12 replies to this topic

[Barbarus]

I'm just beggining in ant keeping.

 

I believe these are Messor Barbarus.

 

 

 

 

 

So my first question would be if this is any close the number to allow them to tranfer to a new home?

 

And, should I be worried about the dark spots on the cotton? Not sure if that's mould or just feces.

 

Thanks

[Chickalo]

Most people reccomend 50-100 workers, depending on what you want to move them into, and I wouldn't worry about the dark spots for now

[Barbarus]

Thanks

[benxixi]

you can put them in a to go box with 20-30 workers, they will still stay in test tube first ,only 1-2 worker will come out for seach , and you can put another test tube ,they can drink or move if they like.

and you do not need worried about dark spots on the cotton,because there is more bigger dark thing on my honey pots test tube cotton until I move them to a new nest.

[Antcatcherpro3]

Cool. Messor are a very cool spieces. Your lucky to have them. But you should look up there care because it would suck for them to die.

[Kaelwizard]

Cool. Messor are a very cool spieces. Your lucky to have them. But you should look up there care because it would suck for them to die.

I'm sure they researched their care before they bought them. They joined the right place anyway.

[Antcatcherpro3]

Yup. I know.

who wouldn't. You can't just keep ants without knowing how to care for them.

[Kaelwizard]

Yup. I know.

who wouldn't. You can't just keep ants without knowing how to care for them.

Then why did you tell them to look up their care?

[BugFinder]

 

Yup. I know.

who wouldn't. You can't just keep ants without knowing how to care for them.

Then why did you tell them to look up their care?

 

 

Lol.  I'm sure he was just trying to be helpful.

[Barbarus]

you can put them in a to go box with 20-30 workers, they will still stay in test tube first ,only 1-2 worker will come out for seach , and you can put another test tube ,they can drink or move if they like.

and you do not need worried about dark spots on the cotton,because there is more bigger dark thing on my honey pots test tube cotton until I move them to a new nest.

 

Thanks! I placed them on a small foraging box, with some extra food, another tube with water, some sugar water and food paste. The queen came out to taste the sugar a few minutes later but then it went back to the tube. The workers basically gathered all the extra seeds, and now there's one one or two ants out of the tube at each time. I will eventually have to transfer them to a new tube, I suspect. Already ordered a new one and a heating mat. So far they are staying close to some heating pipes who are constantly warm (25ºC) so i'm not worried about the temperature, but I'd like them to be in a different place and I'll need the mat for that. 

A question, should I try to recreate the temperature cycle of a regular day? That is, making the box slightly colder during the night?

[Barbarus]

Cool. Messor are a very cool spieces. Your lucky to have them. But you should look up there care because it would suck for them to die.

 

Thanks! I did some research before getting them and I keep reading and reading! I hope I don't do any major mistakes cause I'm loving the experience so far!

Still don't see how you guys are able to identify ants species and genus immediately! xD It looks so damn hard! ahah

[AntaholicAnonymous]

Be careful if you ever want to put them in soil.

I have a colony with about 150 workers and if I wouldn't have accidentally dug them up while pulling out a plant recently Id think they're dead.

Once the seed storage is full they do the rest under ground. I've seen the last forage 2 weeks ago.
I'd give them chia seeds mine will only take them if it's an option

[benxixi]

 

you can put them in a to go box with 20-30 workers, they will still stay in test tube first ,only 1-2 worker will come out for seach , and you can put another test tube ,they can drink or move if they like.

and you do not need worried about dark spots on the cotton,because there is more bigger dark thing on my honey pots test tube cotton until I move them to a new nest.

 

Thanks! I placed them on a small foraging box, with some extra food, another tube with water, some sugar water and food paste. The queen came out to taste the sugar a few minutes later but then it went back to the tube. The workers basically gathered all the extra seeds, and now there's one one or two ants out of the tube at each time. I will eventually have to transfer them to a new tube, I suspect. Already ordered a new one and a heating mat. So far they are staying close to some heating pipes who are constantly warm (25ºC) so i'm not worried about the temperature, but I'd like them to be in a different place and I'll need the mat for that. 

A question, should I try to recreate the temperature cycle of a regular day? That is, making the box slightly colder during the night?

 

as I know, Messor Barbarus is not sensitive on temp, not too high as 30℃ ，not too low as 20℃, they will develop good.