9 replies to this topic

[mete]

I have the water feeder (not sure if it is called that) below (photo from antshop.ch), it has a synthetic sponge at bottom. It is OKish but requires being careful to not push the cylinder too much inside to not block the water, so everytime I refill it I am worried if it is working fine. I thought maybe a test tube with just water and closed with cotton would work and I am trying this now. However, it seems ants prefer the water feeder not the test tube. They also try to pull out the cotton threads in the test tube. So my question, is there a best way to supply water to the ants in the outworld ?

 

[ANTdrew]

The byFormica liquid feeders are the best way.

[cooIboyJ]

The byformica feeders work really well.

[AntsGodzilla]

byformica, and THA feeders work well, but my ants prefer feeders in the nest, like THA nestmates

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

I also use both byformica water dispensers as well as TarHeelAnts nestmates and small water dispensers.

 

On Byformica, they have two designs and for me one of them is bad i would steer clear of it.

I like this one:

 

I do not like this one:

 

For whatever reason the good one is used well most of the time(unless i put it too close to their nest entrance).

But the other (newer) design my ants will always drain it out within a couple hours. Using sand/dirt/trash/whatever to channel the water out to the ground around it. I've stopped using them, but the original one i still use and find is better for sugarwater/sunburst than the screen mesh THA options.

 

 

 

These THA ones work great for water, but tend to gunk up if used for sugar water/sunburst.

https://tarheelants....id-feeder-small

 

and i like using the nestmates as water dispensers in the outworld. Just be sure they have at least a little bit of slope from screen to cork so the air moves to the top.

https://tarheelants....nestmate-2-pack

 

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, September 6 2024 - 3:00 PM.

[Stubyvast]

hmm makes me wonder what a modified liquid ant-trap would do if I wanted to replace the poison with, say, sugar-water? How effective would this be?

[cooIboyJ]

hmm makes me wonder what a modified liquid ant-trap would do if I wanted to replace the poison with, say, sugar-water? How effective would this be?

If the trap works well then it will probably be good.

[AntsGodzilla]

hmm makes me wonder what a modified liquid ant-trap would do if I wanted to replace the poison with, say, sugar-water? How effective would this be?

what makes the traps so effective are the chemicals, and it might be hard to completely get rid all of them, and some ants still could get trapped since it's open. Plus it's the same price as proven feeders like THA and byformica.

Edited by AntsGodzilla, September 7 2024 - 7:19 AM.

[Mushu]

I also use both byformica water dispensers as well as TarHeelAnts nestmates and small water dispensers.
 
On Byformica, they have two designs and for me one of them is bad i would steer clear of it.
I like this one:
yesgood.jpg
 
I do not like this one:
nobad.jpg
 
For whatever reason the good one is used well most of the time(unless i put it too close to their nest entrance).
But the other (newer) design my ants will always drain it out within a couple hours. Using sand/dirt/trash/whatever to channel the water out to the ground around it. I've stopped using them, but the original one i still use and find is better for sugarwater/sunburst than the screen mesh THA options.
 
 
 
These THA ones work great for water, but tend to gunk up if used for sugar water/sunburst.
https://tarheelants....id-feeder-small
thamini.jpg
 
and i like using the nestmates as water dispensers in the outworld. Just be sure they have at least a little bit of slope from screen to cork so the air moves to the top.
https://tarheelants....nestmate-2-pack
myoutworld.jpg

I think for the new design it’s the larger water hole. I use an off brand liquid feeder and they have larger holes and my colony tries to stuff them. Luckily I use it for water. Didn’t have an issue when using the Byformica.

The top one you linked is the micro. They also have the mini which is slightly larger.

Edited by Mushu, September 11 2024 - 8:44 AM.

[mete]

Thanks for all the feedback, then I will try one or both of these.