ANTSTORE World of Ants

[JimmyVe]

No they would not escape. If you use a ytong are a corck nest inside a tank you should be fine. I keep mine in a sand nest so they don't have anything to dig through, the only down side on that one is that i can not see inside the nest.

[Lewis]

well i have decided on and plaster nest as all the y-tongs i try for some or many reasons they don't like which i find a bit annoying so i have made one to go inside a tank just hope it comes out of the mould well i will try and post some pics when i take it out
then i will order the ants

do they need a moist nest because when i saw them in the south of france the ground was very dry the only real moistuer they got was when there was a big down pour for about ten minutes.

[Lewis]

as i should be getting these ants i would like to ask a few questions:
how long from eggs to worker?
and how many workers before soldiers?
what is the right humidity?
and the right temp for both in hibernation and out of hibernation?

thankyou
lewis

[JimmyVe]

Yes they need a moist nest, its very bad for these ants to have a dry nest.

If everything works out well about 6-8 weeks.
Depends mine had there first soldiers when there where about 50 workers.
About 60-80% would do just fine.
25-30°C in hibernation 10°C.

[Lewis]

cool thanks very much just one small question.
when i saw these in the wild in the south of france it was very dry and the seemed to be doing very well?? i wathed them take down a wasp witch was aiming to sting me! but i hit it and it happend to fall right on the entrance of the nest!!

[SteveUK28]

I keep mine in a ytong inside a smallish tank.. lots of moss in there with some coconut bark.. with lots of vaseline and a lid..

[Lewis]

do you have a thread??
will they be alright in a plaster nest with a moat around it

[Lewis]

i have made my plaster nest but have not taken it out of the mould i will try and post some pics

[JimmyVe]

They will do fine in a plaster nest but don't forget they can dig through it so you need to put it in a tank (glass or plastic).

[Lewis]

ok will they be ok in a plaster nest with plasic glued to it and also with a moat
i also though woulden't they not want to dig if they moved in them selves?

[Lewis]

they have come and have moved under the rock and they are so cool!
they have had 2 crickets some honey, some nuts, some pollen and a fly.
there is about 60 workers and about 20 soldiers and some brood.
one ant has been all the way down the tube and went in but just came back.

[JimmyVe]

Nice to hear, good luck with them.
Normally they will move themselves.

[Lewis]

they have finally moved and are feeding alot they have moved into a chamber with sand in.

[Lewis]

they have been munching down on a cricket to day and last night they had some honey. the have got some of the soldiers to chop into the cricket and now 10 workers are slowley pulling bits off and takeing them back. the eggs they had are now larvea but i have never seen larvea lik it they seem to be almost sphere shaped and have the small browm dot in the middle which i know is normal, but anyway could anyone tell me if this sphere shaped larvea are normal. they have also made alot of garbage in some chambers(good sing they are eating alot) as there are cricket parts fly wings. it is all insect bodie parts.

sorry i have not put any pictures up yet as i'am still struggleing with new computer

[JimmyVe]

I think the shape of the larvea is nothing to worry about.

If the nest area is to big they will use it to store there garbage, that will not be a problem if the colony is bigger.