2 replies to this topic

[kjarva]

Set up my formicarium and opened the test tube but the ants have not liked that one bit! They've got a sand / loam formicarium with built in outworld and for the last few hours they have been running into the formicarium, grabbing a bit of sand and then running back to the test tube and dropping it at the entrance to try and plug it up. It's been pretty amusing to watch them build their wall grain by grain.

[Serafine]

They do not hate your formicarium, this is completely normal behaviour. Your ants just don't want to live in a cabriolet so they make the entrance smaller which does not only keep humidity at higher levels inside the tube (good for the larvae so they don't dry out) but also allows them to better defend their nest if it gets attacked. They will move into the nest (provided it's moisturized appropriately) in a few weeks when they feel confident enough for such a huge home.

Also Lasius niger queens have a reputation for being very stubborn when it comes to moving to a new place.

[kjarva]

I'm happy to wait - I just found it highly amusing that they have been so industrious today and are actually making awesome progress on their wall since this morning. I have no doubt by tomorrow night they will have it almost fully plugged again. It's amazing how huge the queen is in comparison to the little workers, she's like godzilla. She has had a stomp up to the entrance of the tube a few times today I hoped each time she may poke her head out to investigate but no such luck so far.