ANTSTORE World of Ants

[dodgydogman]

I have a question. I have a colony of Acromyrmex. Acromyrmex have fungus gardens that can fill whole farms very fast... Can you see where I'm going with this?
What should I do for humidity when the fungus grows too large? I cannot simply spray inside, apart from the fact that the ants will swarm out, spraying the fungus will do substantial damage to it. What do leaf cutter owners do?
Help amazing, magical, antstore forum!

[tail__]

The leafcutters live only in areas with high air humidity, so they don't have problems with drought. You need to simulate tropical climate, and this can be done e.g. by adding a bowl of water inside (on the arena), closing the formicarium almost tight (of course some air circuit is needed) and warming, the water will vaporize and moisten the air. Every formicarium with leafcutters I saw had a lot of water inside.

And of course the nest substrate should be always at least partially moist, as for all other ants.

[dodgydogman]

Thanks. I have been keeping a jam jar lid with water and cotton wool inside the farm but the humidity just keeps decreasing and I have to spraw again. Are there any other tips for keeping humidity, and what should I do when the fungus gets too large?

[donbilbo]

Some people fill their basins with a layer of gypsum or other material capable of holding humidity over a longer period of time. What i have read about those ants allways told that there has to be no mist on the lid at any time. (waterdrops can destroy fungus) German expert antkeeper Erne wrote that he does not have to add humidity on this huge fungus garden any more. The ants carry in wet leaves and other material to regulate humidity on their own.

[Phasmid]

Yes, like donbilbo said, you can put solid material into the basin to retain water, I use thick plaster for mine (needs to be very thick when liquid other wise, once dry and you put the ants in, the ants will burrow into it like mud). Also when the colony is bigger they will help with humidity but you will still have to occasionaly add water if the room you keep them in is quite dry.
@tail_ : Although this is true that most leaf cutter ants living in humid environments, remember they are not always from humid environments, Acromyrmex versicolor , for example, lives in a desert.

[dodgydogman]

Ok thanks once again magic antstoreforum ^^. I have one more question (its a fairly nooby one (sorry ) ); If i wanted to attach a "flexible tube glassy 24/20 mm" to two other containers, what should I buy?