ANTSTORE World of Ants

[AndyB]

Im thinking of getting some myrmica rubra, what things should i use in my basin, i already have it half filled with sand and loam and should i add a bit of tree or something lol. what is best for this species? thanks Andyb

[Zagone]

A y-tong is possibly favourable, and for a basin what you got sounds pretty allright allready. Just make sure you keep it moist, atleast the nest.

And make sure the basin is sealed properly. This is an agressive species so I'm sure they'll be wanting to explore your home aswell.

[SteveUK28]

Oh yes they very much like exploring.. i had a mega outbreak yesterday.. about 100 of them decided it was time to get over the ptfe under the lid and proceed to attack and raid my messor colony.. Luckly i only lost one messor.. however if i had not seen it.. then im sure the messors would be no more.. and they might even have moved on to my other ants that they share a top with... all good now tho

[Zagone]

Oh man! Glad you were their to act as UN.

I'm glad my Camponotus are't quite like that. They get out often, but it's usually only 1 or 2, and when I find them, I bring them right back.

Found one in my kitchen the other morning. >__<

And since I know I've got 14 workers, and then one died, so I checked in the nest but counted only 11.

So yeah, for eb-ing so big, they're quite hard to locate once outside the basin. Hehe, it's all good though, aslong as the queen stays in place.

[SteveUK28]

lol my substitutus do that.. ive found one downstairs before.. they do travel far.. ive got over 50 in my colony now tho.. think i might have to start feeding them up some more

[Zagone]

Oh yeah, that's alot more than mine. xD

In a year from now I could see myself getting a substitus colony though. I really love Camponotus species and
I think in a year I'll be ready to take on an exotic one.

But, aside from experience I don't have the room nor finances to get a set up for or the actual colony itself, hehe.

[SteveUK28]

i have to admit they have been fairly simple.. as long as the heat mat is up agianst the ytong they really are easy to keep.

[Zagone]

Hehe, that's good to know. :3

A heat mat, is that one of those flat plastic things with some metal running through it like a serpentine?

[SteveUK28]

kind of yes.

[Zagone]

Good, I've allways wondered. I wanna get one of those for my Messor minor hesperius once they start using their y-tong.

[AndyB]

Got a few questions

1) do they get past the ant block easy or do you have to put a thick line to stop them?

2) how do you moist the nest?

3) how many queens come with a antstore colony?

4) could i put a tray of water under the basin, and have the basin just above the water level?

thanks AndyB

[Zagone]

I don't remember what kind of nest you were going for, but if you're going for y-tong you can carve out 'legs' under it that you can stick into alow tray of water and it'll soak up into the y-tong very efficiently.

If you're going for a different nest, I'm sure otehr people have ebtter ideas then I.

[AndyB]

I was going for a basin nest but what is a ytong, i understand its a breese block, (don't know how its spelt) or is it another material,could you tell me steps of how to make one, sorry for all the questions, i just don't want to loose a colony to inexperience, thanks

[SteveUK28]

Ytong or aerated concrete is by far the best nest for these ants in my opinion. You can buy blocks from wicks they are about £1.10 i believe, and if u buy one thats got a chipped corner they will knock more off

You basicaly use a chisel/screwdriver/dremel to carve out chambers in pretty much any shape you want.. then cover it with some glass.. i use photo frames from asda.. costing about £1.50, I did used to seal it with aquatic sealant.. but the last few times ive just used duck tape and that works fine. Then you connect it to a basin, i use them plastic fish tank you can buy from wilkos at about £5ish, i usualy heat the bottom with a candle then push through a plastic tube... which then connects to the ytong... and there u have a simple setup. Ohh and you also carve the leg at the botom so it can fit into a dish of water. There is a how to.. if you do a search you'll find it easy.

I think that the colonys antstore sell only come with one queen. Hope this helps.

[AndyB]

ok thanks, im gunna do that