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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2012 13:43:36 GMT 1
Here's my plan, I'd appreciate feedback. - Make a tunnel system (wooden frame, pane of glass smaller than frame, plastacene to mark tunnels, plaster over, leave to set, remove frame and glass, remove plastacene, replace glass) - Have a clear tube coming from the top of the tunnel system (hereafter called a nest!). - Have a tupperware box with the other end of the tube in it, for adding food. Questions: - Can I just put water in the forage area to keep the nest dry? - If I put another tube at the top that went nowhere and was sealed but for some holes, would that be sufficient for air? - Does the nest have to be stood up (so they are sort of tunneling), or can it be laid down (so they only 'tunnel' sideways? I'm thinking of getting Messor Barbarus to watch them make larders of seeds All suggestions and tips welcomed! Still at the planning stage. Oh, and if I have Messor Barbarus, do they need heating? I have heat mats my snakes don't use anymore, would they do?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2012 15:41:57 GMT 1
Hi spikie, I will try to answer your questions as good as I can. 1. Well ants need moisture in the nest for there brood, I wouldn't recommend having a dry nest as messor have powerful jaws and could dig though plaster. I have had this happen with a previous colony, that when the nest starts to dry they start digging. I guess to try and find a more moist place for there brood... But if the conditions are right i.e space, safety, and hydration ect. they shouldn't dig as they have every think they need. 2. It will be ok I think as the nest wont be air tight any way. But if your worried if the ants cant breath, when you have completed the nest just put some workers in and leave them for 24h if they are fine the next day then the nest is ready for the whole colony. If the ants have died or are acting strange, it will be best to add more air holes. 3. No the nest doesn't have to be stood up. If you look on youtube you will see lots of flat nests with colony's that thrive just as much with colony's that are in a stood up nest. 4. They don't really need a heat mat as I don't use one with mine. But if you do the brood development will be faster. I hope I have answered some of your questions Also there's a care sheet on the forum here that myrm has made... myrm.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=spfactsheets&action=display&thread=4640
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2012 16:23:04 GMT 1
In order to keep the nest moist[which is a must as brood need humidity to grow properly, you could just make a water reservoir.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2012 21:58:30 GMT 1
In order to keep the nest moist[which is a must as brood need humidity to grow properly, you could just make a water reservoir. Hi, thanks to you both. How do I go about having a resevoir? #Edit# How about another tube into the side, stoppered with cotton wool, so I can fill the tube without flooding the nest? Would that work? I don't like the idea they will decide to tunnel through the plaster and wander off... Not because I think they will eat me, just because I feel I have a duty of care to them. So they need to be happy!
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