ANTSTORE World of Ants

[SirLenz0r]

Hi all,

I am very interested in starting with the Messor aciculatus.
http://antstore.net/shop/product_info.p ... latus.html
However, this species are not available with any workers.
Will a queen alone survive?

Thanks in advance

[Zeri]

Hey!

A queen will survive alone, yes.
But you have to wait much longer before you can see any activity.
I prefer starting with 10-15 workers. Because then, the colony is small, but not to small and you can watch them, become a bigger colony from time to time.

Maybe you should start with a other species for the first time thats similar to Messor aciculatus? You should get some experience in handling with more ants, first

I started with Messor barbarus (they are very cheap, too) and 15 workers. Now I have about 50+ workers and they are very interesting to watch. Every week they're getting bigger and bigger

Hope this helps you. Sorry for my english, I'm german

[SirLenz0r]

Thanks,

Doing a great job in english (your english is better than my german).

I considered Messor barbarus, but the downside is: they hibernate. Not only is ofcourse a bit boring, but I've no place in my house to keep them at 'below room temperature'.
I read the Messor aciculatus was pretty easy to keep as well, like the Messor barbarus.

However, I would like to start with some workers, so I can't really make up my mind yet.
Any suggestions would be welcome

Would this be a good home?
http://antstore.net/shop/product_info.p ... x25x5.html
I intend to modify it a bit by adding tube-connections in sides, so I can always expand it later if necessary.

[Zeri]

Hey,

thank you too

Hm okay, I see. But you can hibernate them at about 17°C without problems.
At the beginning I had the same thoughts about that it could be boring. But now, I'm glad that they hibernate, because I had so much other thinks to do in the past months..that was really good
And they are active in hibernation, too. They dont "sleep" like many people think. Or you dont hibernate them..I read, that some german people did that with them Messor barbarus and there were no negative aspects about it

This is what I ordered a few months, that should be a good set:

http://antstore.net/shop/product_info.p ... ungen.html
http://antstore.net/shop/product_info.p ... 20-cm.html
http://antstore.net/shop/product_info.p ... 1000g.html
http://antstore.net/shop/product_info.p ... -60cm.html
http://antstore.net/shop/product_info.p ... -10ml.html
http://antstore.net/shop/product_info.p ... -0-mm.html (2x)

At the beginning I had the same Ytong like you want to order. Problem is: you can't expand, like you already noticed.
Are you sure that you can cut glass?

Fact is: Your colony will move in such a big Ytong nest with a population of about 100-150+ and only use 1 or 2 chambers.
Normally they live in the test tube until they reach a population of 60+...yes, the tube has more space than you think

Ants dont like it to big, like we humans or other animals. They prefer smaller space, so they always touch each other.
Start with the glass basin and put the test tube inside. When you notice that they're searching for more space, you can put a extra nest inside the glass basin.
And when you see that this extra nest gets filled out, THEN you can put an external nest to the glass basin.

Trust me, that's how I do it now They won't move in an external nest when the colony is to small

I hope I could help you

[SirLenz0r]

Ah, that clears things up. I think It's wise for me to start with Messor barbarus.

Would it be good to start with ants this time of year? since its their hibernation time? (I've been wanting to have ants for years, but now I cant wait much longer )

To make a socket for a tube, I can drill glass, but I planned to cut the YTong (I've seen pictured of people using hot glue to glue a a socket in YTong).
The main reason for me to choose that Ytong nest was that its finished, so its unlikely I screw it up when i have to mess around a lot myself :p

But I guess you are right: its a big home, for a small number of ants (for now).
So I'll take your advice and start with just the basin.
I think that would keep them happy for a few.. months?

[Zeri]

Hey,


it's perfect to start now with a colony. Normally, they hibernate until March or April, but a few people finish their hibernation in January - like me.
I started "waking them up" 2 weeks ago and they're doing great

Another problem for the Ytong is: All Messor species are strong enough to bite through Ytong when they are a bigger colony
So with the basin, you are safe

Later you can put this nest inside the basin: http://antstore.net/shop/product_info.p ... -19x5.html

Or you buy a basin where the nest fits perfectly in and use it as a extern nest - thats what I will do in future.

The basin I suggest you will be enough till August next year, I think So you have enough time to think about your future plans with the colony

[SirLenz0r]

Thats great!
Thanks a lot for your help!!!

I'll probably need to wait a bit more since the Messor barbarus just unavailable with any workers. bad luck. Hope they'll get them soon again