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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 9:57:00 GMT 1
Hello all. I'm new to this community aswell as ant keeping. I find it fascinating at the idea of keeping ants. So I read up and bought myself a alpha starter kit a with a lasius niger queen and 11 workers . All arrived healthy with eggs and I think I see larvae on the 23rd of october. I filled the foraging tank with a tiny layer of dirt. And than the nesting box with the appropriate loam and sand that came with it and moistened it as required. :-)
I placed the test tube in the foraging box when everything was ready. The ants showed little interest at coming out at first. Than eventually one became quite the explorer and wandered about and stumbled on a dead spider I placed in. she scuttled to the tube to recruit and about 6 swarmed it. However a few hours later they were back just sitting in the tube. the spider is in the exact condition I left it in. so I took it out after 2 days. I than Placed a mealworm, dead ofcourse, and some jam. The spider scenario happened again but with the meal worm. The jam was only eaten by one worker. Is this little activity because of the size of the colony and time of year? And they seem to just sit in the test tube and haven't even discovered the nesting box yet.
all opinions are welcome. I how to contribute more to this exciting community. Thanks for reading.
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Post by Myrm on Oct 30, 2012 11:58:11 GMT 1
Hi Spectrum, and welcome to the forum. Thank you for supporting us by joining. We are a vary friendly bunch here with all levels of experience in anting keeping and a wide range of ages from bin lids to adults.
I look forward to seeing more of you about the forum and reading your posts.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 12:24:00 GMT 1
Thank you for the warm welcome myrm.
I forgot to add that they are kept inside my living room so it can be warm at times. Any help and suggestions would be appreciated to my first post in this thread.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 13:25:04 GMT 1
It may be because the colony size is so small- they may not need too much sustenance just yet. In any case, I'd leave it there for a bit and let them do their own thing. The biggest lesson I've learned in the last couple of years of ant watching is not to play too big of a role in their lives- too much tampering almost always end up going badly. Just give some sugar, jam, or whatever food and let them deal with it over the space of a day or two before taking it out, and don't try and force them to do their thing, I'm sure they'll make themselves at home soon enough!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 13:33:33 GMT 1
I was a little confused as to see them swarming over the spider but then it appeared to be in the exact condition I gave it to them so after 2 days of it in the foraging tank, I took it out. I thought they would dismember it and take it to the nest. How often should I feed them and should I still give them protein such as mealworms, maybe I should cut it up next time. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 13:53:50 GMT 1
I'm pretty much at the same stage as Spectrum. Any wisdom of experience in this area greatly appreciated!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 13:57:44 GMT 1
chopping up the mealworms should make it easyer and protien is essential for the developing brood so dont stop feeding them it
also they might have eaten the insides of the spider and just left the outside
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 14:09:50 GMT 1
i have just found this on queen ant shop which i think might help you : Ants need a source of carbohydrate which you can give them by providing them with honey water or sugar water. This can be done by mixing honey or sugar with water and allowing this to be absorbed using some cotton wool or tissue. They will also need a source of protein, this is needed to feed the growing brood and to help the queen to produce more eggs. Protein can be provided by feeding the ants dead insects such as mealworms or crickets. If you cut them up a little it will help them get to the fleshy parts easier. Also if feeding them with insects from outside it is recommended after killing them to soak them in boiling water for at least 30 seconds or so to help kill off any parasites they may have on them such as mites. If the colony is small there is no need to over feed them with insects as if you give them to much some of it won't get eaten and will increase the chance of mold with thanks from queen ant shop for this information www.queenantshop.co.uk/#
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 15:41:03 GMT 1
Welcome to the forum, I hope you enjoy it here They may not be not be hungry at the moment just keep providing them with insects and they will eat them when they want to.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 16:07:16 GMT 1
I just had this idea that they would rip it apart and take it into the test tube which is their home at the moment. I guess I thought I would see alot more foraging going on. Everytime I see them they are either sitting in the test tube, or getting to the end of the test tube and turning back around. Hopefully they'll become more active.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 16:12:13 GMT 1
how long have they been in the forraging area for? ?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 16:19:23 GMT 1
A week today. They have come out to eat on a spider and a little jam as I said in my first post. But they always seem to be in the test tube with the queen and eggs.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 16:24:51 GMT 1
a week mabe they are still getting used to their new surroundings i think most animals dont eat as much when they are placed in new surroundings, maybe because they dont know weather there are any rivals for food or any threats at all so i wouldnt be worried just yet. give them a few more weeks and they should start eating more.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 17:11:43 GMT 1
Thanks for the help, also I'd like suggestions on what to put into my foraging box for decoration. It seems quite small to put anything in really. Its the alpha ants starter set a I have.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2012 17:18:53 GMT 1
stones, pieces of bark, aquarium decor, toys, models realy as long as it is non toxic you could use anything in mine ive got a nest/forraging area combo and on top of the soil i placed small stones then twigs and then scattered small pieces of bark all over the surface
hope this helps
chicken2012
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