4 replies to this topic

[Vasquez]

I enjoy other journals so I've decided to make my own. I am feeling like a little kid now, excited and all .

 

28.3.2017 - I've lifted a rock and found a colony with a side queen right there. I picked a queen and 10 workers.

Later that day I noticed workers pulling her legs, didn't quite know what that was so I decided to split them. 
Placed 4 with her and rest in separate container, planned on adding them tomorrow if everything goes well.

Setup was test tube with plenty of water and some sugar for workers.

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

29.3.2017  - I noticed the rest workers that I separated died, probably of dehydration, as dumb me didn't put them any water.

Queen and her workers are getting along, they're grooming her and they seem okay.

I've been stressing her for a while, trying to make her better enviroment. I stuffed one tube into another, giving her more space, and allowing me to feed them without removing cotton all the time, now I could simply separate the tubes, add into one and put back. Still alot stressful and ugly.

 

 

30.3.2017 - I've read a journal and saw a makeshift formicarium for new colony. Gave me few ideas but I didn't get to buy any stuff that I need for anything complex so I started improvising. I've been outside to hunt for queens but wind and clouds made my hope low so I went back to think about what I can do for queens I got so far.

 

Result 1:

Spoiler

Wasn't nice at all.

 

Result 2: 

Spoiler

I decided to keep this for another one.

 

Result 3:

Spoiler

 

This gave best results:

 

1 Baloon (lol) - Creates some safe spot for queen

4 plastic tubes (I know, wate of tubes, I didn't have anything else to use)

1 straw - tunel that connects breeding/water tube with feeding/outworld tube.

1 cotton ball - blocks water.

1 container just to hold all that together.

 

Gave me water area, feeding area, more options to change if the colony grows - or if dies - replace them with better one.

 

 

This is my first entry, I hope you like it and I hope it won't be the last for this colony - but I do fear for them. 

[Splat01]

Very nice!

 

I'd put another straw or tube like thing in it, but block it off with cotton. It will go "nowhere", but will give you an easy way to add other compartments and whatnot when you want to expand. 

 

Good luck!

[Vasquez]

Minor Update:

 

31.3.2017  - Fed them some honey, they ate most of it. I counted 6 workers with a queen, I guess I didn't count well first time. 
I noticed that queen moved in the straw part,I guess she feels safer then. I also noticed they prefer dryer part. 

Nothing special, I enjoyed watching them eat.

 

1.4.2017 - I refused to stress them, and went for a ant hunting. Of course I didn't catch anything - I went back and decided to introduce some protein to their diet (didn't give them any so far). I also wanted to clear the feeding tube, so when I was taking it out, three ants escaped. I was pissed!!! I managed to catch 2, but the third went under carpet and.. lost. I lost [censored] worker, bravo! I Dropped piece of cooked meat and placed them in their spot. I promised I won't check on them for 2 days from now. 
Next update, 3.4.2017!

[Leo]

erm use a barrier 

[Batspiderfish]

Minor Update:

 

31.3.2017  - Fed them some honey, they ate most of it. I counted 6 workers with a queen, I guess I didn't count well first time. 
I noticed that queen moved in the straw part,I guess she feels safer then. I also noticed they prefer dryer part. 

Nothing special, I enjoyed watching them eat.

 

1.4.2017 - I refused to stress them, and went for a ant hunting. Of course I didn't catch anything - I went back and decided to introduce some protein to their diet (didn't give them any so far). I also wanted to clear the feeding tube, so when I was taking it out, three ants escaped. I was pissed!!! I managed to catch 2, but the third went under carpet and.. lost. I lost ******* worker, bravo! I Dropped piece of cooked meat and placed them in their spot. I promised I won't check on them for 2 days from now. 
Next update, 3.4.2017!

 

Please observe rule #3 -- foul language is not welcome.

Improvisation may be at the heart of ant-keeping, but I think your ants are escaping because this is still an improper setup. Simply giving them a conventional test-tube setup (or equivalent) and putting it in an open talcum/isopropanol-lined container would work much better than this rig.

Edited by Batspiderfish, April 1 2017 - 6:50 PM.