baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jun 20, 2013 16:32:05 GMT
Hello...... I have just received my first ant colony from deansyme and although only a few hours old thought I would start a journal to keep track of there movement and settling in. Well on arrival all were activity being busy in the test tube, I decided to place the tube in the foraging tank next to the tube leading to the ant world. I didn't want to tip them in or disturb them. I have placed the ant world box over the ant world (keeping it dark) and kept the dirt level low and dry in the foraging tank in hope they move into the ant world and begin building. In the pass few hours there have been lots of activity, more and more ants have come out and began moving dirt and exploring. All have been running backwards and forwards from the honey water meaning they are feeding which is great to see. I also got to see the queen as she started moving around in the tube also . I have yet to see any ants travel up the tubing to the ant world but hope they will over time just glad they are busy settling in. I have since seen 1 dead ant half way up the tube to the ant world, I didn't see her travel up there so unsure if she died or another ant saw her dead and dropped her off? Unexplained just hope that its just one of those things but will observe and see as not really sure what to make of it... I can not wait for the brood to become workers as there are a lot and will make it a very good sized colony to hopefully support a healthy growth I will keep updating there progress and if at any point you can give me aid or support please comment as all advice and support is greatly appreciated. Thank you
|
|
|
Post by Zarbi on Jun 20, 2013 16:45:53 GMT
Dead ants are usually placed in a midden, and as this colony hasn't made a proper nest yet the dead worker was most likely picked up and put away from the rest. Once they've been in the place for a day or 2 they will get better organised and make their home as they want it to be. Keep the foraging tank compost very dry as that will stop them digging a nest there, then the colony should find that the tubing leads to a nice set up to make a nest in; I.e. the Ant World.
|
|
baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jun 20, 2013 16:57:39 GMT
Aww ok didn't no that about a "midden" that the proper term for waste area I'm guessing, so thanks for letting me know. Yeah I have done all that so hopefully it won't take them long :-) its dead interesting watching them definitely happy I got them.
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 20, 2013 17:08:50 GMT
Ants always have a midden where waste and dead ants are placed for hygiene reasons. Midden
|
|
baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jun 21, 2013 12:41:36 GMT
Update. During the night my colony have been very busy indeed. They have all moved into the ant world and busy digging and creating their new home. Foraging is in full swing and ants are busy everywhere.
I really wish I had the pleasure of watching them carry eggs and escort the queen through the tubing.
Ants seem to be doing very well. So extremely happy with their quick response and natural instinct. :-)
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 21, 2013 13:28:22 GMT
Good to see they didn't make a nest in the foraging tank, as by them moving into the Ant World set up they are doing just what you want them to do; and it sounds like they've already settled into their new home and are doing what they should be doing for normal colony life.
|
|
baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jun 21, 2013 13:37:16 GMT
Yeah thanks for the advice about keeping levels low and dry as helped a lot especially in them seeking out a new home which is more adaptable rather than just set up camp in the foragering tank or even in the test tube.
Yeah appears they are already getting involved in a creating a fully fletched colony happy days :-)
Will add pictures but am currently looking at cameras so any suggestions or recommendations greatly appreciated... Guessing a micro lens camera of some sort.
|
|
baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jun 22, 2013 8:33:32 GMT
Right car packed wife packed kids packed.... Just sorted the ants out in preparation for our travels 4x flies and 2 very big fat gnats that looked like they been sucking someone in the houses blood :/ honey water done and substrate levels nice and moist but not too much . Colony has about 7 ants foraging they have even started moving dirt about half way down the tube I was watching them now there are constantly at least 2-3 ants there checking everyone (almost like a checkpoint) 1 main tunnel going pretty much straight down to the bottom of the ant world with a large nest area filled top to bottom with eggs just off at the bottom. Very organised indeed as next door are slightly bigger eggs/pupae if that's right and just above looks like larvae. Caught glimpse of the queen she seems fine busy doing what she does best. Loads of side tunnels looks like a tree display only comparison really but they seem to like being right at the bottom. Really looking forward to coming home and seeing the new developments. Fascinating.
|
|
baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jun 28, 2013 20:44:26 GMT
It's been a week since I been at home as I have just got back from my holiday, had a great time but went straight to my ants to see how they are doing :-)
They have really been busy lots of eggs and the original brood that I got from deansyme are massive and really visible so hopefully not much longer till they hatch.
I gave them honey water and a handful of dead flies I managed to obtain and have just been watching them walking backwards and forwards up the tube carrying bits of it back to the nest :-) really great to see as there were none in the foraging tank and after about 15 minutes its was full of ants all around the flies.
Great to see they been ok happy days :-)
|
|
baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jun 30, 2013 14:25:46 GMT
Well certainly keeping the ants busy today, put in loads of dead bugs and they can't get enough of them. A constant stream of ants back and forth from the nest area to the foraging tank grabbing what they can and dragging it back :-) colony is doing incredibly well. Also signs of loads new eggs as there are now 4 chambers filled with them. Happy days :-)
|
|
baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jul 2, 2013 19:56:40 GMT
Well treated my ants to 10 flies today food is certainly plentiful for them and they are still doing very well. Still awaiting the arrival of the new ants to make an appearance so will hopefully see them soon. Caught glimpse of the queen again today she seems very relaxed and walking around between chambers.
I have noticed that other ants spend more time with the brood than with her so hope that's not a bad thing...
|
|
baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jul 5, 2013 18:19:06 GMT
Colony all fed and and watered really getting quite big now surprised to see some of the workers are really getting bigger than the rest!! Some of the Eggs have also development into larvae which is quite call as they look like they wriggle or maybe it's just my eyes playing tricks on me I have already now started to look into my next adventure would really like a species that developments workers and soldiers so will have to see whats out there...
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 5, 2013 18:27:14 GMT
Some of the Eggs have also development into larvae which is quite call as they look like they wriggle or maybe it's just my eyes playing tricks on me No, it isn't your eyes playing tricks, as ant larvae do move their heads around, especially when begging for food from nurse ants.
|
|
baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jul 5, 2013 18:31:31 GMT
Yeah it looks really weird watching them ha ha bless them just hungry little babies :-) had 15 flies earlier today so plenty to go around.
Just noticed all the grammar errors in that last wrote up :/ sorry busy watching the tennis ha ha.
Well looking forward to seeing them starting walking around
|
|
baggers
Nurse Ant
Posts: 109
Country: England
Pets: Royal pythons, dog, cats
Favourite Ant: Leaf cutter ant
Likes: 12
|
Post by baggers on Jul 6, 2013 17:26:04 GMT
Right my friends come over with his micro camera to take photos and we certainly was not disappointed, I am in shock with how big some of the babies are they are huge!! There's a big pile of flies in each baby chamber so I can now see where all the foods going :-) greedy buggers.
Fly count today is 35 half hour running around with me fly catcher really crazy how many I have started storing then ready for the cold months however I do buy a lot of meal worms and crickets for my other animals also my mum buys dead meal worm for the birds so may see if they take them too :-)
Going to be heavy weights ha ha ha
|
|