17 replies to this topic

[Antz]

I will be getting a Pheidole megacephala colony very soon and I was wondering if this ant nest would be ok for them once they outgrow their test tube setup.
https://m.aliexpress...fg1540900785446

[CoolColJ]

Should be OK. Pheidole are not fussy ants, so anything will work for them

[Antz]

Do they like humidity? I saw a one reference saying they like humidity in the 20 to 50 percent range but haven't found much other then that.

[CoolColJ]

Do they like humidity? I saw a one reference saying they like humidity in the 20 to 50 percent range but haven't found much other then that.

 

Yeah most Pheidole love high humidity. You will see them bury their brood on the cotton in a test tube or put it near the water source in a nest

[Antz]

Thank you for the info CoolColJ this is going to be my first ant colony and want everything to hopefully go well with them. I just order that that ant nest and I also have an old ant o sphere that a friend gave me hoping to connect that to the nest when the colony grows big enough, it mainly for looks tho I always thought it had a cool look to it. How many workers do you reckon I can keep with the nest in the link.

Edited by Antz, October 30 2018 - 7:36 AM.

[CoolColJ]

probably around 1000 at a guess, Pheidole megacephala are quite small

[Antz]

Just picked up my little dudes today.

Also, my idea to use an ant o sphere is out the window unless I seal the holes on it these guys are small enough to get out of them.

Edited by Antz, November 2 2018 - 10:28 AM.

[Rstheant]

Nice!

[Antz]

My lack of experience with ant showed this morning when I was trying to leave a little drop of honey in the test tube for them and nearly killed two workers by accident so I rushed to ross bought a little plastic food container just big enough for the length of the test tube and then went to Lowes for a 3/8 connector since this is just temporary until the nest I bought finally arrives. Still figuring out how I want to add some air holes. Here are some photos.


Also bought some byFormica liquid feeder, ant food and fluon from tarheelants and lastly a digital humidity monitor from eBay am I missing anything else?

Edited by Antz, November 3 2018 - 9:43 AM.

[ANTdrew]

100 micron mesh (from eBay) could come in handy for your air holes, or you could just drill holes and stuff them with cotton.

[CoolColJ]

Get a scissors and bore at least one hole of about 13mm diameter and stuff with it cotton.

Stick one side of the scissor tip against the surface and roatate until ahole is drilled.

 

I would also do the same down at the base one each side so you can run a vinyl tubing into the container for expansion, extra test tubes of water sugar water etc

[CoolColJ]

In future just use a tooth pick tip and smear a tiny bit of honey on a ridged surface. That will prevent drownings.

Can also drop some substrate grains on the honey to also help with this

 

Never put honey on the test tube itself. Use some foil and shape it into a dish with a handle so you cna use forceps to put in and out.

Although a 3D printed dish is best

So get some angled head forceps. Plus a pair of featherweight forceps

Edited by CoolColJ, November 3 2018 - 12:42 PM.

[Antz]

Thanks again CoolColJ and ANTdrew for the info. I went with good old simple cotton stuffed hole for the air holes. The main reason I went with 3/8 inch connector was because they were the closest to the size of the holes on the Chinese ant nest that I bought so I figure it would make the move easier, I do have a 3d printer that I can always 3d print an adopter for it to a bigger 13mm tube. A little update on the colony sadly 5 workers have died I contacted the seller and he told me that workers sometimes die in order to feed the colony so that was my fault for not giving them food the same day I got them. I have cut the tops of 1-gallon water bottles to make little food tray for them currently offering them honey and jelly. I see them taking the honey every now and then, haven't seen any take the jelly yet and I offer them a pre-killed superworm just in case they want that. I did spot a new area with little white marks so I hope that is a good sign the queen is happy.

Edited by Antz, November 5 2018 - 4:25 AM.

[CoolColJ]

5 workers is nothing for Pheidole, they will regain that and more in no time

[Antz]

Do you recommend any other foods for them? I have 4 different type offer to them so they can have variety and I am changing them out every 2 days to prevent mold growth. 

almond slices

pre-killed superworms for some reason they seem to like the head of the superworm the most is this normal?

honey 

jelly

Edited by Antz, November 5 2018 - 4:20 AM.

[CoolColJ]

Do you recommend any other foods for them? I have 4 different type offer to them so they can have variety and I am changing them out every 2 days to prevent mold growth. 
almond slices
pre-killed superworms for some reason they seem to like the head of the superworm the most is this normal?
honey 
jelly

You don't need to feed them that often, once a week is enough as they store food up in their gasters
And you see them eat better with a lower frequency
You can just leave the honey there all the time, but they will pull substrate to cover it up, but also dump their rubbish into, keeps the test tube cleaner.
Raw nuts can be left as they don't go off

basically, just insect bits, raw nuts for protein.
Fruit and honey for sugars

You need 1 from each catergory

I know someone who feeds his ants once a week, alternating each catergory. So protein once a fortnight and vice versa.
The ants grow just fine

Over feeding leads to mold

Edited by CoolColJ, November 5 2018 - 4:25 AM.

[Antz]

Thanks, I think I am just being overprotective with them too much I need to remember they pretty much take care of themselves for the most part. Also another question I was looking at thishttp://en.antsrussia...op/31/desc/3d-5 and was wonder how does it get connected to other formicarium anyone had experience with them?

Edited by Antz, November 5 2018 - 8:09 AM.

[CoolColJ]

No idea, just email them