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Post by Black Ant on Jan 7, 2014 17:01:46 GMT
You certainly take some good pics and video of your leaf cutter colony Adam.
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Post by adamjames20 on Jan 7, 2014 17:32:56 GMT
Why thank you Black ant , Just use my iphone 4s , seems to do the trick lol.
Hey Mark ,Mine used to cover the apple when they were small but take it once they get more populated. I will have to look into the size of the tank for you as to be honest I am not to sure.
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Post by adamjames20 on Mar 17, 2014 7:39:22 GMT
Hey Guys , sorry its been awhile updating but have been soo busy with work and its never been a great opportunity to take photos of the colony so put off updating. unfortunately I still have yet to get some pictures. I am redoing my whole Atta set up this year , new acrylic boxes etc so am putting off picture taking until its finished.
The colony are doing fantastic , there are hundreds of soldiers , and at least 10,000 workers plus the fungus gardens fill all there acrylic boxes and I'm dreading the day I finally move them to a new set up.
My exo terra tank has become a hive of activity and it has become harder to put food in, the swarms of workers and major soldiers no longer scurry in retreat and are frantic to take down my intruding hand. I will have to redo the foraging area as well and either add a rope suspended from nylon fishing line to a feeding platform or come up with some other way to feed them as this colony wants to roam
The queen is doing great and still resides in the queen chamber , The workers have built the fungus around her and she currently sits in a little concave where the smallest workers mass.
Will sort a video out soon and get some more pictures.
Adam
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Post by deansie on Mar 18, 2014 8:00:20 GMT
Nice update Adam, look forward to the new set up!
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Post by adamjames20 on Mar 18, 2014 9:56:53 GMT
Thank you mate : ) will post pictures as soon as I can get it done : D
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Post by Joona on Mar 20, 2014 21:34:43 GMT
Great to hear they're doing so well mate, really can't wait to see the new set up!
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Post by adamjames20 on Apr 7, 2014 7:25:54 GMT
Well howdy guys , I have finished the first part of my Leaf cutting ants set up. Finally my Atta cephalotes have a feeding platform and foraging walk way to be proud off.
My design a acrylic pipe within a pipe to allow a water moat around a central cylinder for the nest entrance, the central cylinder on the feeding platform would allow water in through holes in the base and the central pipe was capped of with a acrylic disc drilled with holes to allow plant stems to be placed in.
So my parts arrived and I set about cutting then gluing the two acrylic pipes. They needed to be water tight so I used a special acrylic glue that welded the acrylic disks in place and I used to heavy bird books to weigh them down while the glue set. It needed 24 hours to become strong.
The next step I was extremely anxious about , all my set up hopes were built around this one task and the out come , were the acrylic pipes watertight.
They were , now time to create the inner sections and add the access hole.
I drilled a hole in the side of the Pipe that was functioning as the nest entrance, I also drilled a hole into the inner section , both holes lined up perfectly which was a must for the next step
I then inserted a smaller acrylic pipe through both access holes and welded glues this in place , I also used the glue to seal the inner pipe in place , thus constructing a gap all around , hopefully to add water later. A hole was added to the front and this was bunged up with a cork for draining the water should it become stagnant and need cleaning.
I then added the rope, with it secure inside the inner pipe and draping up the inside I could work on fastening it around the rim of the inner pipe with wire,
Once complete , the whole thing was put in place and attached to the colony, I held my breath yet again as I filled the gap with water and looked out for leaks,
Thankfully a great success, no leaks took place and all looked great on the inside
The rope walk way was attached , hung from the ceiling by thin but strong fishing line is almost looked like it was hovering in the air.
Finally it went across the room before descending down to the feeding platform
With a nice selection of hawthorn blossom and privet leaves and the fact the foliage is kept nice and fresh from the water below , should give my colony the A+ of leaf cutting ant care.
And finally here's where this set up leads , Through the wall and into my colony's heat box , where many fungus gardens and thousands of ants await.
That's my update for now guys , hopefully I can get the new designed containers ready by this weekend and the ants transferred to them along with the gardens , then I shall complete the second half of my update and start getting a few videos up
Adam
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Post by Zarbi on Apr 7, 2014 7:34:33 GMT
If any ants drop off the rope to the flowers, do you find them wandering around your living room Adam? Looking really good by the way
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Post by Jenny on Apr 7, 2014 7:34:47 GMT
I can't wait, that is what you call dedication using the whole house
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Post by adamjames20 on Apr 7, 2014 7:40:36 GMT
Cheers Zarbi , sometimes I find the odd ant wondering around , but they tend to be really good at staying on the rope, the only real problem I get is having to hoover up the fungus of the floor each day , they love to dump it from the rope.
He he cheers Jen , I wanted them to have a stylish yet not so intrusive roam of my home ha ha
Adam
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Post by antaholic on Apr 7, 2014 7:49:28 GMT
Wow this is as good as any zoo set up mate. You can open your house to the public and get paid for it.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 7, 2014 8:03:55 GMT
A well worn book has its uses apart from reading. We not only get to read a fabulous journal here Adam, but also get to see around your home too. I guess I just love being a nosey parker
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Post by adamjames20 on Apr 7, 2014 8:08:51 GMT
Cheers antaholic : D , hey Wood , thank you mate , indeed books do indeed have there many uses lol , Glad you like the journal , hopefully get a few videos up after I get the new fungus garden setups complete, will get a video of them walking there tight rope ha ha
Adam
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Post by deansie on Apr 8, 2014 18:12:32 GMT
Hey Adam, great pics of new set up- really good finish to your work as always. You must have a really easy going Mrs ha ha. The cylinder is a great way to transition them from the tube to rope! Look forward to more pics.
Jamie
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Post by adamjames20 on Apr 9, 2014 6:09:31 GMT
Hey Jamie , thanks mate , I live alone so makes it easier keeping my insects lol
Adam
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