ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Indica]

.. and it changed the way I look at ants completely. Their dedication and cooperation is just so cool I want to see it with my own eyes.
So I'm thinking of making my own ant farm, but the thing is I know nothing about what they need and what specie to choose.

So, I was thinking of making this wooden box with one glass wall with dimensions like.. 20cm x 70cm base and 30cm height to keep on my computer desk, right behind the laptop, so it's nice to view at. Are these very bad dimensions?
As I cover I'm thinking to use some cloth material..

I was thinking that I will build this box, fill about half of it with dirt and plant grass on about 1/2 of the surface, add some rocks and cool stuff obstacles and such... when grass is grown a little then I will simply order a colony and 'throw' them in there. Again, bad idea?


About species... I was thinking of Lasius niger/flavus. I would like flavus more as they would be more visible from dirt.. but they are not available at the moment, so.. would they be good choice? I want something easy and not expensive.
From this documentary, I really liked these "Grass-cutter ants" is there some species that also what they do (cut grass.. obviously:D) that I could handle?



Ok, when I got everything I need, a farm and ants, what should I look after.. I got no idea, so if someone could give me just some short tips that I could look/ask more after would be really cool.
For example, hibernation how do I do it? just kinda.. lower the temperature in room and wait them to fall asleep or what? How long it lasts etc.

Thanks!

[SteveUK28]

Hello Indica and Welcome to the ant forum and the wonderfull world of ant keeping, Firstly let me tell you about the wonderfull search here.. It helps a lot lol.. and will more than answer all your questions..

Ok your idea of a farm is well.. not good imo.. You would be much better ordering a nice glass one from here.. they aint too expensive and would look miles better.. Not to mention it would be VERY hard to make the farm you suggest escape proof.
You could also consider a ytong nest.. which in my opinion is your best option as you would be able to see all the nest and all the ant behaviour. Hibernation is an easy process.. come around Sept/Oct time u just need to drop there temp slowly over a few weeks untill you get around 6-9oC.. and pretty much leave them there untill late feb.. offerin them little food in between.
Both ants you choose would be fine.. my personaly choice would be L. Niger as they grow so well and are just a lovely ant to watch.
Hope ive helped and as i said.. use the Search facilities here at ant store..
Steve

[Indica]

Hello Indica and Welcome to the ant forum and the wonderfull world of ant keeping, Firstly let me tell you about the wonderfull search here.. It helps a lot lol.. and will more than answer all your questions..

Ok your idea of a farm is well.. not good imo.. You would be much better ordering a nice glass one from here.. they aint too expensive and would look miles better.. Not to mention it would be VERY hard to make the farm you suggest escape proof.
You could also consider a ytong nest.. which in my opinion is your best option as you would be able to see all the nest and all the ant behaviour. Hibernation is an easy process.. come around Sept/Oct time u just need to drop there temp slowly over a few weeks untill you get around 6-9oC.. and pretty much leave them there untill late feb.. offerin them little food in between.
Both ants you choose would be fine.. my personaly choice would be L. Niger as they grow so well and are just a lovely ant to watch.
Hope ive helped and as i said.. use the Search facilities here at ant store..
Steve

Thanks for reply. After making this post I have been browsing this forums, just finished reading "Lasius niger - Care Sheet" from miszt and found it very helpful
Why would a box made of wood and glass be harder to make escape proof than same box made out of glass? If I seal all the edges with.. silicone for example and the cloth cover with duct-tape or something then I cant find a way how they could escape.. but I don't have any experience so I don't know.

For hibernation, does the temp. really need to be that low? If I want to keep them in the same room I sleep then I cant do that. Only place I can think of is on the window where its colder, but I its not that cold, might be on the winter though.. But would like 15*C be enough?

