ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Mo]

Hello

I have just started to get interested in these fascinating creatures and am about to invest in my first Ant farm. I have been recommended your site from someone here in the United Kingdom who has bought colonies from you before.

I would like to purchase a particularly "low-maintenance" species of ant, apart from Lasius Niger. I live in Britain, and I believe thats the most common species so would prefer something more exotic! I am considering Tapinoma erraticum.

I have many questions which I have tried to break down below:

1) I will probably be buying the "Ameisenfarm Standard" as I do not have wall-space free for the Deluxe model. However I am not sure if it will be big enough? I do not want my colony to outgrow their surroundings. Also is there any way that you can attach "feet" to the Ameisenfarm Deluxe model, instead of wall mounting it? This way I could buy the bigger model...

2) What "ground" do you recommend for Tapinoma erraticum?

3) I would like to minimise the cleaning and risk of mould, so I am going to have a separate foraging area in a small PVC tub (in your "containers" section) connected to the farm. I am also considering a separate waste area on similar principles. Is there any way I can encourage them to use an empty chamber for waste?

4) What is the best way to maintain humidity in the Ant Farm?

I have read "gonzobey"s previous response to Azzer's question so I know what accessories I need to get.

I will be ordering the following:

Ameisenfarm Standard
Behälter 125 ml - for foraging area
Ameisen-PVC-Terrarium - for future expansion of colony
Ground which you recommend in Question (2)
Thermometer / Digital
Schutznetz to prevent break-outs
Rote PVC-Abdeckfolie klebend - so I can make them think they are underground
Schlauch glasklar 10 mm - so I can connect the PVC tub and other items to the Ameisenfarm (how can I specify the length I require when I order?)
Pipette - so I can add water to Farm
Nest-Röhrchen versch. Größen - for a water supply in the Foraging Area
Futter: Konservierte Insekten - protein!

Is there anything I have missed out?

Sorry that the message is so long! I would be very grateful if you could help, as I am worried I might make a mistake!

Danke Schon <--- the only German I know

and Happy New Year!

Mo

[gonzobey]

I also wish you a happy new year - hope you have a good slide (so we said in german). But now to syour questions:

1) You can have the "feets" from the "Ameisenfarm Stadart" seperate to the "Ameisenfarm Deluxe" to stick on - just notice in the offer-comment.

2) For the "Ameisenfarm Deluxe" you need 2x sand and 2x loam to mix these subtrates. If you want you can search some smal pebbels to put the on the top of the sand-loam-composite (thats a little bit "real nature").

3) To minimise the mould problem you must have a good hand (by trying you will get it) how much water you get into for humidity. When the colony grow larger you need an seperate foraging area and in the most cases the ants put their waste far away from the nest, so outside of the "Ameisenfarm"... so easy to clean. You its not necessary to have another seperate waste area (not by this specie, but if want you can use it).

4) There are no rules to keep the best way of humidity - you can only try and watch the results. By an sand-loam-composite you can see if there is enough humidity when the composide colored a little bit darker when it soak up with water. These specie don´t need so much humidity so don´t make it wet.

Now a few words to your order:
- you don´t need the "Behälter 125ml" - just combinine the PVC-Basin (thats enough)
- "Schlauch glasklar 10mm" you get always 1m
- you also need a smal bowl to give the honeywater or death insects f.e. Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar

I hope that all your questions had been answered as well. Don´t be shy to ask more, if you have some more questions. And just let me and the others here know which experience you made with these ants :O)

[Mo]

Thanks for your fast and informative reply!

Another question! The main reason I am choosing Tapinoma Erraticum, even though they are more expensive, is because they are polygynous - this gives me some security if one queen dies then at least I will have the chance of the colony succeeding with another queen. When I order one colony, how many queens will I recieve?

Also how much will it cost for shipping the large order I am making to the United Kingdom?

Thanks again

[gonzobey]

At the time we have only one colony Tapinoma erraticum with 4 queens and a few workers (~15).

I talked with Martin Sebesta and he said that you can have Tapinoma nigerium if you want a greater colony. By the way there´s only one colony, too, with 2 queens and many workers (~100). He will reduce the price from 139 € to 50€, when you´ll order till the end of the month.

