:( No more ants

[Nattybob]

I'm afraid my favourite little buddies are no longer allowed under my roof!

This disappointing development came about with my parents new "Sell the house" idea, they do not want any ants about when prospective buyers come to snoop.

The worst part? It coincides with an email telling me that finally I could have a Messor barbarus queen of my very own (Messors are the whole reason I started keeping ants) So I am having to turn down the amazing offer!

Nathan

[Jenny]

Sorry to hear that Nat, maybe your mum and dad will have a quick sale. You can then set up something new in your new home eventually. Hopefully it won't take that long

Think of it as a minor set back, and just maybe they will get something better to live in, where you have more room for ants?

[Deleted]

Hey...you emailed me about M.Barbs didn't you.
I just saw this and thought...Ahhhhh I remember emailing a Nathan.
Well no worries mate, IF and when you are allowed ants again, email me.
I will send you one for just the postage cost (£7).
Hmmm you could keep a small cell hidden, then by the time your queen needs to be in a bigger house, yours might have sold by then.
You can keep a nest in a container in a drawer, no one would see it and all queen ants prefer darkness.
Ask your mum
Explain that it can be put away when people come to view.
The best thing to do is explain how important ants are to you and how interesting they can be. Say "Mum at least I am spending my time on something educational, something which I will be responsible for and can enjoy for years to come".
I think she may well allow you one...tell her all about how queens like to be in a small, dark and secure place, how long it will take for a nest to grow etc etc.

Anyway...remember to email me when you can have one.

Take care

Melloney

p.s
No one else, just Nat because he emailed me and has waited so long.

[Wood~Ant]

That sounds like a brilli-ANT idea (pun intended ;D ) Nathan, you'd be daft to pass this one up. So like Melloney says, have a word with your parents, as I'm sure your folks won't mind you having a Messor barb queen if you keep her well hidden from potential house buyers; and when you move home, at least you'll have the species you want

People buying a house are not likely to look in your socks or coat pockets, or even in your underwear drawer, so you will easily find somewhere suitable to hide the little lady. ;D

[Ghost]

I have had similiar problems lately. With my move to university I had to release my colonies as pets are not allowed in the dorms. Although I do plan on hiding a small colony in my closet once I find a queen around here .

[Formicalondon]

Also think of ways of making your sets either more discreet as eriduserpent was saying, or maybe more presentable and pleasant looking. I am going to make my M barb set up, more appealing to the eye when I construct a new one.
I now have an income, although still waiting on my first wage and would like to keep my room tidy. That means I have to build a new ant set up as my rooms kind of chaotic at moment. I want to get it looking better so I can bring girls back, without them thinking I’m some lunatic that sleeps in a messy room with 1000s of ants in a tank LOL.

If we really think about it, there’s no reason why an ant set-up cannot look presentable. People keep fish and it can make the room so much more attractive if kept well. If done badly, it can have the opposite affect, and I cannot see much reason why the same cannot apply to an ant colony could it not?

Also look on the bright side you are privileged enough to have parents that own their home.

[Ghost]

Haha. Formica, I have had similiar problems with bringing girls, or even guests into my room. I get the stare that they clearly think I am crazy. It's weird though as they went to each of my aquariums to find out what was in them, they find Leopard Geckos acceptable, but not ants. This is baffling to me, I see no reason why ants would be unacceptable as pets. Perhaps most people have a dislike for any insect/arachnid.

[Formicalondon]

I think it all stems down to the fact that ants are so very different and harder to relate to than your standard 4 legged verterbrates. Generally, girls seem to relate to our furry four legged mammal counter parts, than to other beings we share this planet with, of course there are always exceptions. I'm sure many of you if you met me, would never imagine me to be the kind of person that would have any interest in ants.

[Jenny]

I think the problem with accepting ants as pets, is because they are mainly seen as pests We are conditioned to it from a young age mainly by our parents, when ants get into the home.

I am also told on a regular basis by several people "Well they are not cute are they, you cannot stroke or cuddle them".

When I met Wood, he did not tell me he kept ants, despite living in a nurses home at the time. (Nurses Homes are rooms they rent at the hospital) He met me one day near my home, and had picked up some colonies near me in Wales (he had them hidden in the boot of the car ). I didn't find out until we were married, but it wouldn't have bothered me anyway.

I didn't keep them myself, but used to observe them in the wild, but he didn't know this I think it is best to be up front with any girlfriend about your hobbies, as they will find out eventually. Keeping quiet just makes a situation worse.......

[Nattybob]

Wow, Thanks for all the help guys, and also thanks very much for the kind offer

I'll be having words about keeping again, and if all else fails, I shall keep the little lady out of sight

Thanks ever so much guys!

Nathan

[Deleted]

Nathan,

PLEASE do not do something behind your parents back though...
ask them and explain.

I do not wish you to fib...that's very bad.
When you are sorted...email me, the offer has no time limit.

Thanks
Melloney

[Deleted]

My Gosh !!!!

So many boys bringing back girls into their rooms even !!!!!
When I was a lass...blah blah blah.
Hmmm you guys could use it as a chat up line...tell your girlfriends that you like the fact that queen ants are in control and males are only required for breeding

<sigh> Men have no idea do they !
Hmmmm girls and ants...females for that matter.
I think most dislike insects because of their sizes, the thought of them escaping and running all over, most have spindly legs and are hairy, quite scarey up close.


Also as Jen said we are also told that they should be killed when we were little, I remember helping my mum when I was tiny to do a few nests in.
I think Ant keeping is something which intelligent people do because they appreciate the social structure and running of an ant colony.
We tend to observe the communications as well as the physical interactions.
My mum said she did not know what I saw in them so I said watch a few...she did and ended up sitting there for two or more hours.
Again I think if you explain what the ants do and tell people what they are capable of, most become interested even though on just a slight level.
POO!!! to those who don't understand, we Ant Keepers ROCK !!!

[Formicalondon]

I am not ashamed of the fact I keep ants, just more ashamed of how my room looks at the moment. if it was more tidy, and my set-up was nice and neat, then I wouldn't care at all.

Are you of female persuasion then eriduserpent? If so, I've never seen a girl with an interest in ants other than Jen.

[Jenny]

FL, (eriduserpent) is Melloney that sells the Messors in the trading tunnel

I have always liked and watched ants since I was tall enough to see into my dads stone wall (about 3ft) at around 6yrs old. I have jointly taken an active role in the keeping of them since being with Wood for 28 years and they sort of grow on you. Now I couldn't imagine life without them.

[Wood~Ant]

Funny when you come to think about the insect world, but the female of most species is deadlier than the male.
Ants, bees and wasps kill off their males or at least allow them to die after mating; and the praying mantis eats her mate if she gets the chance, as do many spiders.
It is only in the termites that the male (king) is kept alive as an important part of the colony.

The fact that all worker ants, bees and wasps are under-developed females, and all the social ones run entirely maleless colonies is an amazing fact of nature.
At least human males have other uses besides just mating; or at least I hope we do, as otherwise this world could end up as a female dominated "ants nest"

Sorry for going a bit off topic on this thread, but it is good to see male and female ant lovers interacting so well without eating each other. ;D