13 replies to this topic

[cap_backfire]

OK first off I KNOW that gel farms are bad.   But from what I see they are only really bad because of the gel.   So I got one as a gift from my nephews and intend to put my thief ants in it after a few modifications, the biggest of which will be removing the gel and replacing it with substrate.   So... Some questions on advice for this... But first, this link is the farm they got me.  

 

Its um... TINY.  Like it easily fits in your hand, but I love the way it's easily expandable.   Might also try tetramorium in here, we'll see which flights I find first.   

 

Anyway, removing the gel, I would replace it with substrate.   Would you guys recommend straight up sand, or a mix of mostly sand and soil?   I like the idea of either but... Straight sand is my preference but want to know what the ants prefer.  

 

I think this could make a really cool setup for tiny ants, and again, it's easily expandable and viewing would be pretty cool.   

Again... I KNOW this is cheap and gel is the devil but my nephews got this for me and I really want to use it.   
 

Thoughts??? 

[Zeiss]

The best thing to do is to mimic the substrate that these ants would normally occur.  You can also collect dirt from where the ants were caught, throw it in the oven at 250F for a few hours and let that kill off everything inside it.  

 

Straight sand will not work.

[cap_backfire]

Kind of glad to hear this.   May do "layers" with THIN layers of sand between decent layers of dirt.  I plan to source them in my own yard so... I have PLENTY of dirt from that biome!  HAHAHAH

 

I have found many anthills in sand regions in at least two parklands near me, in which I saw no dirt surrounding the nests so I was curious if they could live in straight sand sourced from their area, if that was the case.    

Thanks SO much for the advice.   This makes things much easier, in fact.  

[futurebird]

How will hydration work? Ants can be adaptable. For me the gap is a bit thick... with small sp. you might not see much. 

[Zeiss]

Having layers might not be a great idea.  You typically want homogenous mixtures of soil.  A pure layer of sand will not be supportive and can fall apart easily.

[cap_backfire]

I'm thinking like a REALLY thin line, just to get more of a view of how deep they've gone.   Like the thickness of a sheet of paper or something.   VERY thin.  But you're probably right.   

Again, thanks for the advice!  Such a great community.  

[AntBoi3030]

For hydration you can poor some plaster at on corner at the bottom. Drill a hole into it and inject water inside the plaster. This will hydrate the substrate without and escapes

[ReignofRage]

Either dirt from about 8-12 inches down will work or a sand/clay mixure. For hydration you can moisten from the top with a syringe or a layer of plaster. For plaster I would try to drill/poke holes in the  bottom of where the gel was and then pour plaster into the space below that, unless that is used for something.

[ANTS_KL]

I feel any ants would enjoy this

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[ANTdrew]

The soil layer will be too wide, though. Thief ants are subterranean by nature, so they would disappear. Tetramorium would outgrow it in two weeks. Sorry to be a downer!

[ANTS_KL]

The soil layer will be too wide, though. Thief ants are subterranean by nature, so they would disappear. Tetramorium would outgrow it in two weeks. Sorry to be a downer!

Yea and there are ants like formica or Camponotus that would like it tho. Or Pheidole

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[cap_backfire]

I don't mind not really seeing the Thiefs so much.   The setup still has an outworld to feed them in so I'd see them around, just not in their setup.   Still debating...  Might pick up one fo those red and white formicariums for them as they are very cool for tiny ants.   

[cap_backfire]

For hydration you can poor some plaster at on corner at the bottom. Drill a hole into it and inject water inside the plaster. This will hydrate the substrate without and escapes

LOVE this.  I was wondering how to hydrate well and this is a great idea.   Thanks!   

[AntBoi3030]

For hydration you can poor some plaster at on corner at the bottom. Drill a hole into it and inject water inside the plaster. This will hydrate the substrate without and escapes

LOVE this.  I was wondering how to hydrate well and this is a great idea.   Thanks!

I made a similar setup using this and it worked!