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Best way to contain small ants like Tetramorium....

Started By OhNoNotAgain , Oct 16 2020 3:42 PM

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30 replies to this topic

#21 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted October 27 2020 - 10:00 AM

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They were invading the Camponotus bins AGAIN so yes, trying mineral oil.  :mad:


Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus (inactive), vicinus, laevigatus/quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus (inactive)

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and californicus (inactive)

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.

#22 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 27 2020 - 10:18 AM

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That's awful. Could you also set the formicarium on a tray of water/vinegar solution? A small disposable baking pan would work.

You may want to consider moving them out of that formicarium.


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#23 Offline TechAnt - Posted October 27 2020 - 12:37 PM

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Why not destroy the tetras and feed their brood to the colonies they have attacked mwahahahahahaha!

 

Can I ask why you want to keep the tetras? I think there are far more interesting ants out there. If you want to keep them, I'd suggest a moat of water around their set-up, as somebody who has experienced small ants saying 'oo la de da I shall escape' moments a lot (I'm looking at my Pheidole) I'd suggest that.


  • Ants_Dakota likes this
My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#24 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted October 27 2020 - 5:00 PM

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well, tetramorium is basically mini the mini pogonomyrmex. they grow just as fast, but are just smaller and less brilliantly colored. some people love their aggressive behavior, some hate their growth speed and keeping up to it. it just depends on the person.


i am keeping t. immigrans right now.


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#25 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted October 27 2020 - 6:36 PM

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Well Tetramorium was the first ant colony I got last year, when I re-started antkeeping, and I did grow them from tiny to overgrown, and they've had all sorts of adventures, so I'm kinda loathe to ditch them. They are a good colony to make mistakes on. Anyway IF I ever get to do another ant science class demonstration, they are great for showing kids size contrast (Tetras vs. Titans lol).

 

In other news, I applied mineral oil (food grade, by the way) and NO ANTS ARE EATING IT. Apparently they've decided it's inedible. I guess that's a good thing?! They seem to be avoiding it. YAY!


Edited by OhNoNotAgain, October 27 2020 - 6:37 PM.

  • ANTdrew, Ants_Dakota and TechAnt like this

Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus (inactive), vicinus, laevigatus/quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus (inactive)

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and californicus (inactive)

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.

#26 Offline AntaholicAnonymous - Posted October 30 2020 - 5:31 AM

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I don't know how crafty you are but I'd try surrounding them in water.

That's easier with natural setups I'd say but you could put their estate on some sort of plate with water.
They could be able to walk on water like fire ants but let's just hope they can't lol

#27 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 30 2020 - 5:35 AM

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Tetramorium cannot walk on water, thank God.


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#28 Offline MinigunL5 - Posted October 30 2020 - 1:21 PM

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I knew Tetra were bad, but this? This is crazy....


#29 Offline Quintessence - Posted November 15 2020 - 2:03 AM

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I have a tiny species in a test tube, and think only a water moat will contain them. So far it's working. Even though a few adventurous souls climb down to the water, they don't drown.

 

The plastic container measures about 25cm x 12 cm in area. I might try this for some other colonies (of larger ants) too.

 

Why aren't moats more common?


#30 Offline ANTdrew - Posted November 15 2020 - 3:48 AM

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That’s a good question, to be honest.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#31 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted November 15 2020 - 5:43 PM

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Well, in a world where I have accidentally let many houseplants as well as even some expensive isopods die from lack of water... it could be that having to keep a moat filled with water might be one of those "meh too much work" things.

On the other hand, we already have to feed ants fairly often so you'd THINK it wouldn't be too hard to do....


Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus (inactive), vicinus, laevigatus/quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus (inactive)

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and californicus (inactive)

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.

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