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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 17:11:09 GMT 1
I'm thinking of getting quite a large colony of these. Does anyone have experience keeping these and any tips or recommendations for me? Cheers
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 17:38:45 GMT 1
I was told that they are great at escaping. Dont tell mum!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 17:42:27 GMT 1
You could try hanging the setup from "invisible thread" (nylon, I think). My Myrmica rubra workers can't climb it, but I don't know about smaller species.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 17:48:07 GMT 1
I could imagine it snapping in the middle of the night though, and everytime you'd hear noise you'd think "Was that my ants falling to the floor?" Well I would anyway Go for an oil moat if your too worried. And vaseline up the edges of everrthing.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 18:00:54 GMT 1
I too would like to have a colony of these, not this season though, maybe next. I have researched a bit and I think the best way to minimise (not eliminate!) escapes would be to have the colony in one glass tank with a soil/sand/loam mixture for them to live in and PTFE covered rim as per usual. The downside is lack of viewing of the nest but you could use the two glass tank trick (one upside down inside the other) so that they can only dig around the edges of the tank, but this is slightly more expensive obviously, but very nice if done right I imagine They can dig through ytong I think, and possibly through plastic tubing if they can get at the edge, like Messors do although you'd need to double check those statements before making a decision. I think losing the chance to view the nest is worthwhile as people get Pheidole pallidula for what they do above ground anyway, don't they!?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 18:01:33 GMT 1
I shan't get these because the postage cost waaay to much. Im on the hunt again for a species that will kill insects. any ideas?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 18:03:07 GMT 1
Manica Rubida?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 18:08:26 GMT 1
Where from? I estimate 8 euros from Ants Kalytta (although they have none in stock atm) Also from here: www.world-of-ants.com/en/ants/europe/pheidole-pallidula.htmlNot sure about shipping cost from there and I have never purchased from there either but they have a large stock of ants and some uncommon species too! Link checked by Myrm - Unless you know for a fact, by experience, that this website is genunine, I would either avoid or use at your own risk
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 18:23:40 GMT 1
I heard Tetramorium caespitum are pretty good at killing, but I've never kept them. Myrm has, I think, kept Tetramorium impurum though, so you could ask him.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 18:30:21 GMT 1
Aren't they really really tiny?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 18:33:06 GMT 1
Pheidole pallidula are really really tiny :s
They are same size as smallest pallidula....
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 18:54:43 GMT 1
Does anyone no if formica fusca will kill an insect?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 19:00:32 GMT 1
I'm sure they could kill "an insect", unless it's "an insect" that they can't kill...
Perhaps if you mentioned which particular insect you want them to kill people could help answer your question, likewise about postage, you say pallidula is too expensive to post without saying how much you can afford, so people can only assume that you can only afford a UK species?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 19:05:29 GMT 1
Well off antsore the pheidole cost 34 euro and 17 euro postage so that is too much. However I found formica fusca for 30 euro and 8 postage for a colony of 50 - 150 ants.
Would the fusca be able to kill flies (if not flying) or maybe centipedes or crickets?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2011 19:14:01 GMT 1
I think very small flies if not flying yes, I do think they'd struggle with centipedes and crickets though.
Formica fusca are quite timid and not very aggressive although I have no first hand experience of their prey killing abilities as yet.
Maybe you should look at Ants Kalytta, I am pretty sure the postage is less than antstore, the costs are on their site, if it's still too much you are basically restricted to a UK species such as M.rubra/ruginodis
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