ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Lewis]

hi everyone,

does anyone know if it is possible to mix shop bought compost with sand as a substrate for these ants?
and also do you think they would burrow in this?

Regards

[SteveUK28]

i wouldnt myself as there is a very good chance the shop brought compost will have insecticides in it which could kill your ants. Instead i would go and buy some coconut bark or something along the same lines, if you do not know where to buy some just send me a PM and i'll point you in the right direction.

[bugsy]

I wouldn't either, I keep mine in a y-tong with no substrate. They are growing well and seem to love it, plus you can see everything including the progress of the colony. If you have the ability to view them then you can cateer for any thing that goes wrong. But if you want to anyway you can buy certain soils with no insecticides, just be careful.

[Markus]

In a ytong?
Could you take pictures, please?

[Lewis]

Well I have used the same compost for my emperor scopion and it is doing great so I do not no if it would be ok also for my camponotus ligniperda. The set up will include a y-tong up against the side of the glass with substrate behind it so that is why I was hopeing that they would not dig in the compost and choose the y-tong instead. I am planning on having the substrate deep enough so they can just walk in so they do not have to struggle climbing the sides of the y-tong. If you guys could give any other suggestions on a suitable substrate then I would be greatful. @ Steve, I will have a look at cocconut bark.

Regards

[Lewis]

I have a couple of other questions for you

- how wet should keep my y- tong
- how often should they be fed (expecting a queen with a few workers)
- what is the ideal temperature for these ants both in the nest and in the feeding area.
- and is there a good way of measuring the temp of the nest

Regards

[bugsy]

The main trouble with compost and soil etc in my opinion is:-
1) There is always that chance that your ants will dig in, more so when the colony is young and small, no problems with this, just you cant see them.
2) Soil/compost is very dark, Camponotus ligniperda are also dark with a slight red shine between the legs. Your viewing options are going to be reduced.

Your y-tong should be moist in one section so they can choose where to live. A small colony will eat very little, its the brood that need feeding and there wont be much for the first year. Sugar solution and pure water are a must. This species grows slow in the first year don't expect things to happen fast.

[Lewis]

thank you bugsy,
Looking at the pictures below I want to have the substrate so it is the same height as the y-tong so the ants don't have to struggle climbing up.
If it is not a good idea to have deep substrate to the what could I use instead?
As I said above the colony will be a queen with the possibility of a few workers so how long should I leave it before i put the ants in?

Regards

[bugsy]

Simply use a twig or cut up a piece of card to act like a bridge. They will find the route to the y-tong when they forage, although they may not even move from the test tube for weeks. Just don't force them, eventually they will move.

[Lewis]

I have found a way of solving my problem here are the photos.
I have ordered the ants .

[SteveUK28]

interesting idea there dude.. I think its most likely going to be too damp for them.. and they will outgrow it fairly quick if you have luck with them.. but nice attempt..

[Lewis]

how do you think it will get too damp?
and when they begin to outgrow it I will attach another tank by tube and also more y-tongs?

Regards

[Lewis]

they have arrived!!
with many more workers than I expected, 5 and a small pile of eggs.
I will keep you up-to date and see if i can upload some good pics.

Update:
they have explored most of the foraging area and have dragged a small cricket into the test tube.
the queen has also ventured to the edge of test tube before returning quickly.
also so one of the workers has been injured, possibly in postage. it's gaster is a bit squashed.

Update:
two workers have now entered the y-tong nest.
the temperature in the tank is 27C
and now the ants have moved the egg pile in

Update 21/04/2011:
the ants have blocked up the entrance to the y-tong and have dragged in another cricket.
luckily the worker with the damaged abdomen can still feed on honey
I think just part of the exoskeleton has come off.
the queen and brood have moved down on to the bottom chamber and seem to be doing OK.
i am heating these ants by putting a 7 watt heat mat against the glass where the nest is.

there are now two small larvea

[Lewis]

The larvae seem to be growing, but the eggs have not even started.
Do you think that the eggs that have already hatched into larvae are older than the other eggs pile.

Update:
the larvae are now medium to large (3 larvae and about 15 eggs)

[Lewis]

Update:

eggs: 10-15
small larvae: 10-15
medium larvae: 5-10
large larvae: 5-10
cocoons: 1
workers: 5
queen: 1

lot of brood