40 replies to this topic

[AleeGuy]

They look so big. How many times they are bigger than average aphaenogaster?

Edited by AleeGuy, November 19 2020 - 2:47 PM.

[MinigunL5]

Because to make a grout nest one needs clay large amounts of clay actually, a molding chamber to form the nest and a lot of grout. And firebrick is easily carveable and novomessor like it.

I got a ton of clay that I got from Hobby Lobby. Also with a grout nest you can cast it in a container and use that container as the screen.

Edited by MinigunL5, November 19 2020 - 4:12 PM.

[CheetoLord02]

They look so big. How many times they are bigger than average aphaenogaster?

twice as long, and way taller and leggier. Novomessor nanitics are larger than the largest NA Aphaenogaster workers get.

[Ants_Dakota]

let me just add that sanded grout is not a good moisture holder. unsanded grout is.

[KitsAntVa]

What i meant by sanded grout was like tarheelant nests, i added sand so they would be comfortable.

[Kaelwizard]

let me just add that sanded grout is not a good moisture holder. unsanded grout is.

I was thinking about that actually. I had always heard that you shouldn't use sanded grout for nests.

Edited by Kaelwizard, November 20 2020 - 7:07 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

What i meant by sanded grout was like tarheelant nests, i added sand so they would be comfortable.

Ooooh. I see. Technically there is a type of grout called sanded grout so that is why we were confused. I would hope that the grout you used was unsanded though?

[KitsAntVa]

It was a little sanded but was all I have, but its not as sanded as you think and if I was able to show you a picture you would be able to tell, I don't even know why they put sanded on the bag to be honest.

[KitsAntVa]

but trust me i have used this grout for other nests before and the water seeps in quickly and actually distributes it very nicely. this grout also can hold small or big drops of water for days if left in the right conditions.

[Ants_Dakota]

but trust me i have used this grout for other nests before and the water seeps in quickly and actually distributes it very nicely. this grout also can hold small or big drops of water for days if left in the right conditions.

ok, that is good.

[KitsAntVa]

(Update Nov 20)
Novomessor cockerelli
Just stuck these in a test tube insert with around 3 seeds a young cricket and some honey. I recovered from their old test tube that they had about 4 larvae 6 pupae and a couple eggs. They are on a heating mat and a heat lamp on on side heating the cover that’s on them. They are so big and cool looking and one of the workers must have woken up during shipping and was a little early waking up so she keeps taking naps but she should harden up soon. One of the pupae as soon as I put it on the heat last night went from orange brown to brown and another went from white to orange. These guys really like heat and I may get them some apples or grapes soon since they love sugary foods.

[KitsAntVa]

[KitsAntVa]

Turns out this queen is a killer of newly born novomessor nanitics, each time though i'm pretty sure the nanitic woke up to early, one is waking up now and is really dark "maybe this one will be useful" the queen says. I talked to mack last night and he said my order shipped out and should be here tomorrow. there new home will be a fully heated ytong mini hearth with a top expansion.  

[Ants_Dakota]

that is a pretty small colony, though. i would keep them in a test tube for a while.

[KitsAntVa]

They are big ants, you would agree with me putting them in a mini hearth if you saw the queen. there are kinda like pogonomyrmex in terms of tarheelants nests but way bigger. 

[Ants_Dakota]

They are big ants, you would agree with me putting them in a mini hearth if you saw the queen. there are kinda like pogonomyrmex in terms of tarheelants nests but way bigger. 

a few workers seems a bit too small of a number for a formicarium yet, but it is your choice.

[KitsAntVa]

This species is actually like pogonomyrmex where a founding chamber would either be a mini hearth or test tube insert, also these ants love firebrick/ytong nests which is what my nest I'm putting them into is so they should love it and it will be full heated.

[Kaelwizard]

Mini hearths also function as founding formicaria for a lot of large species so it should be perfectly fine.

[KitsAntVa]

November 24,

I received my THA order yesterday instead of today and I gotta tell you something, buy yourself a mini hearth type one with a top expansion! it is so useful, the top expansion has plaster/grout/hydrostone? in it and it is very nice the water tower set up is grouted around and sanded, plus it reminds me of something like a fortress or a type one casita because of how the water tower is in a pushed back cave like setting. I recommend one of these for camponotus and dryer species such as novomessor but not for humid loving species. the only downfall is that there is one connecting port... only one so no nestmate if you ants need to forage. I moved my novomessor queen in and she has two spots she loves, right on the top expansion or right on the heat so i placed my heating mat sideways and stuck the nest to it she also has laid about 20 eggs so she deserved some cricket parts. shortly I'm going to check on her. I also got my fortress in which looks very nice, a inception chamber, and a mini hearth with speciality features. I won't be updating like I have done for the past week anymore unless something exciting happens, so goodbye everyone and also there are sadly no pics because i couldn't get any good ones yet.