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Post by Jenny on Apr 11, 2015 17:08:52 GMT
Would the nest you are using be fine for my Lasius niger colony with 20 workers or should I wait till the colony gets bigger? No, it wouldn't be suitable for nigers, way too small; and the queen would find it a tight squeeze and difficult to turn around that is if she could get in the entrance hole in the first place Nigers need space and as much of it as you can afford, the ready made chambers need to be fairly big as you have to account for the queen being able to turn.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2015 18:26:31 GMT
Would the nest you are using be fine for my Lasius niger colony with 20 workers or should I wait till the colony gets bigger? No, it wouldn't be suitable for nigers, way too small; and the queen would find it a tight squeeze and difficult to turn around that is if she could get in the entrance hole in the first place Nigers need space and as much of it as you can afford, the ready made chambers need to be fairly big as you have to account for the queen being able to turn. Saying that, a Messor Barbarus colony can fit in here, shown clearly on the videos on their site I think Lasius would be fine personally
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 11, 2015 23:07:46 GMT
No, it wouldn't be suitable for nigers, way too small; and the queen would find it a tight squeeze and difficult to turn around that is if she could get in the entrance hole in the first place Nigers need space and as much of it as you can afford, the ready made chambers need to be fairly big as you have to account for the queen being able to turn. Saying that, a Messor Barbarus colony can fit in here, shown clearly on the videos on their site I think Lasius would be fine personally It may do, but seriously the size of this nest would soon be outgrown and overcrowded for bigger ants that have a colony size of over 100, which Lasius and Messor can achieve very quickly.
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Post by Jenny on Apr 12, 2015 4:12:07 GMT
This video they have done in a 15x15 set up like ours of Messors, hardly shows enough room for them especially the queen. www.hormigueros.es/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1342 Alright for demonstration purposes as they are trying to sell the nests. But you would soon have to buy the next 2 sizes up to keep them happy. It's cheaper and kinder for this species to go for the bigger one in the first place It is all down to the cost really, at the expence of the insects/animal comfort. Back on topic, I am pleased the Pheidole like their new home and settled in so quick. For their size they are quite the hunters and as it showed in the video they soon sorted the half alive fly out
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2015 10:45:41 GMT
Sorry to hear about the loss of your queen
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 12, 2015 10:46:01 GMT
I have ordered another colony from Anthouse, as the only other available colony sold by another ant seller was 4 times the price. I hope the next colony will do better as I have kept this species before for up to 5 years.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2015 10:49:44 GMT
I ordered a Pheidole pallidula colony some time ago from Antdealer and the Queen only lasted for 6 days. She died for some unknown reason too. As far as I know Pheidole are pretty easy to keep as long as you have appropriate escape prevention. In both our cases, the Queen didn't live very long. It's a mystery?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 12, 2015 10:59:24 GMT
I ordered a Pheidole pallidula colony some time ago from Antdealer and the Queen only lasted for 6 days. She died for some unknown reason too. As far as I know Pheidole are pretty easy to keep as long as you have appropriate escape prevention. In both our cases, the Queen didn't live very long. It's a mystery? It is always a bit of an enigma when a perfectly healthy queen dies, and the rest of her colony are still alive and well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2015 11:08:46 GMT
Dam that is a shock if they were in a slow decline I guess you know what is coming,But for a young a growing colony
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Post by Zarbi on Apr 12, 2015 11:17:01 GMT
Deeply saddened to hear of this Wood, hope the next colony has a strong queen which survives for many years.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2015 11:18:02 GMT
It is very unusual, as Dayshaddow said, in such a young, thriving colony .
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2015 11:23:57 GMT
Wood, Had the colony got access to a fresh water supply?
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Post by Jenny on Apr 12, 2015 11:27:27 GMT
Wood has been keeping ants for 50 years formica, he knows what he's doing! That video I have already posted this morning. These comments are now locked.
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