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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2012 16:31:13 GMT 1
Hello There!
So for the past few weeks I've been thinking of perusing my life long fascination with ants and purchase my first ant farm, having had a graze around the web I think i'm going to go for one of the Alpha Ants starter kits on Antstore and was firstly wandering what the general consensus on those products and the site is? Also I heard this isn't the best time of year to start an ant farm and that ants arnt sold so should I be concerned that antstore are selling them?
Basically I'm a complete newbie and there's only so much information I can read from websites so I was wandering if you guys could tell me anything you'd think i'd need to know before venturing into the world of Ants!
Thanks for any information!
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Post by Myrm on Jan 13, 2012 16:36:54 GMT 1
Hi, and welcome to the forum. I have purchased ants from Antstore in winter before and had no proplems. Antstore check weather reports of the destination before they send the ants to ensure safe delivery. I would suggest perhaps Lasius niger as they are vary hardy ants and easy to keep.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2012 16:51:49 GMT 1
Thankyou for the welcome! Lasius niger were the species I was thinking of, so I'm pleased with your seal of approval haha I'm glad to hear antstore are legit, you just never know nowadays, which leads me to my next question, how many ants do you suggest I purchase for a 30x20x1,8 cm ant farm and 30x20x20 cm basin? this one antstore.net/shop/product_info.php/info/p1316_alpha-ants-starter-kit---c.html or is this overkill for Lasius niger? Sorry for the mass amount of questions! I just dont wish to doom an entire population of ant haha
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Post by Myrm on Jan 13, 2012 16:59:02 GMT 1
My suggestion would be to get the biggest colony you can afford. I love Lasius niger, they are my favourite species. I plan to raise a huge colony of them, starting in summer 2014. You can alway check out AntsUK for Lasius niger as they are based in the UK and so the delivery transit time is quicker. I have several of those starter kits in that size and they are awesome. Thousands of Lasius niger can live in them, and the greatest thing is that you can always add more ant farms onto them as the colony grows.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2012 17:15:10 GMT 1
Perfect! I'll check antsUK out. I'm looking forward to posting on the forum as an official owner of an ant farm soon enough haha thanks for all the help!
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Post by icewhyte on Jan 13, 2012 17:20:12 GMT 1
I have a small Lasius niger colony you can have. Message me if your interested!
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Post by Myrm on Jan 13, 2012 17:25:24 GMT 1
Perfect! I'll check antsUK out. I'm looking forward to posting on the forum as an official owner of an ant farm soon enough haha thanks for all the help! No proplem. It's good to have you with us. We are vary lucky in that we have a nice little community of regular contributors here of all ages and experience, some aged just 13, so we get a nice balanced variety of opinions and experiences here.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2012 17:34:56 GMT 1
Welcome bostonjames4, ;D I must agree with myrm, L.Niger are wonderful ants great for beginners but also for the more experienced ant keeper. They have so much character. I suggest you read a few of Myrm's jornals on the main website. They are interesting and they'll help you when you get your own and all his observations are noted. Anyway, let us know how the new hobby goes. Ant keeping is v ary rewarding and lots of fun! -fraggs
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2012 18:15:33 GMT 1
Cheers guys! food for thought!
I was thinking, would I be able to just buy the farm I posted and keep it at just that, or will the Queen lay so many eggs that i'll have to keep buying new tanks and eventually end up living in an ants nest myself? Also what are the chances of them all escaping and eating me alive whilst I sleep haha but seriously, has anyone had their ants escape? Last thing I need is a population of ants setting up somewhere within the house, oh and also though I know they need taking care of is the amount of care needed dramatic? I already own hamsters, three dogs, go to university, have a job and the rest of it will it be easily manageable?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2012 18:21:48 GMT 1
1 farm, they may outgrow it but will not be to more than a few farms. Yes Lasius Niger are good at escaping,but if you put a lid on the tank, or add a slide median like Vaseline it will reduce their chances. And Myrm is away for months at a time, and he still managed to keep a colony for 5 years, they should be fine.
Welcome to the forum! ;D
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Post by Myrm on Jan 13, 2012 18:31:59 GMT 1
Just to add to what Jon says, Lasius niger, in my experience, are some of the naughtiest ants there are and they are vary good at escaping. That doesn't mean that they always do and that you'll wake up every day with ants everywhere, but it does mean that you have to be careful that your securely replace the lid every time as they will take full advantage of any lapse of security. They are also vary fast ants and so when they do escape they can be little devils to catch. Fortunately they do not sting so picking them up is not a proplem.
All your ants want from you is somewhere suitable and secure to live and regular food and water. Everything else they do themselves, such as cleaning themselves and their nest and surroundings.
As for eating you; nah, you'll be okay. They only eat 13-year-old boys >.<
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2012 18:42:12 GMT 1
... As for eating you; nah, you'll be okay. They only eat 13-year-old boys >.<
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2012 19:24:38 GMT 1
As for eating you; nah, you'll be okay. They only eat 13-year-old boys >.< LMAO!! Cheers Jon & Myrm, I think that's pretty much it this time, mind set as ease haha It's definitely best to know what you're in for before you take on the responsibility I think!
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Post by Myrm on Jan 13, 2012 19:37:42 GMT 1
Glad we were able to help. Feel free to ask questions in the forum at any time, not matter how silly the question may seem; we were all beginners at one time.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2012 22:21:25 GMT 1
MYRMICA RUBRA, BUY RUBRA'S, PERFECT STARTER ANT'S...BUY THEM NOW!!!!!!
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