15 replies to this topic

[Will230145]

My Formica Subsericea queen has 2 workers and some eggs, I will be moving them into an Omni nest large (I am blocking off all of the chambers but one so they don’t have too much room) and I read somewhere that the Acrylic can be slippery for the queen, it this true, and if so what should I do?

[Kevin]

Yes, acrylic is not always a great nesting material by itself.

 

I suggest you use a painbrush and grout to "paint" the grout on the inside of the chambers to absorb water and give a better surface. You could also add sand or another substrate.

Edited by Kevin, February 11 2018 - 1:12 PM.

[Derpy]

You can also put sand or some other substrate on the bottom of the nest.

[Will230145]

I will probably add white sand, do you know what type I should use?

[Derpy]

Just use something non-toxic, like aquarium sand.

[Serafine]

Why do you want to move them into a nest that has worse hydration, less stable conditions and no direct water source when a test tube is just better for their current needs in every single way? It will most like be nothing but a big hit to the colony's development. There's a reason even the AC channel doesn't get tired to highlight the fact that ants should be left in test tubes until they have AT LEAST 20-50 workers.

 

If you want to add a substrate painting the bottom of the chambers with grout or sand-clay mix probably works best. It helps keeping the nest moist and is a good substrate for ants to walk on. Just wait with putting them into it until have at least 20 workers or move on their own (you can put their tube into the omni nest's outworld box and wait for them to move in at their own pace which they will probably do when the test tubes runs dry or they're starting to outgrow it).

Edited by Serafine, February 11 2018 - 1:57 PM.

[Will230145]

Your right , I will probably just put them in the outworld

Edited by Will230145, February 11 2018 - 2:27 PM.

[Derpy]

Yeah, I would reccomend letting them grow a little more before putting them in a formicarium.

[Will230145]

Should I just do a light coat?

[Mettcollsuss]

Yes, the queens can slip on acrylic. I have a Formica subsericea colony and housed them in an AntsAustralia acrylic nest for a short time. The queen had a lot of trouble walking on the smooth acrylic.

 

Also, if they're only at two workers, I wouldn't recommend moving them into a formicarium. Keep them in a test tube or two until they reach 20-25 workers. Just place the tube(s) in an outworld for them to forage in.

[Will230145]

Ok, what did you do with your colony?

Edited by Will230145, February 11 2018 - 5:38 PM.

[Mettcollsuss]

They are back in a test tube. I had also made the mistake of moving them in too early (they were at 5 workers).

[Will230145]

Will grout make the nest look ugly? Or should I just go with a non-toxic white sand?

[Mettcollsuss]

Will grout make the nest look ugly? Or should I just go with a non-toxic white sand?

I'm not sure. Try placing a bit of grout/sand/whatever on a piece of tinfoil or something so you can see what it will look like. If the grout ends up being too dark to see the ants against, you can sprinkle a layer of lightly colored sand on it before it dries fully.

[Will230145]

What are you going to do with your colony when they get too big?

[Derpy]

He would probably move them into a formicarium. I have a similar setup with my camponotus, they are in a test tube and are in a small little outworld. When they outgrow that test tube I would either add another test tube or move them into something else.