this is what I did...

[arcfyre]

okay this is my formicaria...so far....going to add more....well want to find out what need more and wat should take out.in the front there are 2 white things...this is 2 pipe entrances plugged with cotton wool to prevent dirt going in. those 2 entrances goes underground...and eventually leads to the food tower on the right and the water boul to the left....right behind the 2 entrances there are 2 pipes above ground....those are just the same pipes going above ground to see if the ants are moving down there...hope I explained well enough. Please help me. Will this work? The ants already dug in 3 seperate places...but haven't gone thru the pipe to the tower. 

[arcfyre]

[deansie]

I'm sorry but it's as clear as mud to me, so you expecting the ants to travel along the tubes for food and water?
Don't think that's going to happen If they can just walk up the tower, sorry if I'm being thick?
How do the ants get in with cotton wool in them

[arcfyre]

I'm no expert. That picture was taken right after I set it up. The plugs was obviously removed before I introduced ants...and the tower legs is smered with vaseline so they can't go up there that way...and no...I expect you guys to tell me if they will use the pipe if there's no other way...are they that smart? Is it too steep?

[arcfyre]

Oh and its really fine if the don't use the second pipe to go to the water...they have easy access above ground...I wanted to use the second pipe for something else but changed my mind and had to put it somewhere

[arcfyre]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who have tried this pipe method before...anybody care to share their experience?

[deansie]

Oct 3, 2014 16:45:43 GMT arcfyre said:

I'm no expert. That picture was taken right after I set it up. The plugs was obviously removed before I introduced ants...and the tower legs is smered with vaseline so they can't go up there that way...and no...I expect you guys to tell me if they will use the pipe if there's no other way...are they that smart? Is it too steep?

Hi, it seems by your reply I've offended you which I didn't mean to do, was just stating what I was seeing. You didn't say in your initial post that plugs where to be removed prior to ants or the vasoline was there, what species of ant? Can only comment on what is posted. Will leave it for others to reply, sure plenty will help you out.

[shane]

Oct 3, 2014 18:11:36 GMT arcfyre said:

I'm sure I'm not the only one who have tried this pipe method before...anybody care to share their experience?

It won't work, For one the dirt will collected on cotton and could rot over time and with a dirt tank set up, A colony will make

a chamber nest any where colony picks, One thing I have found out with ant colony's is only give them 1 option to make a home

you want them to set up camp in for there colony as if there's many options the colony will randomly make a home any where

its dark and they will move out and set up a home any where colony will think it will be best for them,

If you want them to have a home in a tubehows  set up in tank then don't put to much dirt as its will be a 50/50 change they will ever use it as a home

and could just switch to a dirt nest and leave tube.

[arcfyre]

okay currently I have 2 queens and about 50+ workers. There are already at least 5 different holes...all actively being dug at. I guess they will eventually join as it grows. Oh...the used the pipe but it seems they slip on the way down and eventually they stopped using it....they use the pipe leading to water a lot...

[arcfyre]

I added a onramp that leads to the food...I placed meat...banana...cheese...and a small spider in the food basket, hoping they will choose one. Is this alright? And how often should I take out the food to avoid mold? And if it gets hard like the cheese will, is this a good time to take it out or should I keep it a while? To give you guys an idea...in two days I changed food 3 times...I'm afriad they don't like it or it got too hard for these small ants to eat. Am I being paranoid?

[arcfyre]

Oct 3, 2014 19:51:08 GMT shane said:

It won't work, For one the dirt will collected on cotton and could rot over time and with a dirt tank set up, A colony will make

a chamber nest any where colony picks, One thing I have found out with ant colony's is only give them 1 option to make a home

you want them to set up camp in for there colony as if there's many options the colony will randomly make a home any where

its dark and they will move out and set up a home any where colony will think it will be best for them,

If you want them to have a home in a tubehows  set up in tank then don't put to much dirt as its will be a 50/50 change they will ever use it as a home

and could just switch to a dirt nest and leave tube.

[arcfyre]

Great thanks...I will definately try the tubehows idea with a new colony...sounds like its going to be something interesting to watch