Remsons L.Nigers

[Remson]

Today I have decided to start my Ant journal, for Sheba (my queen ant) and her colony so that not only I can look back at this but others too can see how my colony has progressed

So my colony arrived April 18th (I think I have a bad memory). After spending 10-15mins in the fridge while I sorted out their new home (trying to work out weather I had put too much or too little water on the sand) I decided to put them in. This was a struggle for myself as a new ant keeper, I gave the test tube a little tap not wanting to hit it too hard and one ant was dropped into its new home while the others clung on . Not wanting the first ant to escape I popped the tube in at an angle hoping that it would encourage them to climb out and in to their new home. Unfortunately for me patience was not on my side as the 1st ant joined the others back in the tube, so I removed the tube and gave it a little shake when this didn't work I gave it a flick, which to my relief remove all but one ant.

Finally I had the last ant inside and I got to see my 1st bit of handy work, as the workers ran round gathering any separated eggs and placing them into a crater I had made in the sand. The queen then came over and laid on top of those eggs.

From then nothing else has really happened until just before I left for work I had a quick peak and I could not find the queen!!!!! I looked all round the tank till I found her sitting underneath the honey water cotton ball I left in the tank. I do hope this is a good sign as I personally do not see how they get the water from the cotton.

Later tonight I will update my journal with some pictures of my colony and their home.

Thanks for reading my journal

[Remson]

Here is a picture

Attachments:

[Remson]

Erm I just got home from work and I peeked a look at Sheba and her followers only to find them missing:s would they bury themselves in the sand?

[UKantz]

Most likely began digging

[Wood~Ant]

Apr 21, 2012 23:33:30 GMT Remson said:

Erm I just got home from work and I peeked a look at Sheba and her followers only to find them missing:s would they bury themselves in the sand?

If there is no way the ants could have escaped, and the sand is deep enough for them to dig into, then there is a strong possibility that the colony has done this.

[Remson]

All is Well this morning as I have found Sheba and her eggs and workers. They have in fact started digging but underneath a piece of plastic which I intended to be their feeding platform.

[Remson]

Upon realising my own impatience I forced my self to leave Sheba and her workers alone only to disturb them when it was time to give them food or water. Since my last post I haven't seen much I this colony as they now only send out one worker and they have tunnelled even further under the plastic. I have also relocated the plastic to the other side o the tank so if mould does arise its not near them. I'm a little worried because I haven't seen them for a few days and when I last checked the lid wasn't fully on (but they no longer climb the walls because of the ptfe) and I found a black lady bug sitting in the gap between the lid and the tank so I gave it a little nudge inside and hope Sheba feasts well. I shall check tonight if they have.

Should I have killed the lady bug 1st? If so how as I don't want to squash it and all it's juicy bit stuck to what ever I use and give my ants a husk?

[UKantz]

It's normal for small colonies to not be seen often as they do most of their foraging at night, and yes for a small colony you should kill your food before giving them to the ants. If you don't want to use your finger than use anything around you to squash it. I wouldn't think that ladybugs would make good food for the ants as they expel a horrible smelling liquid. Although the ants may not mind this?

[Remson]

Ok thanks if it's not dead when I get home it shall be before my next post

[Remson]

The lady bug was not dead when I got home that night so I squashed it only to find it walking around the next morning. :s I squashed it again and it died, but unfortunately shebas workers don't seem to be interested so that will be removed today. On the upside the dead spider I put in there has completely disappeared so that's a good sign.

[Remson]

Last night Sheba and her workers received their first locust which they seemed to rather enjoy, as the 1st worker to pop her head out the tunnel was quickly joined by her sisters, who were all running around and tucking into the head of the locust.

[Remson]

Since my last post there was a mass mould outbreak and I saw no signs of life. So I emptied out the farm into a takeaway box to find her still alive. I cut a hole in the lid so they had air and I could observe. Since the transfer I have left them alone only spraying a bit of water on the sand to keep it moist. But today I wanted to have a look round since I hadn't seen them in a while and to my joy as I lifted the tub there were 4 large larvae and about 15 smaller ones