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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2012 5:35:44 GMT 1
Hi All
Need a little help please, so it's been about four months since I caught my L Niger queen and she seems to have done well for herself, first she dug a little tunnel, then laid, eggs hatched about 10 brood then they dug tunnels and now it appears a 2nd generation of ants have hatched so I am doing pretty well so far BUT I do have concerns with feeding, I have put bits of steak, chicken , dead flys and they seem to walk around it and maybe at nights they feed on it but I don't really know for sure, but my farm media is sand, I have created a feeding area that's runs via some fish tank air line which I thought would be fine for them but no matter what I put inside the feeding area no one will venture down the tube to look for it, is this normal for new ants? Also I have no way of feeding them water as they won't venture out for it. My main worry is mould in the sand but I don't have a choice right now but I try keep the food off the sand and sandwich it inbetween the glass. I have been adding water to the sand to keep it moist and so the tunnels don't collapse. Are my ants ok? I would be very great full of any advice offered.
Below is the link to my farm.
Thak you
Stuart
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2012 9:01:49 GMT 1
Love the ant farm!
Have you tried a little amount of sugar at all? Putting a few little bits of sugar either where your food originally was, or drop it near their nest might help. Also, if you put a few tiny drops of water in the sand hopefully it won't mold. Only a tiny amount though- maybe two drops, and not ON the nest, maybe nearby. Ants don't need THAT much at first and the water will probably spread across the sand nicely.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2012 9:12:16 GMT 1
Cool antfarm Are the sides covered when your not looking at them, ants generally don't like light in there nest.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2012 14:11:09 GMT 1
Thanks guys, yes I really like the farm too had it for years and bought it from a company in America who seem to have stopped selling them now, I broke the glass when assembling it so had to replace that but it's looking good otherwise.
I do pour water into the sand.. not the nest and the sand sucks it right in so if it's going in can ants live off the water in the sand or do they need a direct source? I did put a piece of soaked Cotten wool with water/honey between the glass not touching the sand and they seemed to show little interest but it went moldy pretty quickly. I did try suger on the sand but because of the moisture and humidity it melts and again I am really nervious of mold, I used this farm about 7 years ago and had a lot of mold so this time around I am being super careful.
Do you guys like my little forging area is it ok? Why wouldn't they find it?
Regarding covering the farm, honestly I don't as it's not a super light room but I can if you think it will help?
Look forward to your replies, thanks again
Stu
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2012 19:57:21 GMT 1
I've been told that ants can live off the moisture in the dirt. As you said, I think having separate water areas is just a safeguard against overwatering and mold. So in the meantime I think putting little bits of water into the sand should be fine.
If the colony is newish and small they may not want/need to venture out yet. However, maybe the problem could be the tube? Has it been cleaned well since its use in an aquarium? Ants can be very sensitive to chemicals (watered-down soap even kills them on the spot), so maybe giving it a good wash MAY help. That's just an opinion on what the problem COULD be... Would be interesting to hear what some of the other guys thing, though.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2012 14:44:29 GMT 1
Thanks again, I will continue to keep the sand moist then until they time the venture out, the pipe was brand new so I think its ok. Good news on the feeding activity front today I found that the fly I killed has been torn in half and moved around a bit so I am guessing they liked it My first farm seven years ago didn't turn out very well so hopefully this one will be a different case. Quick question, I am planning on going away for about 3 weeks at Xmas, will my ants be ok for that period on there own? Is there anything I can leave for them that wont spoil? Thanks Stu
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Post by Myrm on Nov 7, 2012 15:56:22 GMT 1
Quick question, I am planning on going away for about 3 weeks at Xmas, will my ants be ok for that period on there own? Is there anything I can leave for them that wont spoil? Three weeks is fine for them to go without food. I am away from home at the moment; I have been away for one month and I am not back until May next year - a total of 7 months. Nobody is looking after my ants whilst I am away. The most I have ever left my ants for is 5 or 6 months and they were fine. I am sure yours will be okay.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2012 0:36:12 GMT 1
That's the best thing about ants I think- if you get extremely busy with work or have to leave for a week or so, you don't have to worry about your ants starving!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2012 0:51:29 GMT 1
Wow, i never knew you could leave them so long, i guessed that ants were a low maintenance that's why its a perfect hobby for me, but now you say that it seems even better, no one to pester every time you go on holiday to go and feed your ants. Great. Oh thats a nice set up outoftime, hope they go well for you
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2013 13:58:40 GMT 1
Hi guys, sorry to bring up my old thread but thought it might be better than starting a new one, since November and my LN rest period my farm is looking great, queen is laying like crazy and lots of ants running around digging.
But I do have a slight issue that's confusing me, as you can see my farm isn't deep so I ran a aquarium air line from the farm to an area for them to feed to keep food out of the main area. I have been trying to encourage the ants down there with crickets but only one or two seem to make the trip, if I put the cricket in the main area on the sand they are all over it but I thought after the one ant found it the rest would follow. Ay ideas whats going wrong? The air hose isn't very big but we are talking ants here so I didn't think they needed hose pipe!
Thank you
Stuart
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Post by Myrm on Jun 13, 2013 17:23:21 GMT 1
Stuart. Thi forum is closed and is now used only as a 'Reference Library'. You need to join MANF II to chat to us. You can find the new forum at: www.myrmsantnest.com
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