ANTSTORE World of Ants

[jartok]

Ok i just want to clarify everything with these ants before purchase make sure im on the right track and get all my stuff sorted

So first of all im on about Messor barbarus

they need dry climate so i dont need to water anything but the nest and only half this for other half will be for the seeds

i see it says radiant heater could i not just use a 14w or so heat mat that doesnt heat the air but heats the ants or do i need this and a bulb etc

any recommondations on what seeds they prefer
and hibernation is december to feb at 15c

also these better with live or dead prey

any information thats not provided be helpfull itll be some weeks before i get shed converted with all glass installed but i like to make sure everything is known in my head way in advance

[Ant mad]

I just keep mine at room tempature and they are ok so of couse they will grow a littel slower but they are doing fine.
Mine like grass seeds and budgie seed but any others that i find they seem to take anyway.
Well normaly i would say dead insects over alive but that would also depend on nest size.
Hope this help.

[jartok]

Ok didnt realise they would take bird seeds im gonna go cosco and buy a commercial big bag cheaply then same for grass seeds .

theyll be going in shed so itll be same temp in there then it is outside pretty much so they will need a heat mat for sure .

maybe bring them in my room till a bit more established


poporn seeds work ? got bags that stuff aswell already

[gabranth]

they won't need seeds when there small and you need to give them freshly killed insects ( i feed mine maggots they love them ) as thats were most of there water comes from when there bigger you can try giving them water but messors drown easy. you can use a heat mat but you need to use a thermostat or you will cook your ants

[jartok]

ok i order fruit flies and ordered Lucky Reptile ThermoControl PROII Thermostat/CoolerStat

[gabranth]

are you going to order just a queen from ant store ?

[jartok]

yes only a queen is available is there anything i need to do with just a queen i dont mind waiting for colony to grow at all

[Ant mad]

Starting a nest from just a queen is fairly hard to do even at the best of times.
but if you do want a few workers here: Edit Antstore - No advertisement for other shops! House regulation - point 8.)

[gabranth]

Edit Antstore - No advertisement for other shops! House regulation - point 8.)

lolz ant store he's only trying to help him unless you guys think its a good idea for a newbie to start with a single messor queen

[jartok]

im pretty good at rearing and lucky with any animals i have if so i should be fine ill just move my dvd player out the way for her..crickets for breeding took other part frozen fruit flies be ok obv once thawed?

[gabranth]

don't put her anywhere near a dvd player or anything that can make small vibrations or she will get stressed and you can give them frozen fruit flies

[Ant mad]

Edit Antstore - No advertisement for other shops! House regulation - point 8.)

sorry didn't know

edit Antstore - thanks for your understanding!

[jartok]

ok queen is gonna be here soon - just wanted to know about humidity i see it says dry as shes in tube its ok then as shell just sit on wet cotton so all good but when i move them just keep the aerated block moist but not too wet like i can do with my rubra or niger

[gabranth]

just keep part of the ytong moist around 1/3rd of it i think there rest dry otherwise the seeds will germinate

[jartok]

Shes arrived and healthy i put her in plastic tube with another tube in other half which doesnt have the heat mat on so hopefully all good.

the temps rised and my rubra queens are now moving about out the tube and same with workers im guessing this week of hot temps wont affect to much ?

ah just checked and i had a queen running loose caged her and added the 2 too the nest they seem to be ok they was not attacked or anything so all good im guessing