tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 15, 2008 17:25:27 GMT
Hello, I'm new to this forum so I wasn't really sure how to direct this question, but here goes. I recently bought a new ant farm (Ant World, made by Interplay) and I've filled it with sand as directed. However, I followed to instructions and it hasn't been very specific on how my ants (Due to arrive in 10 working days as I feared depriving a colony of its worker ants and starting an ant war between strangers) are supposed to get from the actual moist sand to the small ledge in which a couple of holes are vacated for the purpose of roaming. There's a small gap where the sand is and the ledge starts - my question is, how can I be sure my ants will be able to reach the ledge? Will the create a mound to climb on or something? Please reply or PM me, because I'm a little concerned. Thank you very much. *tips hat* Beth
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Post by Jenny on Apr 15, 2008 17:43:29 GMT
Hi Beth, I am assuming you have put the middle plastic section in? If you have, remove it, which may mean you have to start again. You do not need the cosmetic plastic divider section which is a nuisance!
It means it will hinder your ants movement/foraging.
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 15, 2008 18:00:38 GMT
Hi, Jenant
I need the little divider because it keeps my plastic sides of the farm from distorting inwards. I shall try it anyway and see if the sand keeps it from distorting. Thank you
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Post by Jenny on Apr 15, 2008 18:08:16 GMT
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 15, 2008 18:55:51 GMT
They don't go out, they go inwards. And I didn't like the stickers so I didn't use them. But do you think they'll be able to get onto the ledge if the sand doesn't quite meet the green part, or shall I remove it?
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Post by Zarbi on Apr 15, 2008 19:03:00 GMT
Ants can climb up walls, so they can also climb up the plastic sides of the Ant World; but ask yourself this. Is the queen ant too big to get through the holes in the plastic divider? Small workers can come and go easily, but many queen ants are so large that they need a big hole to squeeze through, and you really want to have the queen in the lower part if possible where she can live in a chamber that the workers will dig out for her and her brood. Hope you see what I mean
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 15, 2008 19:14:07 GMT
I'm only a novice Couldn't possibly look after a queen, I wouldn't know how to look after it. I'm only going to use worker ants, but I can't be absolutely sure because I'm getting them through the post. I hope you're right about the ants' climbing abilities. Thank you.
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Post by jolon on Apr 15, 2008 19:58:31 GMT
I have used an antworld for quite some time now and the ants can climb the walls easily but like Jenant said it is best to leave the divider out. The walls of my antworld are pushed out by the sand, so it should hold your walls out fine Jolon.
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 15, 2008 20:45:01 GMT
That's great! Thank you so much. I really appreciate it, it means I can put more sand in and let them build further. Thank you very much. Beth
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 16, 2008 7:26:35 GMT
I'm only a novice Couldn't possibly look after a queen, I wouldn't know how to look after it. Hi Beth, and welcome to the Ant Hill What makes you think it is any more difficult to look after a queen ant? If she already has workers, they do all the work of cleaning her and feeding her; and a queen is quite capable of looking after herself, believe me. I have been using Ant World set ups for many years, and as long as you have it filled about 2/3rds of the way with the sand, it will be fine. Just remember to keep it slightly damp at all times to avoid collapse of any tunnels or chambers. It is nice to find a female interested in ants, as most are put off by so called "Creepy crawlies" and so the world of Myrmecology does tend to be male dominated. We are all here to help, and please don't be put off by thinking you can only keep worker ants, as a colony with an active queen(s) can be a joy to study You may well find that you'll want to keep a full colony later on, as having no queen in with workers means that when they die off, there are no more to replace them. A colony of ants with no queen is like plant which never flowers, and ants need an egg laying mother around for them to behave naturally. Perhaps you will consider having a full colony later once you have gained a little more experience, as many of us started out by just studying worker ants and then found the bigger thrill of having a queen or 2 around, as I'm sure you will too
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 16, 2008 16:22:41 GMT
Hi Wood Ant, I am now, after talking to Jolon, convinced I would very much like a queen to observe. I shall venture out in July to capture a L. niger queen and begin my own colony. I'm still a little misty about the technicalities but I'm certain that if I give it a chance, it will be thoroughly worth it. Thank you for your good advice. However, I resent the stereotype that women think of insects as "Creepy Crawlies", and as much as I prefer not to be generalized, that isn't why I'm doing this. Perhaps it just didn't occur to you that women might have better things to do, and that personal preference does come into it as well as squeamishness. Personally, I almost feel guilty for exploiting the ants for the voyeurism factor, but I'm willing to get over that. Lovely talking to you, Wood Ant. Regards, Beth
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Post by Shawn on Apr 16, 2008 17:51:26 GMT
Hi Beth welcome to the forum, I agree with Wood thats it nice to see a female around theses forums. I also agree with Wood Ant over the "Creepy Crawlies" statement, as my wife and her friends are just that "stereotype" as you put it. Wood Ant wasn't personally attacking you, but its just that most females (and some males) are squeamish around insects. If you would like some very good info about keeping ant colonies then Myrms website has some very good info. As does a lot of members own sites, the link to Myrms site is at the top of the home page and here www.antnest.co.uk/index.htmlHope that helps Shawn
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 16, 2008 17:58:48 GMT
Hi Shawn, I know, I'm just a little sensitive. Sorry if I seemed like I was snapping. I would really, really appreciate some advice on raising a colony. I'm hopefully purchasing a queen from Edu-Sci soon, because it would be partly pointless to just get workers. I want to see everything, not just the end result. I'm utterly infatuated with the idea of observing the world under the soil. Regards, Beth
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Post by Shawn on Apr 16, 2008 18:07:04 GMT
I have purchased all my colonies from Edu-Sci with no problems at all. At the top of the home page you will see some links and they have all the info you need and more, but if you need to ask a question just ask Shawn
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 16, 2008 18:08:37 GMT
Hi Wood Ant, Thank you for your good advice. However, I resent the stereotype that women think of insects as "Creepy Crawlies", and as much as I prefer not to be generalized, that isn't why I'm doing this. Perhaps it just didn't occur to you that women might have better things to do, and that personal preference does come into it as well as squeamishness. Hi Beth, Sorry if my advice sounded like an attack on females, as being married to Jenant (the forum admin) I know from experience that their are many females who study insects, and of course female zoo keepers I have spoken to concur that most females are not the least bit interested in insects. I do wish to assure you that I far from being anti-feminist, and was just happy to find a young lady who finds ants fascinating. If you look at my Ant Hill Wood site, (linked to my signature picture)you will find that many of the photos are actually taken by my wife, and also my children's stories about ants are illustrated by a female friend of ours I wish you all the best of luck keeping ants, and this old ant hunter is always happy to help the novice wherever and whenever he can When you do buy a queen ant, just remember not to mix her with worker ants other than her own daughters, as the result of placing a queen with non-related workers ends up in disaster. Ants are hostile to all that carry an alien scent of another colony, and fight to the death if mixed
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