arcfyre
Nurse Ant
Posts: 103
Country: south africa
Pets: ants
Likes: 14
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Post by arcfyre on Sept 9, 2014 13:08:30 GMT
My idea was to place 2 seperate cotton balls on either side of the formicarium...one for water and one for sugar water. Is this fine? And then is this a must? Because I see other people don't have it at all...am gonna use moist enough soil for the farm...will it stay most underneath? How will I know when it gets too dry?
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Deleted
Hibernating
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 23:14:35 GMT
Hi arcfyre, Usually the colour of the soil changes as it gets more dry. I add a couple drops of water with a pipette to keep them going every second to third day in the Summer, less in Winter. There is usually good condensation with this so the ant colony gets all the water it needs. That's why most people have one cotton wool for honey or sugar water mix. If your worried they are too dry you can always spray a small section of their foraging area with a mister, but you should not need to if the soil of the nesting area is kept damp. Hope this helps!
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arcfyre
Nurse Ant
Posts: 103
Country: south africa
Pets: ants
Likes: 14
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Post by arcfyre on Sept 12, 2014 7:10:26 GMT
Hey mako. Thanks...I might sound...errr not smart, but just to make sure I understand...so if I make sure the soil is kept damp enough...not too much because they can drown, I don't need to give them water in a cotton at all? Well just sugar water mix or honey. They get it from the soil itself... Wow its like building a house and while I'm at it I get thirsty...but its fine I just take a bite of the brick I'm holding. Scrumptious!!
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Post by Wood~Ant on Sept 12, 2014 7:48:38 GMT
I might sound...errr not smart, but just to make sure I understand...so if I make sure the soil is kept damp enough...not too much because they can drown, I don't need to give them water in a cotton at all? Well just sugar water mix or honey. They get it from the soil itself... If you have a plant spray mister around the home, just a plain spray for water, then you can lightly spray a fine water mist which will form small droplets. Ants can easily drink from these droplets without any fear of them drowning. Ants, like any other animal or living organism need water to survive. This is why it is better to give honey or sugar dissolved in water, as the added water helps to prevent the ants from dehydration. Ants will survive long periods in almost dry conditions, as they only require very small amounts of water; but even in the hottest deserts they still need some moisture, which is why ant nests often go down deep into the ground where it is cooler and has more moisture. The method of soaking liquids into cotton wool is purely to prevent accidental drowning of the ants, and whether you use this method or not you will find that even liquid foods can grow moulds and fungus, so are best changed for fresh after 3 or 4 days.
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arcfyre
Nurse Ant
Posts: 103
Country: south africa
Pets: ants
Likes: 14
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Post by arcfyre on Sept 12, 2014 7:53:43 GMT
That is a good tip. Thanks...I would not have thought water food would get old or get dangerous...now the ants I'm getting is probably one of the smallest ants there is...well their very small...what would be safer...spraying mist or cotton. You mentioned it doesn't matter but I'm just concerned because the ants are so tiny...
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Post by Wood~Ant on Sept 12, 2014 7:59:41 GMT
With tiny ants the water soaked cotton wool ball is best, as they can suck water from this and stay safe. If the ball starts to go brown or any odd colour, then change if for a new one, as this is a sign of bacteria which is not what you want for the health of your colony. Having said this, I have never known any ants of mine to drown in fine droplets from a mister spray, but they can in a larger amount of water.
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arcfyre
Nurse Ant
Posts: 103
Country: south africa
Pets: ants
Likes: 14
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Post by arcfyre on Sept 12, 2014 11:07:41 GMT
Great okay. I think I will test the mister on a few ants not of my colony, in my yard and see. Thanks dude.
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