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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2012 21:28:26 GMT 1
Hi all I'm still a newbie to anting. I have had one Lasius Niger colony which ended in disaster when the queen got injured somehow and died. I'm therefore taking the time before the next colony to work out how to improve my setup. I started out with a tupperware box which was fantastic, as it had a seal that made it airtight (I added airholes, don't worry!). It was only 8 inch by 4 though, which I thought was too small, so I moved them to a big storage box with sand, tubing tunnels, sticks, all sorts! I realise now the tupperware box would have been more than enough for them and, in fact, the new setup was likely WAY too big. Plus, I rarely saw an ant as they had too many places to hide. SO! I'm thinking of getting a more 'traditional' setup, with the slim tank so I can see them tunnel. The one's I've seen seem to have a more rectangular box that can be connected by tube, which I assume is their foraging area? Basically my aim is: - I want to see them as much as possible, though I respect they need to feel secure, as I want to study them - I want a species that is interesting, which I define as that they do something (constant foraging would be nice, basically an active species) - As I say, I'm a newbie, so no rare or dangerous species! - Much as I loved my Lasius Niger, maybe another species? Also, with the thin tank where they tunnel, do you fill it with sand/material and then leave it, or does it need maintaining? Thanks for reading, sorry I went on a bit! All advice gratefully received.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2012 22:09:37 GMT 1
Basically my aim is: - I want to see them as much as possible, though I respect they need to feel secure, as I want to study them - I want a species that is interesting, which I define as that they do something (constant foraging would be nice, basically an active species) - As I say, I'm a newbie, so no rare or dangerous species! - Much as I loved my Lasius Niger, maybe another species? I suggest you consider making a Ytong (aerated concrete) nest and have a foraging area attached. The ants will have plenty of room, and you will be able to see them perfectly. Myrmica rubra would be a good choice of species. They are easy to keep, they forage constantly when the colony is mature, and you can have multiple queens per nest, so if one dies it isn't the end of the colony. My first successful colony was M. rubra. It is an excellent species for beginners.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2012 22:18:33 GMT 1
I would recommend Lasius Niger but since your looking for something else I would also suggest myrmica rubra , They kill prey fairly quick so you can feed them small live crickets or flys , just pluck off one of its wing do it don't fly off , I hope to get myrmica rubra in the summer I my Lasius Niger do well.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2012 9:31:08 GMT 1
I would also, much like Billy, recommend keeping them in a ytong nest. I however not recommend Myrmica Rubra... This is as you say that you want a species that is very active and forages allot, my Rubras do not do this, and they have at least 50 workers (I think). Also they sting , but that is no problem unless you annoy and ant. Maybe a Formica/ Camponatus species? I here that (Camponatus) are active, and very aggressive, the majors can also grow up to 14mm !
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2012 10:34:53 GMT 1
Except when in hibernation, my Myrmica rubra colony did forage constantly, even when it can't have had much more than 50 workers. Perhaps it varies from colony to colony. I still recommend that species.
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Post by Myrm on Mar 27, 2012 13:10:58 GMT 1
Hi Spikie It's good to see the forum bin lids having a go at answering your questions, and some vary good advice they have given (well done guys, and thank you. My personal favourite is the glass starter kit that you can get from various online outlets or other types of ant farm, including those from AntHillsI have one of these, in fact two of them linked together (2x foraging boxes and two slim-line nesting boxes) filled with soil and these seem to work vary well. My umbies love it. So you've tried Lasius niger and want to move onto another species, well then I too would recommend one of the Myrmica species. They are quite large ants and are vary active e, building large tunnels and chambers.
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Post by chocimonster on Mar 27, 2012 16:24:39 GMT 1
This may seem like the worst choice if yo want an active ant but so far from what I have seen my lasius flavus queen is much more active than her niger cousins. I am not very fond plaster and gypsum nests I like soil setups better but if I was going to choose one I would get one of anthills.net 'cause they look awesome.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2012 16:42:07 GMT 1
This may seem like the worst choice if yo want an active ant but so far from what I have seen my lasius flavus queen is much more active than her niger cousins. This would be a bad choice, for someone who specifically asked for a species which constantly forages. Lasius flavus like to forage below ground, which makes them hard to feed, and from what I've heard, you barely ever see them out of the nest.
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Post by chocimonster on Mar 27, 2012 16:48:35 GMT 1
No its the Lasius Niger that hardly ever come out. The Lasius Flavus queen is vary active.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2012 16:56:12 GMT 1
To save confusion, Billy, chocimonster is saying that HIS lasius Flavus are very active, more so than the lasius Flavus. But chocimonster if the colony was of the same size, I would imagine the L. Niger would be much more active.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2012 18:41:44 GMT 1
Tetramorium might also be a good choice. Their colonies grow very quickly, and the amount of foraging a colony does largely depends on population.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2012 20:43:20 GMT 1
Thank you all, especially to the Bin Lids As an aside, I was at the pet shop and was nosying at some Degus, when a child of... can't have been more than 7 or 8, came over and gave me the most detailed run down of the keeping and specifics of the Degu I have ever had from anyone ever. He then talked to me at length about my snakes and the ethics of killing mice for them. God bless enthusiastic kids, they fill me with hope! Anyway, I will consider the ants suggested (they are out of season for buying I assume, so I will have to wait a little while to buy them anyhow), so I'm now thinking of housing. I've watched a great (to my eyes at least) video online that shows how with a sheet of glass and some plaster of paris (or Gypsum) can make a nice tunneled habitat. That much I am content with, basically a nice rectangle of gypsum with tunnels and chambers dug into it, and a sheet of glass over it to keep it all airtight. I then propose to run a tube out the top into a small tupperware box where I can more easily put food and water. Am I being naieve, is it that simple? Mostly, will the tunnels be ok to seal and forget (ie, not need maintaining/cleaning)? Also, while I am keen to let them be happy and as nature intends, I really want them to live in the tunnels. Will they do that always, or is there a chance they will live in the foraging area? I intend to put the test tube in the foraging tank and let them leave on their own accord. But in my other nests, they have lived in the tube and only come out to forage. Many thanks again!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2012 11:54:05 GMT 1
That setup sounds fine. You will need to make sure that the whole setup is not airtight though, so the ants will not suffocate.
If you keep the nest dark, and the foraging box light, they will almost definitely use the nest.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2012 21:03:50 GMT 1
Hi again. How about Messor Barbarus, they seem cool with their granaries!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2012 21:20:29 GMT 1
Hi again. How about Messor Barbarus, they seem cool with their granaries! Hey spikie, Messor barbarus are interesting as they have many castes, but if you do go for the species, i strongly recommend not to get a lone queen. Mine recently died and she kept eating her brood before it turned to pupa Best of luck with whatever you choose - I am starting again with Rubras so they are what I recommend for you ;D
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