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Pogonomyrmex just keep growing, want a good "all in one" solution...

Started By futurebird , Sep 21 2021 7:04 PM

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5 replies to this topic

#1 Offline futurebird - Posted September 21 2021 - 7:04 PM

futurebird

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My Pogonomyrmex have filled up a nest like this:

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Brood are stacked to the the ceiling.

So, I added a sand nest like this: 20 by 20cm thinking they would move in. But, jokes on me, they just spread... and now both are full.

zkk4kYM.png

To be honest, although the "traditional" glass panel farm looks good, and they seem to enjoy digging... it's not very spacious...
So, as diapause creeps up I have this sprawling setup and ants that are crazy and like to sting and bite. I think I can just fit the whole thing in the fridge...


But, I know I need to find them a much bigger nest. Any recommendations? Do any of you have a massive Pogonomyrmex colony, how do you keep them?

Starting this July I'm posting videos of my ants every week on youTube.

I like to make relaxing videos that capture the joy of watching ants.

If that sounds like your kind of thing... follow me >here<. 

#2 Offline DDD101DDD - Posted September 22 2021 - 4:59 AM

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Maybe you could do what dspDrew does and give them a big tank with dirt to dig in?


He travels, he seeks the p a r m e s a n.

#3 Offline Chickalo - Posted September 22 2021 - 5:52 AM

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Make a Vivarium for them?  They can look beautiful, only downside is that you usually cannot see tunnels, only foragers


シグナチャーです。예.

 

#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 22 2021 - 1:00 PM

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Maybe you could do what dspDrew does and give them a big tank with dirt to dig in?

Yeah, I second this. Look up what Dspdrew did with a big aquarium fitted with an inner box, so the ants need to tunnel by the sides. Pogonomyrmex would be good because you could get away with not hibernating them, plus they can’t climb glass.
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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.

#5 Offline futurebird - Posted September 26 2021 - 3:48 AM

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I like the idea of a an aquarium, but I have a crazy notion in this regard. What if I had an aquarium that was about  20cm by 20cm... but it's 60 cm deep? So, it'd let them make a really deep nest. I guess the problem might be that the outworld would be too small... 

 

I've managed to get them all into the dirt observation nest for now, but I want to make plans for moving them in the future. 

 

I had to resort to putting an ice pack on the old nest to get them to leave... but it worked well, and I didn't feel that worried since I knew the queen was not in there. Then I used the asperator to get the rest. 

 

Still have not been stung, amazingly!

 


Edited by futurebird, September 26 2021 - 3:48 AM.

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Starting this July I'm posting videos of my ants every week on youTube.

I like to make relaxing videos that capture the joy of watching ants.

If that sounds like your kind of thing... follow me >here<. 

#6 Offline futurebird - Posted February 13 2022 - 8:01 PM

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An update! I've resolved the issue. I basically moved them with the aspirator and now they just live in the sand. Here is a video about their current set up:

 

They are doing well. 


Edited by futurebird, February 13 2022 - 8:04 PM.

Starting this July I'm posting videos of my ants every week on youTube.

I like to make relaxing videos that capture the joy of watching ants.

If that sounds like your kind of thing... follow me >here<. 

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