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Post by Kyle on Nov 27, 2010 13:14:19 GMT
Another quick update, but I'm still on the laptop, so yar
27.11.2010
In the last week or so they seem to have become very picky on what they are taking back to the nest, altho bramble is taken in larger amounts as well as the oatmeal, which is always a great sign, and as always honey water goes down a treat.
The only slight problem with the "lighter" soil is that when it's heated to loses moisture a lot quicker than the old soil, as as its only a mesh lid the humidity just escapes, so just need to either get a few bits of glass or plastic or anything that will help keep the moisture in, or get a few heat mats and change the lid to a good fitting full glass lid.
Pxelsam
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Post by Kyle on Jan 19, 2011 15:45:32 GMT
Just a quick update, as I've been very busy lately, what with grandad going into hospital, cars going wrong, and the job center [sarcasm]what joy they are[/sarcasm], but anyway.... 19.01.2011I've changed the set-up a little to make keeping the humidity higher easier, so instead of having a mesh lid, I now have a full glass lid, and thus the amount of soil needed is now much less, so I'm now using one of these (have I said that already?) which hold the moisture very well, and is very light so no risk of a cave in . Over the last few months they have becomes picky little blighters, and have even turned down bramble a few times, but still love fruit so it's not like there not taking any food at all. Kyle
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Post by Kyle on Mar 11, 2011 14:12:57 GMT
The colony is really starting to kick up a notch lately and what with spring more or less here, I can expect things shot up. But first things first, to clean the foraging tank, I normally clean it once a month (although I do clean any old leaves and twigs before then), which is never an easy task what with lots of angry ants running around trying to bite you I was lucky here Even one of the cats decided to have a look, thankfully none of them have ever been bitten. The Fungus is really growing nicely and with the slightly changed set-up humidity is kept higher without the need for me to keep opening and spraying water. I also finially got round to testing honeywater vs sugarwater sugar on the left, honey on the right, 2 mins after putting it in. After about 25 mins but the next day all the honeywater had gone, leaving only the sugar water behind. Kyle
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Post by Kyle on Mar 19, 2011 1:50:08 GMT
Just got back from the Pictures and what did I find... the cheeky little blighters have chewed through the tubing, but on the bright side they are now wondering around the cupboard cleaning up anything that might be edable , and now I think about it maybe I should have prioritised blocking the hole first rather than posting it on here lol. Kyle
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Post by Jenny on Mar 19, 2011 5:15:17 GMT
And there's the culprit (right side of hole) in full view, caught in the act ;D
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Post by Kyle on Mar 19, 2011 16:12:02 GMT
And there's the culprit (right side of hole) in full view, caught in the act ;D lol I didn't actually see her... makes me wonder where she is now Indeed there strength mixed with pure persistence, and they get almost anything done in due time. Oh yes, I don't think a day goes past (apart from when I haven't taken the lid off) that I don't end up turning around to see one of them staring at me, or walking over my hand on the computer mouse , but all the time they don't escape in mass I don't mind too much Kyle
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Post by Kyle on Aug 13, 2011 17:46:11 GMT
OK, quick and long over due update.
The colony is still doing well, although it does seem to have shrunk in size while I've been gone to almost 2/3 of it's size, but both queens are still alive from the looks of things and the general health of the colony seems to be good, so now its a matter of trying to get the colony back to where it was, and seeing as a rose that was put in about 10 minutes ago is already covered in workers it shouldn't be hard, but they as I know they can be fussy eaters so only time will tell.
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Post by Kyle on Aug 19, 2011 23:23:35 GMT
Another quick update. Due to thinking the colony had shrunk when I last posted, I decided to remove an upside down pot that I thought might help them (this was placed in while I was away), and as I'd seen very little activity coming or going from that entrance hole I decided to have a look, and what a surprise I found; The tub was more or less filled to the brim with fungus as well as countless amounts of pupa sitting on top of the fungus, as of now I have placed another tub almost twice the size now, so I'll see how things go, as so far it seems they prefer the tank cut up in to smaller sections .
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Post by Wood~Ant on Aug 20, 2011 7:35:09 GMT
Wow Kyle, that is a lovely fungus garden your Acromyrmex have made. Great to see photos of your colony doing so well nest mate
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Post by deansie on Dec 31, 2013 19:52:14 GMT
Great thread mate, looking forward to mines getting bigger and eating loads
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