13 replies to this topic

[MrLunk]

Hi all,

So... tomorrow the Messor Barbarus starting colony (1 Gyne & 10+ nanitics) will arrive...

I made this outworld a few days back ... but....

Do you think this outworld is too big for this starter colony ?
Or Should I make a smaller one like I did for the Lasius Niger starter colony ?

Greetz,
PL


P.S. : Yes the holes in the lid look strange... I tried making 0.3mm drill-holes along the edge with a nasty looking result.
Instead I made bigger holes in the centre of the lid wich will aerate better and with fluonon the edges and under the lid they won't escape.
Ill get a new one and make a nicer lid when the fine mesh gause arrives.

Be well and Happy

[Puddingtempest]

an outworld can never be too big... can it?  I mean as log as you have the space for it.

Edited by Puddingtempest, June 27 2023 - 6:58 AM.

[Yourbasicantkeeper]

I  think that's the max size for a starter colony.

[Yourbasicantkeeper]

I think you should only connect it when 20-50 workers arrive, then you can connect it to the outworld.

[AntsCali098]

.

Edited by AntsCali098, June 27 2023 - 8:05 AM.

[AntsCali098]

an outworld can never be too big... can it?  I mean as log as you have the space for it.

Agreed. It won't harm them at all, there just might be little activity in it when they are small. It should make feeding easier as well.

[Serafine]

There is no "too big" outworld for a starter colony.

 

I don't know who put this absolute nonsense into the world, but if i had to guess it was probably AC.

 

Ants are not Tarantulas which love to hide in cramped spaces. You can give ants an outworld as big as you like and they will absolutely not care at all whatsoever.

And honestly, with species like Lasius niger in particular i'd rather give them a new untested outworld design when they're 10 or 20 than when they're 500, because if this setup has any weakpoint they WILL find it and it's easier to collect half a dozen escapees than 100+ of them.

Edited by Serafine, June 27 2023 - 10:30 AM.

[Ernteameise]

Well, my two starter colonies, Camponotus piceus as well as my Messor rescue colony both live in a testtube setup with outworlds pretty much the same size.

Yes, I hardly see the ants (small colonies, they are shy) and they just dash out of the tube, grab some food, and run back in.

But I have not noticed the ants getting "lost" in the space.

In nature, they also have pretty much the whole world at their feet, and ants are everywhere and thrive!

 

The only thing is that with small shy colonies, you will not see a lot of them, but why should this do them any harm?

[gs5248]

There is no "too big" outworld for a starter colony.

 

I don't know who put this absolute nonsense into the world, but if i had to guess it was probably AC.

 

Ants are not Tarantulas which love to hide in cramped spaces. You can give ants an outworld as big as you like and they will absolutely not care at all whatsoever.

And honestly, with species like Lasius niger in particular i'd rather give them a new untested outworld design when they're 10 or 20 than when they're 500, because if this setup has any weakpoint they WILL find it and it's easier to collect half a dozen escapees than 100+ of them.

 

Very true. Plus, I feel it's interesting to watch a new colony with nanitics explore a large setup.

[Yourbasicantkeeper]

 

There is no "too big" outworld for a starter colony.

 

I don't know who put this absolute nonsense into the world, but if i had to guess it was probably AC.

 

Ants are not Tarantulas which love to hide in cramped spaces. You can give ants an outworld as big as you like and they will absolutely not care at all whatsoever.

And honestly, with species like Lasius niger in particular i'd rather give them a new untested outworld design when they're 10 or 20 than when they're 500, because if this setup has any weakpoint they WILL find it and it's easier to collect half a dozen escapees than 100+ of them.

 

Very true. Plus, I feel it's interesting to watch a new colony with nanitics explore a large setup.

 

Actually, you are right. Mr. Lunk, you have no problems with your outworld, and it will be more convenient for you to feed them. Thank you for the advice.

[MrLunk]

THANKS ALL !
For your usefull discussion and tips ! Much appreciated.

I agree with the end conclusion that no outworld can be too large really...
Since ants use their pheromone trails to navigate from and back to the nest and 'interesting spots' (like food and water etc.) in the outworld and ofcourse allso in the 'endless' real world, most of them will find the nest again I'm sure.

On the other hand, when we do have control over space, wouldn't it be good to limit it to save worker ants energy ?
I mean in a good size but still limited outworld ants are unlikely to go on large exploration missions unless they find a pathway out ofcourse.
Thus saving energy which is then usable for nest, brood and queen care etc...

Just testing a theory here, let me know your opinions

PL.
 

[Serafine]

On the other hand, when we do have control over space, wouldn't it be good to limit it to save worker ants energy ?

I mean in a good size but still limited outworld ants are unlikely to go on large exploration missions unless they find a pathway out ofcourse.
Thus saving energy which is then usable for nest, brood and queen care etc...

Your ants have access to what is essentially an unlimited self-refilling amount of sugars/seeds and protein.

 

Also ants will simply not leave the tube if they are fully stocked. You can see this with slow-growing Camponotus fledgling colonies which are famous for hiding in their tube for two weeks after filling their ginormous gasters in one big feast.

Edited by Serafine, June 28 2023 - 2:28 AM.

[MrLunk]

 

On the other hand, when we do have control over space, wouldn't it be good to limit it to save worker ants energy ?

I mean in a good size but still limited outworld ants are unlikely to go on large exploration missions unless they find a pathway out ofcourse.
Thus saving energy which is then usable for nest, brood and queen care etc...

Your ants have access to what is essentially an unlimited self-refilling amount of sugars/seeds and protein.

 

Good point.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

i think it's mostly a matter of min/max ratio to the colony size/type of ant. But being outside those is not necessarily a negative, it's just maybe not optimal.

"too  much" space is just really wasted personal space of your own, if they have more than they want to use, and so just ignore.

"too little" and they will basically be living in all nest from their POV. Their behavior will be largely undifferentiated to observe anywhere in the setup. But not enough space is just the limiting factor in a lot of things we do.

One thing i have noticed in a recent change i had. Distance seems to have played a significant factor. The nest was connected by tube about 9" long. Now it is direct, maybe 1/2" of tube/wall from in nest to "out world." Which it for sure is not to them post move.
But the large outworld (9x5x5) connected about as far from the nest exit as it could be(3.5" maybe) and another 2" of tube. It's treated very different by the ants.

They started at 27 in a THA mini hearth +  fallen fortress outworld(4x4x4) on 9" of tube, and the 9x5x5 on it (direct, maybe 1/2 tube).

Over time the 4x4 started being treated as nest a little, and after this move it's had larvae put on the apple slice(not permanently but at times), the main seed stock added near the nest proper entrance, and a large % of the ants live out in it rather than the several mostly empty chambers of the new nest.
The 9x5x5 continues to be somewhere only a handful of the nest will go.

I got another on the way, and the last as it's all i got room for. 11wx8dx9h(something close to that).

 

their count recently was at 150-175. Maybe 30 ants max will go into the large outworld during high busy times. Which is just their own schedule not related to me adding forage.
I do keep a water station in both outworlds. But only put apple and insect in the smaller one to keep the large space dryer.

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, June 28 2023 - 8:29 PM.