17 replies to this topic

[Deluga]

Hey guys,

My name is Patrick and I live in the northern part of Denmark. I have been very interested in ants for about 4 years now, and currently have 1 small Lasius Niger colony. It's my first colony, so any tips would be appreciated.
Right now there is about 20 workers and brood. Currently still in test tube setup.
With that amount of workers, how often should I feed dem?
I have been giving them some honey mixed with water and some stuff with protein every other day, but they don't really seem to eat. Do I feed them too often?
As said, any help would be appreciated.

Looking forward to follow this forum and be in a community that also loves ants.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be many ant lovers in Denmark, but we gotta start somewhere.

[thosaka]

Hey guys,
My name is Patrick and I live in the northern part of Denmark. I have been very interested in ants for about 4 years now, and currently have 1 small Lasius Niger colony. It's my first colony, so any tips would be appreciated.
Right now there is about 20 workers and brood. Currently still in test tube setup.
With that amount of workers, how often should I feed dem?
I have been giving them some honey mixed with water and some stuff with protein every other day, but they don't really seem to eat. Do I feed them too often?
As said, any help would be appreciated.
Looking forward to follow this forum and be in a community that also loves ants.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be many ant lovers in Denmark, but we gotta start somewhere.

Welcome to the forums! No, apparently Danish people love EDM and acting more, but you are starting a movement in Denmark as an ant keeper. I love to give my ants fruit flies and maple syrup. Generally speaking, maple syrup seems to work better than processed honey, but raw honey will also do for it's low viscosity vs processed honey. Try some freshly cut up meal worms for protein as well. It is a possibility you feed them too often, but also make sure there is heat and moisture provided at a gradient lvl.

[Deluga]

Thanks. I will try to get some maple syrup and buy some mealworms to feed my ants. Should I try feed them 2 times a week until they are more workers?
Ow yea, I forgot a Heat source, so I will start looking at some heat mats or anything else that is recommended?
How do I provide moisture when they are in a Test tube?

[Works4TheGood]

Welcome aboard!

I usually just try to keep food (sugar water and dead insects) available as much as possible.

[Cindy]

Thanks. I will try to get some maple syrup and buy some mealworms to feed my ants. Should I try feed them 2 times a week until they are more workers?
Ow yea, I forgot a Heat source, so I will start looking at some heat mats or anything else that is recommended?
How do I provide moisture when they are in a Test tube?

 

Fill a test tube with water and shove a cotton ball halfway down the test tube. Make sure water isn't leaking (if it is, I would drain the excess water). The moisture will come from the cotton ball. 

[Nathant2131]

Heating is not required as long as your room is a sufficient temperature.

[Deluga]

@Cindy I did that before I'd put them in test tube.

@Nathan2131, my room is probably at around 20-21 degrees Celsius I think.

Welcome aboard!
I usually just try to keep food (sugar water and dead insects) available as much as possible.

Thanks.
Ahh ok, maybe I could make a better way, than having the food inside the tube maybe?

[Nathant2131]

The Water Resevoir in the tube is what provides humidity.

[Deluga]

Superb, thanks.

[Works4TheGood]

@Cindy I did that before I'd put them in test tube.

@Nathan2131, my room is probably at around 20-21 degrees Celsius I think.

Welcome aboard!
I usually just try to keep food (sugar water and dead insects) available as much as possible.

Thanks.
Ahh ok, maybe I could make a better way, than having the food inside the tube maybe?

 

 

Once a colony had enough workers, I would take Tupperware containers and put the opened test tube inside them and close it up.  Then, the ants could roam outside their tube and into the container to get their food.  Prior to this, I would feed them in their tube using tiny trays of aluminum foil with goodies on them.

[Deluga]

Ok thanks. What is enough workers? Is that 20 for L. Niger or more?

[thosaka]

Ok thanks. What is enough workers? Is that 20 for L. Niger or more?

I feel like 20 workers is a good amount to move the colony out of the test tube and into a small formicarium. Check with the others though, they will know more than I would. I'd say feed enough to the point most of the food would be consumed, with barely any leftovers. Mealworms and maple syrup is perfect, but double check here: http://www.formicult...preferred +food to make sure they like them.

Edited by Tagassi, April 6 2017 - 9:33 PM.

[Deluga]

Ok. I will probaly move them into their formicarium in the start of May, because then I have acces and moved in to my new apartment. 

So my Formicarium looks like this.

 

Where should I Place the Heat mat, when I move them in there?

[Works4TheGood]

Ok. I will probaly move them into their formicarium in the start of May, because then I have acces and moved in to my new apartment. 

So my Formicarium looks like this.

 

Where should I Place the Heat mat, when I move them in there?

I've heard it said that you're not supposed to heat from the bottom.

 

What about shining an incandescent light bulb using a desk lamp from a distance at one of the corners of the glass/acrylic?  Maybe start from far away, moving it a little closer every 6 hours until the ants seem to be comfortable throughout the nest.  Be very careful not to roast your ants!  To be honest, I've never actually done this before.

[Deluga]

Superb thanks. Probaly gonna get a Heating cable, but is it necessary to use it if my room is 21-23 degrees`?

[Nathant2131]

Superb thanks. Probaly gonna get a Heating cable, but is it necessary to use it if my room is 21-23 degrees`?

Not sure bout that, with your location. Around here in the Eastern US though that is fine.

[Deluga]

In Denmark, it's normally around that degrees we have outside.

[Alabama Anter]

Welcome from the deep south!