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Post by UKantz on Apr 14, 2012 19:36:18 GMT
Thanks wood , the reason I put it there was mainly to see the ants better when they forage but It radiates heat as well.
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Post by UKantz on Apr 18, 2012 15:56:33 GMT
A few days ago I had to move the 2 test tubes to a new location as you can see in pictures, and this stress has caused for Q1 to eat her larva this is due to the stress of moving I think... Luckily she still has some newly laid eggs I'm not sure about Q2 but I don't intend to check her as I don't want to make the possable situation worse, and so won't be updating this journal for 2 weeks.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 21, 2012 7:46:37 GMT
These ants have trash accumulation system where they pile all there rubbish in one big pile, this they usually do outside the nest in their out world. But it sounds like they have decided to use it in there nest , my only guess is because they are young they don't want to send many workers out to forrage But I don't know how to remove it without disturbing them a lot If their midden isn't causing any problems, then don't worry too much about it. Only if you find it is growing fungus, mould or encouraging mites will it be necessary to clean it out often. I usually clean out any "ant rubbish" during a cool spell when the ants are less active, as then they are less inclined to attack your fingers or get too stressed about the ordeal.
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Post by Remson on Apr 21, 2012 17:45:34 GMT
HI UKANTS sorry to post in your journal but I had to tell you that your ytong looks really good, and I wasn't to keen on them untill I saw your's. I think you have done a great job with it and your journal has given me some good information. also if you wouldn't mind either PM'ing me or making a post on how you made that Ytong? Thanks Remson
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Post by UKantz on Apr 21, 2012 19:00:27 GMT
Thanks for the compliment this is actually only my second y-tong nest I made, but was quite proud of myself Firstly, I cut my Ytong into the right shape to fit into my tank then used a pencil to draw what my nest would look like. Then took it out side and began by laying the dill on its side to carve the tunnels about 1 cm thick and 1.5cm deep. when I got to a chamber used the back of a hammer to chisel it out . This should only take 15 mins at most and give it a quick water down with water as there is a lot of dust. And there you have nice ant set up
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Post by UKantz on Apr 29, 2012 15:37:10 GMT
Not checking them for a while seems to have worked as both Q1 and Q2 have small larvae now
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Post by UKantz on May 4, 2012 15:14:28 GMT
Sadly Q1 won't be with us for much longer as she was picked for a trade with dean for a Formica lemani colony (check out the journal). I chose Q1 because she is the biggest and has most eggs and larvae and since it's for a small colonie it's only fair She will be leaving next tuesday Q2s report will also be comming then to as I don't want to disturb her that much ;D
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Post by UKantz on May 7, 2012 17:11:52 GMT
I know it's not tuesday but here is the report on Q2 now the only queen She usually runs around with the eggs and larvae so it's hard to tell what she has but from what I can tell she has a cluster of 8-11 eggs and 3 small larvae. ;D Thanks for reading
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Post by UKantz on May 9, 2012 16:45:09 GMT
Yesterday Q1 left us carry on her life with another member Q2 along with the heat mat has been transferred to my closet where it is always dark and won't be disturbed.
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Post by UKantz on May 12, 2012 7:26:44 GMT
Today is a sad day as Q1 has died There was a small pool of water around the testube and she was at the end on her back dead END OF JOURNAL
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