ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Joshposh]

hi. im new to ants so i was thinking of starting off easily with some Lasius niger ants. ive bought a big, clear box to keep them in but im not sure if the ants will be abble to escape from it...

so i thought if i put another box below filled with water it would create a moat so the ants wouldnt escape, but then i was thinking can Lasius niger swim?

thanks, josh.

[kashmir79]

no im pretty sure they cant swim

[Moux]

but then can walk on the water you have zo put a pit soap into the water

[Sphecomyrmex]

I know that Lasius alienus can swim with her antennae very long. I think that Lasius niger can swim too.

[miszt]

Smaller Lasius Niger can kind of swim, but only because they can easily get onto the waters surface tension, a bit like a pond skater, as Moux said, put a single drop of washing up liquid in the water and the surface tension will be broken to they cant swim



However, for lasius niger, i highly recomend a traditional farm, otherwise you wont be able to see into the nest very well, you should also have the nest area and foraging area seperate so that you do not need to upset the nest every time you feed them

Check out the starter sets in the shop here for sum ideas

[JimmyVe]

I never saw mine swim. but it is best to make sure, like Moux and mizst recommend, a drop of washing up liquid would do the trick.

[Joshposh]

thanks for your answers and your help.

[mpir]

@Joshposh

Also keep in mind that ants sometimes fall into the water by accidnet. Then there are three options:
- ant drowns
- ant manages to get out of the water and back into the farm
- ant manages to get out of the water on the "wrong" side
Consider all options. I've seen them all happen with my island set up and soon abadoned this type of farm as I was loosing too many ants too fast.

Good luck

[miszt]

a good way to deal with swiming ants is to put a layer of Vasaline on the otherside of the moat, that goes under the water