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Post by deansie on Aug 22, 2014 19:29:52 GMT
Worker leaf cutting Will try and get interesting ones of fungus and new ants emerging
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2014 20:36:22 GMT
Just saw the vid in youtube. Well done with this colony, if only I could keep atta Any updates on your acromyrmex?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2014 20:54:01 GMT
Looking good. Wish I could have Atta.
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Post by deansie on Aug 23, 2014 10:32:38 GMT
Just saw the vid in youtube. Well done with this colony, if only I could keep atta Any updates on your acromyrmex? Thanks Formica, if I'm honest I should have just kept my acromyrmex colony as it's great. Your making the right decision with them, there nicer looking ants in my opinion. The acro are doing great, will try get some bee clips/ pics shortly
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Post by deansie on Aug 28, 2014 15:19:59 GMT
Hi , just a quick update on the colony. Since the last big move into there new set up the have been building up the ant numbers rapidly. I lost loads of ants in that move so it has taken a bit of time but I can see loads of eggs and pupae of all different sizes which is great and there are also visible more ants foraging. One thing I have noticed is the Atta are more happy to bite than the Acromyrmex, my Acromyrmex colony is really getting big and every ant that forages is more or less a big ant but still they are happier to try and avoid me when I enter there foraging area. The atta colony is small and still producing a smaller caste on the whole apart from the soldiers but they will try there best to get on my hand for a chomp! Lol.
This has given me a headache in that there foraging area is smaller and every time I open the door there coming out to meet me, I used this exo as this was all the space I had left on the shelf. In the summer it won't be an issue as I'm going to make a rope walkway coming out the top of the exo terra but I'm going to have to try something in the winter like greasing round the door I use to feed them. Anyone used anything specific I can try? Something longer lasting would be good, don't really want to use talcum powder.
They also won't eat as varied selection of leaves as the Acromyrmex, but I know this has been documented.
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Post by deansie on Aug 28, 2014 19:23:49 GMT
A better video of my set-up and the colony so far. In the clip you can see the new insulation I have over the glass-I have a piece for the open part also, just removed for the video
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Post by deansie on Sept 3, 2014 20:10:11 GMT
when I feed my colony's and one escapes I pick it up and toss it in to the corner and it never ceases to amaze me that this one ant will proceed to run over-communicate to many at the one time and cause an absolute frenzy in the tank with ants running everywhere with there jaws open to bite. I'm sure many species are exactly the same but its a sight with loads of ants.
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Post by deansie on Sept 6, 2014 16:53:06 GMT
DIY Island with moat that I'll be fitting in to exo foraging tank when silicone dries tomorrow. Will hopefully stop escapees and make a rope walk way easier to do next year.
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Post by deansie on Sept 11, 2014 14:34:44 GMT
New foraging tank set up, going to fill the exo with water then small amount if oil to stop evaporation. Will leave it a few day for them to find the route as I had to leave loads in while I fitted it. I'll put a rim around the island which the queen will be unable to scale should she ever appear, though I've pipe rather than vine which take the fall factor out there. I've also put vents in the pipe for air flow.
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Post by deansie on Sept 14, 2014 14:33:35 GMT
Here's a short clip with commentary of my new Atta foraging tank set up, I'm very pleased with it-some will die in the moat but not as much as will escape and die when it get really going as I've discovered with my Acromyrmex which are a night mare to feed and I kill loads. For everyone that gets put back 3 or 4 get out! I'll be able to fit a rope straight on the that platform next year then have it going round the garage Opinions welcome
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Post by deansie on Sept 15, 2014 21:34:33 GMT
Pleased to say I found a second garden being built today! Will update with photos soon
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 14:35:58 GMT
Can I ask Deansie, what sized tubing is that in the foraging area and where did you buy the connectors I think it looks much better than having to make some T and L joints from scratch. Also, congratulations on the second garden
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Post by deansie on Sept 17, 2014 16:26:52 GMT
Can I ask Deansie, what sized tubing is that in the foraging area and where did you buy the connectors I think it looks much better than having to make some T and L joints from scratch. Also, congratulations on the second garden Sorry for late reply leafcutter, bookmark never notified me. Pipe is 30 mm inner diameter with 2mm thickness. The connections are 21.5 mm waste system connections. You get straight, 90 degree and 3 way types, find them in the plumbing section at B&Q £2 or something for a 3 pack so cheap, there a good fit and I just put a little of that white pipe tape to get a tighter fit if I need it. Let me know if you need more info.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 17:10:08 GMT
Thanks Deansie. I just liked the idea more than making my own connectors as it looks much neater
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Post by deansie on Sept 30, 2014 15:02:23 GMT
Hi, due to the rapid rate the new garden is going up I thought I would get to work. I've now finished the new fungus tank expansion for the Atta, it will sit directly behind the current 3 boxes. I'm going for maximising space and cost efficiency as all the pipe has been expensive so saved on cheaper boxes. As there at the back crystal clear viewing isn't as important. It will be connected to the main pipe that connects the current 3 boxes. When I start in the second half of the vivarium/ unit I'll be making a second main highway to the foraging tank as the first might be to congested. I thought about using clay pebbles but have stuck with well vented tubs with plastic hanging basket mesh to provide a layer of air between fungus and base. I get no condensation at all and did initially worry about this and lack of humidity as I don't use a meter with them but as you can see from the soldier clip(biggest soldier yet! The fungus seems to be growing well.
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