ANTSTORE World of Ants

[jackal]

Hello to all
This is the ant farm for Messor barbarus ended.
Now laks only the queen.
Say your opinion.

[mpir]

It looks ok. Make sure to keep half of it damp and half dry. First it will be really big for only the queen. But when the workers start coming they will quickly out grow it. Don't forget to feed seeds to messor.

[JimmyVe]

It looks good, but:
Is it sand on the bottom ? so yes where did you get it ? make sure there are no moulds in it, it could damages your colony.
Another thing about the sand, there is a possibility that the queen is going to dig herself in it and you wont be able to see here of the nest for a while (until they grow out of it and they have to move to the Y-tong)

The best way to prevent this is to use dessert sand, it is to light for them to dig in.

Do you think a 25w lamp do the trick ? To keep it about 25-30°c in summer ? (are you going to place a thermometer and humidity meter in it ? i do that, it is easy to check on it)

What kind of glide material are you going to use ? To prevent them from escaping ? (when feeding)

Maybe a lot of questions but I'm just trying to help you. (not to make some mistakes i did in the past )

Good luck

[TheSummiter]

Allora,

I would say that it would be the best for the queen an the Kolonie to let the queen in a Test-tube for the first time and also for the wintertime, I had a little Kolony of Messor capitatus and I put them in a Formicario and all of the 3 workers died. Now the queen is again in testtube an next year I hope she starts again to lay eggs...

OK, Saluti e buona settimana...

[jackal]

It looks good, but:
Is it sand on the bottom ? so yes where did you get it ? make sure there are no moulds in it, it could damages your colony.

I use a loam I had at home,but before I have cooked it.(to kill moulds)

Another thing about the sand, there is a possibility that the queen is going to dig herself in it and you wont be able to see here of the nest for a while (until they grow out of it and they have to move to the Y-tong)
The best way to prevent this is to use dessert sand, it is to light for them to dig in.

OK,I'll follow Your hint,so tomorrow I'll change loam with desert sand.

Do you think a 25w lamp do the trick ? To keep it about 25-30°c in summer ? (are you going to place a thermometer and humidity meter in it ? i do that, it is easy to check on it)

10 minutes ago I put into the tank a termometer and an higrometer,so I will be able to maintain the parameters correct.

What kind of glide material are you going to use ? To prevent them from escaping ? (when feeding)

at the moment I use nothing because I close it by a cover(the cover has a hole closed by a net and over this hole I put a computer fan to change air).In future I think I'll use parafin.(It's good?)

Maybe a lot of questions but I'm just trying to help you. (not to make some mistakes i did in the past )

Good luck

No problem all Your questions increase my possibilities of success

[JimmyVe]

Its is going to be a good farm.

Paraffin is good, but you have to replace it after a few months, depends an the weather, if it is hot you have to replace it sooner. PTFE GP1 is a little better (but more expensive) you don't have to replace that so much.

Greets

[jackal]

;) Its is going to be a good farm.

Paraffin is good, but you have to replace it after a few months, depends an the weather, if it is hot you have to replace it sooner. PTFE GP1 is a little better (but more expensive) you don't have to replace that so much.

Greets

Sorry but I try to use the paraffin(in the foto) but ants succeed to go out!You know why this is possible?it could be better vasellina or white fat that I use for my motorbike's chain ?
Thank You

[JimmyVe]

Is it Paraffin oil ? how did you use it ?
Normally you have to 'paint' it on the first 4-5cm of your farm (from the top) depends from the species you are going to have. Normally you have to triple the biggest ant. So if your biggest ant in the farm is 2cm you have to do it on the first 6cm. (if you understand)