[SteveUK28]

Well ants are masters at escaping.. and not to mention L.Niger can get to very large numbers like 1000+ ants.. So u need a setup that can be expandable.. not to mention something that you can easily get in so u can feed and water them. As for the tempreture it does need to be colder.. some people use a fridge.. i have mine in my shed atm... But i will be buying my own little mini cooler to keep them next year. during hibernation ur not gonna see much anyways so there is no point in worrying about them not being in yoru bedroom... The Boom of groth after hibernation would be amazin to watch so its a MUST... After you get yourself some experience with some easy ants you "COULD" then move on to an easy exotic ant that does not need hibernation.

[Indica]

I really want to build it myself, not just buy it Then I can make it more custom, and also it feels nice that you have done something yourself.
Maybe you can suggest some other build that is easier to make escape proof? Not sure I like the ytong idea so much.

Also another question.. how to you count these things? Everybody saying like "I have had them for X amount of time, I already got Y workers".. Just by judging with eye?

[miszt]

Welcome to antstore indica

Farms are actually pretty easy to make, however they are also very cheap these days check out the store

Theres only 2 issues with your design, first the dimensions, the ants would love it, but you wont get a good view, you need 1cm - 6cm 'depth', depending on the species of ant, for Lasius Niger 1cm is good, that way you will see into the nest...not straight away tho, after a year or so there will be enough tunnels

Also if you fill the farm with dirt, you wont see the ants so well, but its more natural

anyways, the most important factor will be Moisture, which will bend the wood, unless you line the inside the farm correctly

tbh, i'd buy one first, see how it goes, learn about ants and what they need, then if you wana DIY one yourself, go for it, coz you will know what they need from a good farm i've made a few, always worked very well, aslong as you seal it up well with Aquarium safe silicon, and remeber all the bits you need, eg holes for tubing to feeding areas, moisture systems, lighting, escape proofing & drainage and more...

[Indica]

Welcome to antstore indica

Farms are actually pretty easy to make, however they are also very cheap these days check out the store

Theres only 2 issues with your design, first the dimensions, the ants would love it, but you wont get a good view, you need 1cm - 6cm 'depth', depending on the species of ant, for Lasius Niger 1cm is good, that way you will see into the nest...not straight away tho, after a year or so there will be enough tunnels

Also if you fill the farm with dirt, you wont see the ants so well, but its more natural

anyways, the most important factor will be Moisture, which will bend the wood, unless you line the inside the farm correctly

tbh, i'd buy one first, see how it goes, learn about ants and what they need, then if you wana DIY one yourself, go for it, coz you will know what they need from a good farm i've made a few, always worked very well, aslong as you seal it up well with Aquarium safe silicon, and remeber all the bits you need, eg holes for tubing to feeding areas, moisture systems, lighting, escape proofing & drainage and more...

I would like to create as natural environment for them as I can. That includes 3D world. I would happy without seeing their underground life for some time, although it would be nice. It said somewhere (I think it was some other site) that it is possible to guide them closer to the glass area, so you can see them better? If it is possible, then what would be the best way to do it?

About these things you listed that are needed for good farm, feeding ares wont be a big problem.
Extending option as well, just some sealed thingy you can attach tube to later on.
Moisture "System" could just be correctly moistened farm?
Lighting.. I have understood that as long as they don't get direct sunlight they would be ok?
Drainage.. I'm guessing that could be just some rocks at the bottom?

[JimmyVe]

Hello indica and welcome,

Very nice to hear you already read a bit here at the forum. (that way you find already 50% of the answers. )

It is possible to get them closer to the glass, if you have ants that need heating and you heat up the wall, they will put there brood close to it.

To keep you (sand/nest)area moist you just need to put some water in it, depending on the size of the farm, 1 ore 3 times a week.
Lighting would not be necessary, like you said, don't but them in direct sunlight but put them somewhere they have light during day time.

Little rocks at the bottom would be just fine, ore you can use clay split (you can find it here at the shop)




Let us know who you are,
here.
Thanks !

[Indica]

Hello indica and welcome,

Very nice to hear you already read a bit here at the forum. (that way you find already 50% of the answers. )

It is possible to get them closer to the glass, if you have ants that need heating and you heat up the wall, they will put there brood close to it.

