286 replies to this topic

[Ernteameise]

Alright.

I did some changes to the Antcube of this colony.

The back started out with a DigFix nest which they dug some tunnels in, but they never really used it and all they did in the past few weeks was storing rubbish in.

So I decided to remove the DigFix and just put some Antstore sand/loam mix for ants in.

According to instructions, I moistened the sand/loam mix, it will then harden and become relatively stable.

I hope with this, I encourage the girls to do some more digging and hopefully even move parts of the colony in.

I am not sure why these ants did not like the DigFix, while other people keep Messor with DigFix nests without problem.

 

This is how the back of the AntCube looks now (the moisture is still creeping downwards, I was careful to not put too much water; at the bottom, there are two holes in the glass into which the ants can enter).

I also got them a larger 10ml water drinker.

 

 

I also offered them a small drinker with sunburst nectar.

These Messor do not have a sweet tooth and are not really into honey, sugar and nectar, but other people keeping Messor report that the ants like it on occasion. So I give the nectar a second chance.

 

 

I will report back on how all this develops.

 

The colony has been doing well, they still take seed and love their walnuts.

I have switched all heat off and they have become calmer and are less active, ready for their winter break.

 

EDIT:
This is so cute!

So 30mins later, they have started excavations.

 

They have started to dig into the new sand nest, and also started digging a tunnel in the outworld.

 

 

 

This seems to be some quite nice enrichment for them.

Edited by Ernteameise, November 22 2024 - 1:22 PM.

[Ernteameise]

This morning, I could see that they have been very busy and industrious last night.

These girls love to dig.

Not sure they have a plan what they are digging for, but at least it us great enrichment for them.

 

The whole outworld is covered in freshly dug up sand

 

 

And the first tunnels have been constructed

 

 

[Ernteameise]

Adding this new sand was a success, the girls are striving to create a masterpiece in architecture.

 

 

[ANTdrew]

Very cool!

[Ernteameise]

_{Today, they had pretty much criss-crossed the whole sand-nest with tunnels.}

_{Nobody is living in there, and I am not sure if this was intended for living.}

_{But tunnels were built.}

 

 

_{One of the last princesses was also out and about, but she was very roughly handled, pushed and pulled about by the workers.}

_{I am not rating her chance of survival very high.}

 

 

 

_{In the evening, this colony is always the most active, here is a picture of the rush hour traffic.}

_{I also observed that they indeed do drink the Sunburst nectar.}

_{They are not wild for it, but they are not completely ignoring it, either.}

 

 

Edited by Ernteameise, November 26 2024 - 11:34 AM.

[Ernteameise]

Since it was Saint Nicklas day yesterday and traditionally, there is tangerines, nuts and chocolate, I also cracked a fresh walnut for the girls and they were very happy with the offering.

They had started to dump the old, uneaten nut pieces in the trash, so a fresh nut was in order anyways.

 

[Ernteameise]

Oh wow.

I think I started something...

So my Messor colony is supposedly in diapause (heat is off) but since it is my largest colony, there is still activity and they have only slowed down moderately.

Today, I had some roast chicken for dinner, and I thought I would share with the girls, on the off chance there were some takers.

Well, I guess there were.

But I have observed before that these ants just go mental for roast chicken for some reason.