tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 16, 2008 21:04:45 GMT
Thanks Shawn. I'm really really excited about doing this. The only thing I'm slightly concerned about is moving the queen from her tube to her new nest, and whether she'd be frozen or dead when she gets here. Should I feed her when she gets here with her couple of workers? If so, will it deter her from going through the tube to the farm?
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Post by jolon on Apr 16, 2008 22:28:59 GMT
Hi Beth, like I said on msn your queen will not freeze in the post, edu and other companies will not ship ants under or over a certain temperature and if you want to slow the queen down put her in the fridge for a few minutes but you only normally have to do this if you have workers as well. You can put the queen in the foraging area and let her move up on her own or just tip her straight in, although putting her in the foraging area is less stressfully for the queen but may require you tempting her to move by using light.
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 16, 2008 23:42:06 GMT
I wasn't disregarding your info, Jolon, I just have a mind like a seive. So won't my queen feel stressed if she's awake all that time, banging about in a Post van? And also, if I put her in the farm in the shed, and then go and see her, will me opening the door cause her stress? I shan't disturb her until I'm certain she's started digging. I'm slightly worried that my sand shan't stay moist for long - maybe a couple of days. Also, how often do I feed my ants? And are they very likely to escape?
Beth
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Post by jumbo992 on Apr 17, 2008 1:25:09 GMT
Hi Don't worry about the post ants are tough stuff, Well if you just open the door it shouldn't give her stress. If the sand does get dry quick just add a few drops of water not too much as you don't want to flood her out. I try to give my ants a piece of protein ( flys or some meat) every 7 days to boost their egg production so they become stronger quicker, I normally leave a drop of honey or another sugary substance in there for my workers to have a nibble ;D I don't really know about your set up as I have never used it. I hope this helps, other people will have other, properly better advice Jumbo
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 17, 2008 6:48:10 GMT
Thanks, Jumbo, that's useful to know. It says the queen won't need feeding until she's laid her first batch of worker ants, which she would have already done, because she's arriving with a couple of workers and some eggs. I ordered her today, and now I'm sat on my hands, excruciatingly excited. I'll use the pipet to water, I tried last night when I took out the divider, and I had to use quite a bit so I'd know it would all sink in, which is hasn't in the middle, but I can do that kind of thing every day, I hope, without disturbing my queen too much.
Beth
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 17, 2008 8:23:34 GMT
For us here in Britain, Lasius niger is probably the most common ant species that novices keep for their first ant, with perhaps Myrmice rubra being the second. The info placed on this thread link will help a lot queenant.proboards82.com/index.cgi?board=profile&action=display&thread=860I would fully expect a newly mated queen from last years nuptial flights to have a few workers by now, and hopefully some new eggs as well as any existing larvae. Unless the queen has workers, try not to over feed her, as any surplus food will grow mould and bacteria which may be harmful to the brood. It is always best to remove any old food if you can? A pair of long tweezers or forceps does the trick, as keeping ants it is always handy to have a few simple tools around to gain access to the set up You will also find it useful to have a good magnifying lens, as this shows the ants and their various brood stages off well; and means you can get more up close when viewing them. Further help on ant keeping can be found here on my web site www.anthillwood.co.uk/antkeeping.htmAnd Ant Worlds information is here} www.anthillwood.co.uk/formicariums.htm
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 17, 2008 10:02:52 GMT
Thank you very much, Wood Ant, it's exceptionally kind of you to go to the trouble. I appreciate it wholly. I've just realised the extent of the niger's escape abilities can reach. I have some white spirit I use to blend oils when I draw, so mixed with Vaseline would hopefully work. I just noticed last night, whilst I was taking the divider out, that there is a small gap where sand must be coming through, but I'm sure it's closed now. Never the less, I'll be very precautionary. I shall purchase a new magnifying glass A.S.A.P to widen my experience on watching a queen. Thank you again for your help. Beth
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 17, 2008 13:04:01 GMT
Thank you very much, Wood Ant, it's exceptionally kind of you to go to the trouble. Beth That's what we're here for Beth, and why Jen created this great forum Wood
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 17, 2008 13:24:30 GMT
If I have another question, should I move into a different forum? Is there one for novices, or is this the one for novices? Beth
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Post by Jenny on Apr 17, 2008 13:53:13 GMT
This is the board for first questions, but saying that it is easier for me if you have say a food question to place it straight into the food board. The same goes for like this thread about AntWorld, it will get moved to formicariums. On the front of each board the title says it all I cannot split posts away from the thread if you stray away from the subject at the moment, that is until the next upgrade Explore and get used to the forum layout.
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Post by Shawn on Apr 17, 2008 13:54:45 GMT
If I have another question, should I move into a different forum? Is there one for novices, or is this the one for novices? Beth Hi Beth, Yes you can start a new thread if you like but post it in the relevant chamber Have a look through and it will make sense 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 17, 2008 17:39:37 GMT
Excellent. Thank you so much.
Beth
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 17, 2008 17:43:04 GMT
Oh, um, also, I was wondering if anyone had ordered an niger from edu-sci before, as I'd like an idea of when the livestock arrives after being dispatched? Thank you
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Post by Shawn on Apr 17, 2008 17:59:05 GMT
Oh, um, also, I was wondering if anyone had ordered an niger from edu-sci before, as I'd like an idea of when the livestock arrives after being dispatched? Thank you I have got all my queens from Edu-Sci and they always arrive the next day after your Order History is updated to shipped. Shawn
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Post by Jenny on Apr 17, 2008 18:11:34 GMT
Oh, um, also, I was wondering if anyone had ordered an niger from edu-sci before, as I'd like an idea of when the livestock arrives after being dispatched? Thank you Please keep this thread to the formicarium subject. The above question belongs in "AntHill Superstore, for future reference
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