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Post by MrFireAnt on Apr 11, 2008 4:14:19 GMT
Hello all, I'm brand new to ant keeping. I started reading all the great info on this forum a week ago. I built a panoramic farm basin formicarium (I live in the states and can't seem to find a place to buy a decent formicarium). Anyway, I captured a queen ghost ant (Tapinoma melanocephalum), 25 workers and 15 eggs. They started making a nest about a 1/2 inch deep. I put a board in front of the nest to keep light out. I came home today and they made a chamber for the queen below the original tunnel. I saw her and the new eggs clearly . The chamber was very open. I put the board back in place after a quick look. I came back 10 minutes later and they covered the queens chamber with dirt on viewing side . My question is, how can I view the tunnels and chambers without scarring the ants into covering them with dirt? Thanks in advance, Jason
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Post by Jenny on Apr 11, 2008 5:49:51 GMT
My question is, how can I view the tunnels and chambers without scarring the ants into covering them with dirt? Firstly welcome to the forum, Jason The workers will always protect the queen, and in most situations they will always move away from you watching them, and they will move their Brood as well I have had it happen to me even in an "AntWorld" It is even more frustrating when you are trying to take photographs! Anything thicker than your finger, they will tunnel in the middle of. Even when they have made a chamber up to the glass, once they detect movement and light from the outside World, they will move somewhere else for safety. Subdued lighting or a red light helps. I lifted my garden slabs once and, if I had, had a camera on me straightaway, I would have taken some lovely shots of nigers. By the time I had returned only 3 minutes later, half of them were on the move, Brood as well. I have learned my lesson since, not to lift anything without having your camera to hand first A lot of Antkeepers go for the plaster or Ytong nest for this reason. You can see them, and they have nowhere to hide I have to lift the whole tank of Messors up, to see what they are doing from underneath. I have to be quick to take photos though, because they move them away once I lift that tank up Saying all that, the captured wild colony are even more sensitive, but eventually they will settle down more. Still don't expect them to put up with light and movement though............
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Post by jolon on Apr 11, 2008 12:03:00 GMT
many people use see through red plastic to cover the sides as the ants see red as black, so to them they are in the dark, so you can always see them without having to expose them to light. Jolon.
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Post by Shawn on Apr 11, 2008 16:01:50 GMT
many people use see through red plastic to cover the sides as the ants see red as black, so to them they are in the dark, so you can always see them without having to expose them to light. Jolon. Welcome to the forum Mrjason. Yes Jolon thats what I was going to suggest or as Jenant said use plaster or Ytong nest. Shawn
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