Now to the shipping-price: As standart parcel the price to the UK is 15€ whether how great is the order. Hope that this could help you )

Greetings
Bianca

[Mo]

Thanks again Bianca, I am just doing some more research on the species you mention Tapinoma Nigerrimum before I make the order! Is the habitat the same as for T erraticum?

[gonzobey]

The habitat for T. nigerum is not the same, but similar. T. nigerium lives in warmer regions like T. erraticum, so you will need one heat source f.e. a heating or heat radiation.

You can fit out the formicarium with sand, loam and pebbles and some plants if you want. Just spend some time for collecting informations and then decide, its one thing that I couldn´t make for you!

Greetings
Bianca

[Mo]

Hello Bianca

Sorry for the late reply. I did some research on Tapinoma Erraticum and I have decided they are probably not the suitable for me. I am often not at home so leaving the heating pad on all the time may be a fire hazard. Also they are non-native to the UK, so if they escaped or I had to release them this may cause problems with native ants.

I have now decided (definitely this time!) to go with Myrmica Rubra. They are polygynous, and are bigger so I can see them better!

I will go with the same setup as before, can I just ask you a few more questions:

1) What ground do you recommend - will Sand and Loam be suitable as for T erraticum? I see you list Mould but I'm not sure if that's the right word - do you mean soil?

2) They are bigger ants, will the 8mm gap between the walls in Ameisenfarm deluxe/standard be suitable for them?

3) Will there be any problem in sending the ants as its winter? Will they die in transit?

4) I will be drilling extra holes in the Ameisenfarm to add Foraging Areas, Waste Areas etc, how strong is the perspex/plastic that is used in the farms as I don't want to break it?

Thanks for all your help (again!)



Mo

[Mo]

Whoops! I mean T Nigerrimum in the first sentence above!

[gonzobey]

Hello Mo!

1) You can use a sand-loam-composite and above this a little bit mould (other word: humus soil)

2) The Antfarm standart or deluxe is wide enough for Myrmica rubra.

3) sending Myrmica rubra would not be porblematic during the winter. When its to cold the ant congealing and will "wake up" after e few time by warer temperatures. Sure theres no risk and they will not die by transit.

4) The perspex is 3mm strong and we never heard about breake-problems. For Myrmica rubra you only need a foraging area, an waste area is not necessary, but if you want you can combine it.

Hope this could helped you, let me know when the ants arrived and how it goes...

Greetings
Bianca

[Mo]

Thanks Bianca, I will be placing the order tonight. Can you request from M Sebesta that he gives me the "greatest" Myrmica Rubra colony please Otherwise I will have too much empty space in my Ameisenfarm Deluxe!

Mo

[Mo]

Bianca,

I just realised I forgot to add the "feet" to my Ameisenfarm Delux, can you guys add it?

Order no: 040114-87824

[gonzobey]

Hello Mo!

You have luck, the paket is ready and will today be send with the "feets". Our stock of ants is not here in berlin, it´s nearly to bonn. I think the person there had allready send the Myrmica rubra because today he will arrive in berlin for the Green Week, So I can´t say anymore about your personally wish.

Let me know when the ants arrived and how it goes!

Greetings
Bianca

[Mo]

I'm really looking forward to getting them now

Will let you know when they've arrived. As you probably saw I bought a lot of extra stuff, as if this first colony is successful I will buy some more exotic species from you at a later date.

Many thanks for all your help and advice Bianca, I only ended up buying because of your excellent help and service - in fact I think you should ask M. Sebesta for a pay-rise!

PS. One last question, I paid extra for the fast shipping option, when do you think it will arrive, and is there a tracking number for the parcel once it has entered this country?

[Mo]

Hi

My ants arrived today, I've left them in a cool dark place so hopefully they'll be OK. But I haven't had my antfarm order yet!

[gonzobey]

Hi Mo!

Sorry that I write you so late, but at the weekend I only sleep because of an hardly bronchitis and yesterday I had an accident. Here in berlin the wheter was very snowly and somebody crashed me. Now feeling better because the bronchitis is going away but jet having a whiplash and warring a ruffle (

But now enough from me, coming to you:
On the 15th this month we had send your nest order to you, so it will arrive you soon, tomorrow or the day after. Please, let me know if everything is fine!

Greetings
Bianca