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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2012 23:48:41 GMT 1
Hi folks, I read a few years ago that you had to bake soil before using it in a ant farm, well either that or I dreamt it lol are there any other important steps to make sure it's safe for use. Soil being free I put this in the budget section Max Baker
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Soil
Dec 10, 2012 2:04:33 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 2:04:33 GMT 1
It is an optional step to bake soil or any other substrate before using it with your ants, but it is not necessary. Some ant keepers believe that it kills any harmful microbes living in the substrate, but as Myrm says: "The ants in your garden get along just fine with the soil there so why would captive ants be any different?". Hope this helps!
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Soil
Dec 10, 2012 3:07:48 GMT 1
Post by Myrm on Dec 10, 2012 3:07:48 GMT 1
I read a few years ago that you had to bake soil before using it in a ant farm, Absolutely NOT! I have heard it a few times and it's the biggest load of rubbish I have heard. We never see ants in the wild baking soil before they nest in it. People came up with that idea because they thought it got rid of harmful microbes and creature in the soil - the vary same soil taken from which ants were living in perfectly well. I have to be honest and say I tried it once and my queen that I put in there afterwards never survived. I'm not saying baking caused her demise but it certainly did her no good. So, no, do not bake the soil, there is no need for it at all and if anybody tells you you need to do it then ignore them.
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Soil
Dec 10, 2012 7:44:15 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 7:44:15 GMT 1
I've always thought, like the human body, that a balance needs to be made, and surely too much sterility intervention COULD be more harmful than good. For example, humans can have fungal infections in sweaty parts of the body if that part of their body is cleaned too thoroughly over too long of a time- because what's actually happening is the natural bacteria the body creates to keep fungus away is killed by soap and can't grow in the right levels to keep fungus away.
I have always figured that may be the case here. If you do things like sterilise the dirt etc. You'll be eliminating all the things living in there, but that just makes it a blank slate for further lifeforms to take up residence in there- and if their natural competition has been killed off and won't grow there anymore, they may grow in unprecedented levels that you wouldn't have seen in the original dirt- and it may actually be more dangerous to the ants.
This is why I try to keep things clean as much as possible- but I always try my best to make sure that there are natural conditions being met to ensure that hopefully a balance close to wild ecosystems can be made.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 8:19:22 GMT 1
Thanks for the responses guys!! Now I look at it, it makes no sense to change something which works fine in nature!! I'm racking my brain to remember which sites gave me the info. Glad I asked now, feel like a pain but I have to find out before I get my colony he he Thanks once again guys!! Max Baker
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Soil
Dec 10, 2012 10:12:05 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 10:12:05 GMT 1
No way you're being a pain at all max : ) It is always good to ask advice here on things you don't know about. This is the first time I'd actually heard of the idea of boiling dirt. Couldn't imagine how weird it'd be having a pan full of dirt in the kitchen :S
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 12:33:26 GMT 1
Haha I think the advice was to bake it in the oven not boil it, that would be one stinky broth!! Thanks, expect a few million more questions haha all my bits and bobs arrive for the set up this week. I will keep a journal of everything ill ask for a journal space in the correct area. Max Baker
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Soil
Dec 10, 2012 15:44:35 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 15:44:35 GMT 1
HAHA! well THAT makes a bit more sense! And yes, please do. We love hearing about our ant lovers' experiences. I in particular love seeing photos
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 15:52:55 GMT 1
Myrm has given me one. Just need to get cracking. There will be loads of photos can't wait! Max Baker
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Soil
Dec 10, 2012 18:43:53 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 18:43:53 GMT 1
imagine that, a soil cake that was baked for ants, that would be vAry strange
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 19:36:33 GMT 1
Hahaha and incredibly yummy Max Baker
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Soil
Dec 10, 2012 19:45:34 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 19:45:34 GMT 1
if i evver go on great british bake off thats what im going to make as my signiture dish
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 19:46:34 GMT 1
Haha please let us know when you do!! I'd love to see the judges faces Max Baker
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Soil
Dec 10, 2012 20:27:55 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 20:27:55 GMT 1
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah "well i came up with the idea whilst talking about baking soil on an ant forum..."
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 21:05:52 GMT 1
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah "well i came up with the idea whilst talking about baking soil on an ant forum..." Audience in complete silence.... Staring.... Max Baker
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