Myrmica sabuleti & Leptothorax acervorum Bio-terrarium

[deansyme]

Today I made a Bio-terrarium.
I bought a glass cookie jar and bedded it with a layer of slate chips.
I went to the woods next to my house and collected some soil mixed with debris from the forest floor, 2-3 types of moss, a small fern and a couple of other small plants. Lastly a couple of small stones and a semi rotted stick.

I put in the soil, planted the plants and placed the decor. Added some water and let it settle.

After cleaning the any marks and debris from the glass I added a small colony of Myrmica sabuleti which consists of 3 queens, around 7 workers and a tiny amount of brood.

I also added a small colony of Leptothorax acervorum which consists of 1 queen and 4-5 workers. These ants can live side by side with other ants and are often known as acorn ants as a whole colony can live inside 1 acorn. They are mainly scavengers often stealing titbits from other ant nests.

The Bio-terrarium is self sufficient, need very little water as every morning and evening it will condensate which is then soaked back in to the soil.
I also noticed some springtails and other bugs have transfered from the moss etc to the new home.
I will update this regularly with images to show the progress as it matures.
Feel free to ask any questions here.

[TenebrousNova]

Super interested to see how this goes! Will there be a journal on them? And where did you get the Leptothorax? Always wanted them.

[deansyme]

Yes, this is it.
Decided I would like more natural setups and this one should do for at least 2 years before the colony outgrows it and I move them to a larger tank set up.
I will only be opening for feeding once every day or two briefly.

[jeoff82]

Cool, you should fit a gauze to the lid to allow airflow or it will go mouldy really fast.

[Jenny]

That's a good idea, especially if you are limited for space too. I remember chucking one of those out a few years ago   no wonder our relatives in years gone by never used to throw anything out, in case it had a use 

[tatufmetuf]

This is a very nice set up ! well done !

Won't the ants suffocate ?

[deansyme]

No as the plants provide more than enough oxegen.

[tatufmetuf]

Well at night they will consume the oxygen no ?

[deansyme]

Yes but not enough to even make any difference. Remember to start there is mor oxygen than co2 by 10-1so the plants will maintain that ratio.

[deansyme]

All seems well, they have dug a few tunnels and often see them out foraging.
There is 5 queens and approx 15 workers in total now.
I havent seen much of the Leptathorax acervorum colony however saw a worker about yesterday and suspect they have made a nest in one of the pine cones as they like dryer conditions.