Swapping Farms

[smithy]

I have one of those simple green farms that are on most web sites. When I got it last year and put it together I thought I was being a right smart arse and glued the green mountain range thing inside so there are only 2 little holes for the ants to get down to their tunnels. This causes a problem watering them because all the water sits on top of the plastic and slowly goes down the holes and I seem to flood all their tunnels. So I figured I'd go out and but a new one and not put that stupid plastic thing in but is there a way I can transfer the ants? The minute I open the thing up all the ants will come running out and go everywhere. I need help!

I read somewhere about putting them in the fridge for 10 minutes will knock them out. If that is the case I could have another farm set up and quickly try to filter the ants from the current sand and swap them over. Would that work?

Has anyone got any better ideas for me please?

[Shawn]

smithy said:

I have one of those simple green farms that are on most web sites. When I got it last year and put it together I thought I was being a right smart arse and glues the green mountain range thing inside so there are only 2 little holes for the ants to get down to their tunnels. This causes a problem watering them because all the water sits on top of the plastic and slowly goes down the holes and I seem to flood all their tunnels. So I figured I'd go out and but a new one and not put that stupid plastic thing in but is there a way I can transfer the ants? The minute I open the thing up all the ants will come running out and go everywhere. I need help!

I read somewhere about putting them in the fridge for 10 minutes will knock them out. If that is the case I could have another farm set up and quickly try to filter the ants from the current sand and swap them over. Would that work?

Has anyone got any better ideas for me please?

Hi

I don't think you should knock them out as you put it. I would buy the new Ant world and not put the middle (green mountain range thing) in then join the farms together darken the new farm and let light into the old farm and let the ants move out themselves. Thats what I would do anyway, how many ants you got?

[barney636]

Don't think you were wrong, other way is just better.

[Wood~Ant]

I think the major problem with the Ant Worlds is that most people who buy them think all the parts need to be used. The inner bit that has the stickers you can apply is to make it more attractive to young children, although when I first bought one I too put in the mountain range part, only to find that the small holes in it only allow small workers through and not the larger queens of such genus as Lasius or Formica.

The whole set up works better without the inner bit, which is really quite unnecessary and best left out for the more serious ant keeper to home their ants in

[Jenny]

Just make sure the queen moves out with them

[hivemindsean]

I'm new to keeping ants, and I have 2 ant world colonies. At first I didn't want to put the silly green plastic thing in the middle as I thought it would 1. get in the way and 2. look silly.

But I noticed that it has to be put in along the groove to keep the 2 plastic sheets level against each other, otherwise it curves inward and will be very narrow.

I'm guessing, if you ever buy one the best thing to do would be to use some plastic card glued into place to space it out instead.

Personally I'm a big kid at heart so would like to have a big ant colony with lot of ants and quickly realised that at some point in the future I might need a bigger home for them.

I've been thinking of a plan and this is what I came up with....

I'm guessing if I was to transfer them over to a bigger tank then I'd put them in the fridge for 10 min just enough to chill them and not kill them lol
Then when they are all docile I'd pull the tank from the base being careful not to ruin the whole thing, at this point remove the green bits from the top and sides, then place the thing in a much bigger slimline tank, then carefully lift one side of the plastic tank away revealing the colony to the open.

I'm guessing that when the ants start to come around they are gonna be a little bit angry like, but would most likely eventually transfer over to the new home. when they have removed the old antworld and with it in the bin where it belongs lol

[smithy]

Cheers for the advice people. I am about to order another ant farm (http://www.smartstart-toys.co.uk/images/Antlantis.JPG).

I'll just connect the 2 together and make one of them in the darm and hope it all sorts its self out. I was really dreading chilling them and trying to move them anyway. My only issue is that my queen hasn't left her little chamber in the 9 months I have had it and I'm worried that the ants will all piddle off to their new shiney home and the queen will not. I'm guessing I have about 40 or 50 ants in the next now.

[Shawn]

Well they will not leave the queen I don't think but you much keep a eye out for her to see if she moves. I moved my first colony last year I put them in a very small container didn't think they would out grow it so fast lol. But all I did was what I told you darken the new home and keep it moist and not bother to much with the old nest and she/they should move mine did. Yes mine died but that was something else a few months later


But I'm no expert

[smithy]

Your's died aye? Don't exactly fill me with confidence! I think I'll let them move naturally anyway. Would people recommend using the sand that comes with it or mud from outside?

[Shawn]

smithy said:

Your's died aye? Don't exactly fill me with confidance! I think I'll let them move naturally anyway. Would people recomend using the sand that comes with it or mud from outside?

lol the move not kill them the queen died months later I think I over watered the nest. The sand should be OK but if you use "mud" as you put it make sure you cook it. I would use a mix of sand and peat 3 part sand to 1 part peat? something like that I'm sure someone will correct me

[smithy]

I'll probably make myself look like a bit of a nob now but whats wrong with a bit of mud from the garden? The ants outside my house look quite happy in it!

[Shawn]

smithy said:

I'll probably make myself look like a bit of a nob now but whats wrong with a bit of mud from the garden? The ants outside my house look quite happy in it!

If it's sandy then it be OK but you must cook it in the oven to kill all the little bugs etc. But if it like my garden then I can see it being a right pain to keep moist but give it a try and see how it goes

[smithy]

Right. Here is my update. The new farm is all good. Set up and nice and moist. I have covered both sides so it is also fairly dark. The old farm is also drying up quite a bit. I have a concern that if it gets too dry and the ants decide against moving the queen will snuff it and I don't want that to happen. The ants keep walking over to the new bit but they still don't fancy digging yet. Anything else I can do to help speed up the move or make the new site more homely for them? Also how long is this expected to take place?

[Jenny]

Have you put the old farm in the light? The more light and disturbance in the old one will tempt them over to the new one

[smithy]

I left them both side by side on the tabel but put card over the new one.