My Ant Farm (Nature at work) *56k warning*

[da.Guvna]

It's quite a relief to know that my ants aren't the only ones trying to get out through the air holes and chew through the lid!

I just pulled them out of the dark wardrobe I was keeping them in to see how they're doing. One of them has died/been mauled by the others. I say that because she's been cut in half. I reckon it was Colonal Mustard, with the bread knife, in the library.

There's evidence of some digging, as little gel crumbs are littering the surface of a couple of tunnels, but the tunnels themselves don't seem any bigger and there's only occaisionally one ant doing any digging.
I can't help wondering if it has anything to do with the fact that I don't have any grubs/larvae.....perhaps they're not building a colony because they have nothing to build a colony for, if you get my drift?

Any one got any ideas?

[ajbrun]

I say that because she's been cut in half. I reckon it was Colonal Mustard, with the bread knife, in the library.

You sure it wasn't an ant in the wardrobe?

[da.Guvna]

Either that, or the little bugger fell from the top of the ant farm and snapped when she landed.

If that's the case, I have no sympathy. Resistance is futile.

[da_ging]

well when i awoke fri morning there were 2 ants on there backs presumed dead and now there are another 3 ants on there backs which im assuming are dead, my ants are quickly dying out although it could just be the ones who decided to eat the lid lining paying the price i suppose

[poindextermatic]

Cool, I just found antworks in my local shop for £20!

One thing - It's so small!!! I thought it was way bigger!! Its like hand sized....

[Matt1eD]

da. Guvna, I'm having about as much luck as you. pointdextarmatic; yup they are a lot smaller than I thought - www.drinkstuff.com do them for £11.something inc. P&P. da_ging quite a few of mine seem to die. Well got plenty more in the grarden. I've blocked up the airholes and hope they can't eat through my blockings - one did escape yesterday.

[Nick F]

make sure you uncover the air holes in a day or so, or their air will run out.

[Matt1eD]

But they can live 2 weeks under water.... I was thinking once every other day I'd open the lid

[Legin76]

Well mine seem to be doing well. There seems to continually be at least 3 ants in top corners trying to nibble their way out but fortunately none have died yet.

After about 8 hours, their had been one or 2 digging. At about eleven last night I went to watch TV. When I came back 3 hours later the 2 bigger tunnels had grown by about 1 cm each.

I think they are digging towards the light as both tunnels came to the front which is the direction the light from the lounge would have come from. This morning both have taken a turn towards the window. 1 tunnel is doing really well as at least 3 ants seem to be continually working in it.

Overall they are a lot more spread out now but the main body still group together, not hugging so much though.

I've got a couple of pictures from when I first put them in and will take some more in a short while for you.

[da.Guvna]

Hey Legin, glad to hear you're having some luck! Mine have actually managed to extend one of the tunnels overnight - also towards the window. They're still not working on it continually thoug.

I sent an email off to the guy that runs www.antnest.co.uk (quite a useful site). I'll paste his reply below:


Question:
"Hiya, love the site!

I recently acquired one of those NASA gel ant farms on the recommendation of a friend, and I just wondered if you could answer a question for me.

The instruction booklet says you can basically pickup any ants you want from your garden as long as you get between 20 and 30 of them, and make sure they are all from the same colony.

I managed to collect about 17 ants from my porch, believe it or not, haha. I believe they are the Lasius niger breed. I know they're all from the same colony because they were working together in an attempt to chew down my porch wall, hehe.

Anyway, they have been sat in my ant farm for about 3 days now, and although a few of them have had a go at digging, the rest of them only seem interested in trying to chew through the rubber seal on the lid. I've tried putting them in a dark place for the last 2 days, but they still don't seem to get the idea.

Do you think the reason could be that I didn't manage to catch any grubs, and so the ants don't see any point in digging a colony if there are no infants to protect?

Thanks for your help!

Andy"

Answer:
"Hi Andy

Many thanks for your email and for your website, I am pleased that you liked it.

Your question is a very good one, and it is something I have experienced before in my earlier, non-queened colonies. In my opinion ants that do not have a queen or brood go into a “it’s not worth it” mode; other than their fellow nest mates they have nothing to protect, and certainly nothing to motivate them. I would also like to point out here that I do not like the NASA blue gel ant farms at all, I believe them to be quite unsuitable for a growing colony.

I hope this helps."


.....I need some grubs.

[silent ben]

Better get out in the garden and start digging then

[Legin76]

Below are some pictures taken sinse about 6pm last night. The quality is not great as they are taken

The two main groups formed after putting the ants in.





Ant watching me watching her.





The escape party.



The main group thismorning.



The 2 larger tunnels that you can see they have been digging. The other 2 have grown a tiny amount but nothing major. The biggest one on the right is growing quickly.




The guys at work! This is the bigger tunnel. You can just see a second ant clearing out debris A few seconds before I took this picture there were 4 or 5 ants in this tunnel working away but they seem to be camera shy. I've been waiting patiently but now only one is digging.




More to follow in a day or 2. I may also go and look for some grubs.

[Matt1eD]

I've shut mine in a cupboard and hope they do something - so antcam will stay stay at present picture

[XTR]

Someone train the ants to write...........

could get them to write HEXUS.net via the tunnels.

[da_ging]

was just going to order a second antworks but drinkstuff have put the price back up , no doubt due to increased popularity

[Matt1eD]

I hope mine do something soon...

I've had them off my site lately. I'll upload another now.

They're going to discover the deep fat fryer if they don't start digging.

If anyone want to see them live and streaming then MSN me for it.