9 replies to this topic

[cap_backfire]

Quick question... let's say I have built an (I think) amazing vivarium (pics probably to be posted tonight after I read the instructional topic for that) and moved in my ants.  It honestly took them a few days to move out of their formicarium pieces that were placed inside the vivarium.   So instead of moving into the lovingly carved tunnels and chambers I constructed for them... They have moved in under the moss bed onto the barrier screen I have to avoid moss falling into the water I have underneath the moss for the waterfall feature.   

SO... Is it worth it to try to make them uncomfortable under there or is that just adding dumb stress to them?   I'm SO sad they didn't move into their tunnels as it took me literal months and several rotary tools to carve them/ construct them.   It was a real process .  

There HAVE been some scouts checking the tunnels out the past few days so I'm hopeful they are just doing this as a temporary move and will eventually find the tunnels more to their liking.   Anyway pics will show up later for scrutiny... the basic question is "is it worth it to try to make them uncomfortable before they get too established in their poor choice of nest, or should I proceed to leave them alone?"  

[steelplant]

Can you make the tunnels more enticing with darkness, heat etc? I really look forward to seeing the photos- sounds intriguing!

[cap_backfire]

I have used heat.  Darkness I haven't used totally.   I need to alter it on the outside to do that.   I'll post photos when I get good enough photos.  Let me see if I can post video... I'll read the thread on that soon.  Been BUSY this week!  

[Canadant]

That sounds just like ants. Lol. They just do things that spin your head. I second what steelplant said. Use comfort rather than discomfort. They'll go to the heat I bet. Make it dark and humid. Would like to see the vivarium too.

[cap_backfire]

The changes have been made and now my fingers are crossed.  I also got light into the spot they are in now, somewhat.   Hopefully the combo will encourage them to move.   OBVIOUSLY the humidity in the tunnels is nowhere near what it is directly above water, but it should be solid enough, there's condensation in the bottom chambers.   I really need to take time to get pics up here.   Thanks for the help and the encouragement!   

I also have a Trachymyrmex colony that is doing REALLY well, living with three stick insects (hoping they breed) and a Formica (I don't remember the species and am at work) colony of about ten workers and a queen that is struggling a bit.   I've made some changes that hopefully turn things around.   

LOVE this community!  

[ANTdrew]

Sorry to say, but almost nothing is going to be more comfortable than living under a piece of moss from an ant’s point of view.

[cap_backfire]

Ah, well jokes on THEM... I took the moss out and they are moving in as we speak!   Seemed a little bit extreme but they have about 1/3 of the colony in the nest and brood in there as well.   Heated and humid and beautiful.   Gonna let them settle a week or so and then put the moss back in.   If they move out after that... I'll cry but I'll accept it.   I'll have to figure out what else to do with the tunnels at that point I guess.   Ugh.   Maybe astroturf... 

I thought I had a good shot as the only thing under the moss is lava rock and about an inch under the moss there's just water.   So NOTHING is dry there, no gradient at all and no heat.   Ugh.   

[ANTdrew]

You’ve experienced Myrmy’s Law firsthand. Ants will always do the opposite of what we want or expect them to do.

[cap_backfire]

HAHAHAH, Myrmy's law??? Love it.  Yeah they're super stupid.   Their nest tunnels ARE a little big compared to what they want, ideally but no bigger than Tarheel Ants setups so I was pretty confident.   Red filter plastic over the tunnel area, heat cord added to about a third of it so they have a gradient, moss shoved into the nest to absorb some moisture, holes drilled into the bottom of the bottom chambers to allow hydration... They have it MADE in there.   MOved in under soggy moss onto wet rocks.  No heat.  NO gradient.   No WOOD.   

[cap_backfire]

OK so update on this mess...Had to break down most of the outworld and drain the water underneath due to a very strange crack situation in one of the short ends of the tank.   Spiderweb crack on the bottom half of the short side (which is the crappy side of the tunnels, so I don;'t really care) so I have some repairs to do.  The ants hadn't even made it over there yet.   

So all moss is now in a side bin and it's drained of all water.   Have to replace the pump for the waterfall because I MAY have sliced through the cord during my renovations... Once Iget the tank sealed I'll be replacing the water.  

In better news, the queen and many workers have moved into the nest.  Giving them a pile of sawdust and small wood chips to move around as they see fit to seal themselves in or make themselves more comfy.   But with queen and brood moved in I'm confident that this week of renocvating the tank has paid off.   I rewarded them with a decent sized roach which almost immediately disappeared.