus is a great choice. My only advice to you would be: Dont´t buy just the queen. Buy a small colony. Queen only can be a bit problematic sometimes - read some of the Verban´s posts.

Anyway, I got a queen with 5 workers in the spring by the end of the year I´ve had more than 100 workers and 2 of them are majors. The best thing about them is that you don´t have to prepare sweet water. Just make sure they have drinking water and some seeds and they are ok for weeks.

[SteveUK28]

mpir do u have urs in a ytong ?