Two worlds and a moat

[Remson]

Hello once again

I was wondering if it would be possible to have 2 colonies in the same tank "BUT" with a moat in the middle of the two and PTFE along the walls where the moat seperates the two worlds?

is this a silly idea?
if so would it be possible to have a moat or pond/lake (ant pond) in the tank as a sort of constant water supply. I think even if I cannot have 2 colonies I would like to have two seperate areas in the tank so that they have a foraging area and it makes it easier for me to clean.

Thank you
Remson

[UKantz]

You can keep 2 species together without a moat it however all depends on the temperament of the species. For example Formica fusca and Formica sanguinea will live together very well as these 2 would meet in the wild. A bad mix would be say 2 Lasius Niger colonies as they are very teratoriul and one will eventually kill one anouther

Tell us which species you intend to keep together

[Wood~Ant]

Apr 21, 2012 18:52:40 GMT UKantz said:

You can keep 2 species together without a moat it however all depends on the temperament of the species. For example Formica fusca and Formica sanguinea will live together very well as these 2 would meet in the wild. A bad mix would be say 2 Lasius Niger colonies as they are very teratoriul and one will eventually kill one anouther

Tell us which species you intend to keep together

Wherever you may have read this or whoever said this was wrong. Formica sanguinea will only tolerate other worker ants raised from captured "slave brood" as any ant from another colony/nest would be seen as alien and therefore hostile.
While it might be possible to keep 2 different species in a tank set up which is divided by a moat, I would be very careful which ants were selected and make certain they never meet up, as an all out war would ensue with the weaker species being annihilated by the stronger.

When in doubt, DON'T.

[Remson]

Thanks for the quick replies I won't be putting to colonies together, it was just an idea in my head and I wanted to see if it was possible.