ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Alby]

Now my messor has 5 workers so I open the test tube today, 3 workers were foraging and ate a bugs that I gave for them.Now I came back to home and I found the queen out from the test tube in the arena where I've sprayed some water today.
It it normal that the queen go out from the nest?Does she need something?

[KiamCameron]

Well if you sprayed it she might want to nest in the arena...

[Spore]

There also may not be enuf water in the test tube so shes gone out for a drink.

[Alby]

yes Kiam!!you're very knowledge!
this morning I woke up and I see a little tunnel and a hole in the sand but I haven't seen if she is in it or in the test tube..I don't want to disturb her to much...I build for her a Ytong nest so I hope she will like it..

[KiamCameron]

I know

[JimmyVe]

They would like the y-tong, don't forget they can dig trough y-tong.

If you want them in that y-tong nest you should move them before they settle themselves into the sand.

[Alby]

I have just 2-3 mm of sand in the arena...do you think I have to connect the test tube with the tunnel to the nest and then uncovered the test tube?or is better to let them move by themself?

[Spore]

It would be best to let them move in them selves.

[mpir]

My M. barbarus queen moves out of the tube to the arena every time I unintentionaly bump in the set up. They panic and leave the tube and go to arena... in like 5 minutes they are all back in the tube. So ... yes, for me it is quite normal to see the queen in the arena.

[JimmyVe]

If you want them to move to the y-tong without stressing them out, just put a heat mat on the y-tong and don't heat up the tube. They will move soon. (this only works in colder days, don't heat up the y-tong when it is 30°c outside.)

[Alby]

eheheh...ok...I'll wait for this autumn!

Now they are about 5 workers, when do you think I have to give them first seed??
At the moment I'm breeding with honey, mosquito and bug..normally they eat one a day.

[SteveUK28]

Your very lucky Alby, I have around 7 workers and ive not seen them eat even one of the bugs ive gave them. However they have sealed themselves into the test tube... with all the seeds ive gave them lol.. not sure if they are eating them or not tho.. cant see any ant bread :s

[Alby]

this morning I controlled the test tube and there was 8/9 workers, but every day I see go out less and less, sometimes a worker foraging..today only one , it was eating the marmelade.They eat insect during the night, because it remain in the arena for all day then at morning there's nothing.

[JimmyVe]

@ Steve: don't worry about that, the ant bread is very hard to see, i saw it for the first time at a picture, i never spot it inside of the nest with my eyes.

@ Alby: do they accept the honey ? (none of my Messor species eat it) you can give them seeds from about 10 workers.

[Alby]

I see them eat only marmelade, I'll try too change honey because it wasn't so good