Hey!
Heating it seems unnecessary, like I said I don't really care if I can't see what they are doing underground at start. Although it would be nice to see them as soon as possible
Is there no other method for that?

To keep you (sand/nest)area moist you just need to put some water in it, depending on the size of the farm, 1 ore 3 times a week.
Lighting would not be necessary, like you said, don't but them in direct sunlight but put them somewhere they have light during day time.

Little rocks at the bottom would be just fine, ore you can use clay split (you can find it here at the shop)

That seems easy enough Probably if I water grass and maybe some other plant(s) I will put in there will do the job of keeping the dirt/sand moist aswell?

Let us know who you are,
here.
Thanks !

Maybe sometimes later, never liked the idea of publishing too much info about myself on-line.. But maybe some day

Thanks


Also few more questions

What is a good 'material' I can use instead of dirt that ants like and is light-colored?

I first thought of making box out of wood, as it is easy to make stuff from wood (well, easier than from most of the other stuff) and I can find it everywhere. I think it would also look better, more natural. But.. I'm sure moist and ants will find a way to destroy wood sooner or later. Would there be anything I could do against it?

Only thing I got problem thinking out is the lid for farm. Can someone post some working solutions?

[Indica]

Sorry for double-post.

I had nothing to do, so I made a quick visual vision of my future farm. Any suggestions and changes are very welcome I did not make it in correct proportions.

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Basically what I was thinking with this was to put ants at first to the smaller room and put something infront of hole untill they decide to make their nest to this side. This way I can see what they are doing underground better When they are settled into this room I will open next one for them.

Also I was thinking of using transparent plastic or acrylic glass and then seal it with gypsum and silicone.

Also there are no ventilation on picture, I was thinking of putting a simple metal grid into the top-glass/plastic.

[ashhad1]

Thats a very nice presentation and idea of your future farm, I really like the idea of the 2 rooms were ones thinner and the other one is wider. Btw you can use sand/loam mixture which comes in colours and will make it easier to see your ants. You can get this sand/loam mixture from antstore.

[Indica]

Thats a very nice presentation and idea of your future farm, I really like the idea of the 2 rooms were ones thinner and the other one is wider. Btw you can use sand/loam mixture which comes in colours and will make it easier to see your ants. You can get this sand/loam mixture from antstore.

Thanks I was bored.

It says at the shop that colored ones are not for sensitive species. So that must mean they are not excactly good for the ants. Like I said I want to create as natural and good place for the ants.

The natural sand-loam mixture looks pretty dark on the picture, not much difference of the ligher colored dirt. Although the second picture with actual ants it look a lot more lighter..


Anyway, taking a re-look at shop I noticed this desert sand. It says it is 100% natural. What if I take a bag of desert sand and mix it 1 to 1 with loam like it says. Would that give same result as regular sand and loam?


Also.. I can see I need to order more stuff than just ants from ANTSTORE. If I recive ants and all the other stuff I need to get in maximum arrival time (5 days) then how much longer could I keep the ants in the test tube? If I would order ants seperately it would double the shipping costs.

[ashhad1]

I think the idea mixing desert sand with loam should be fine, I didnt understand the last bit to well but keep ur ants in the test tube in the fridge until end of feb or early march as their still hibernating.

[Indica]

I think the idea mixing desert sand with loam should be fine, I didnt understand the last bit to well but keep ur ants in the test tube in the fridge until end of feb or early march as their still hibernating.

How much different is the desert sand from usual sand?
Also, theres a beach with very white sand here, would that be better than desert sand? I think the beach sand is a bit more fine grained that desert sand?

And that was pretty much what I wanted to know. If I get the ants how long they survive in the test tube.. if they survive in the tube few more days after 5 days of transportation.

[ashhad1]

Ur challenging me here now lol
Well I cant really say which sand is better but if you do choose the white sand at your beach I suggest that you mx it with your loam and then bake it in the oven at 200C for 15-30 min
Why? because the beach sand is untreated and may contain nasty bacteria and such for your ants

Sorry that I could not help you in the sand difference

Your ants will survive a long time in the test tube aslong as you feed them