Days 6 & 7

Look at those baby ants get tossed around and sorted then resorted and moved again and again while the workers relentlessly groom their fungus garden!

A few more pupae have turned orange at this point and should be ready to go soon.

The fungus garden is starting to grow in size again but I think it is mainly from reshaping the existing fungus. What was originally a strange orange color mixed with a lot of darker brown patches is now mainly puffy white.

The new worker ant is starting to harden up and get darker already.

Big moves!

Music is taking too long on the first one so here it is without it for now.

Took the top off of my outworld and added a layer of fluon I ordered from byFormica.

Then I took this video because I didn't really know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised!

Only one ant really tried to escape but it slipped over and over again on the fluon.

So, I'm sold.

And byFormica did a great job with their product, very easy to apply.

Looks good! Man, I always wanted this species, but I never got the chance. Hopefully you keep updating this. 

Looks good! Man, I always wanted this species, but I never got the chance. Hopefully you keep updating this. 

Thanks for taking the time to check them out! Ya I'll definitely try to keep updating this regularly as long as I have them. Aiming for 3 to 4 a week for now.

Why did you take the lid off the foraging container?

Why did you take the lid off the foraging container?

Zeiss mentioned that they like the outworld to be really dry and that not having a lid on the outworld was the best way to do that so I got some fluon. What do you think?

Oh I don't know. I have some lids with mesh, but have not found an easy way to make them yet, so I don't sell them that way. My main concern was the substrate molding, but have since found that even without the screen, it doesn't get humid enough in there for the substrate to mold. I figure it's better to have the added humidity in the fungus chamber.

Oh, and if you're not sure about the effectiveness of Fluon, I gave it a test when I first got some many years ago.

good luck!!! hope this colony thrives!!!!!

If you want added protection to your outworld, you can cut most of the lid out and then fluon the underside of the lip to make it even harder for the ants to get out while still having an open top.

If you want added protection to your outworld, you can cut most of the lid out and then fluon the underside of the lip to make it even harder for the ants to get out while still having an open top.

Yeah I have tons of lids with giant holes cut in the center and fluon applied to the underside. That also keeps the sides of the formicarium looking nicer. One of the main things that does, is allows you to re-apply Fluon easily if you have a spare lid. It's just a matter of swapping lids quickly after you have the new one set up. Fuon is toxic to the ants until it's dry.

Yeah I have tons of lids with giant holes cut in the center and fluon applied to the underside. That also keeps the sides of the formicarium looking nicer. One of the main things that does, is allows you to re-apply Fluon easily if you have a spare lid. It's just a matter of swapping lids quickly after you have the new one set up. Fuon is toxic to the ants until it's dry.

Great Idea! Ill remember this and do so. My Camponotus Elegans colony can climb the fluon on the sides. Maybe the upside down fluon would work better.

Oh I don't know. I have some lids with mesh, but have not found an easy way to make them yet, so I don't sell them that way. My main concern was the substrate molding, but have since found that even without the screen, it doesn't get humid enough in there for the substrate to mold. I figure it's better to have the added humidity in the fungus chamber.

 

Oh, and if you're not sure about the effectiveness of Fluon, I gave it a test when I first got some many years ago.

 

Awesome video thanks for sharing! Was definitely hesitant at first but I definitely think it's reliable now after watching that and my own video of them falling over and over haha

good luck!!! hope this colony thrives!!!!!

Thanks!

If you want added protection to your outworld, you can cut most of the lid out and then fluon the underside of the lip to make it even harder for the ants to get out while still having an open top.

Ah ok I've seen that before, good idea. I'll try it out soon. What do you use to cut the plastic? I'll have to order some Dremel blades I think, circular saw might be a bit much haha

Yeah I have tons of lids with giant holes cut in the center and fluon applied to the underside. That also keeps the sides of the formicarium looking nicer. One of the main things that does, is allows you to re-apply Fluon easily if you have a spare lid. It's just a matter of swapping lids quickly after you have the new one set up. Fuon is toxic to the ants until it's dry.

Ya I made sure to keep the entrance plugged off the whole time it was drying, didn't notice any problems. 

Gonna take a trip to the container store soon to get some more of these containers. Want to make the garbage dump too

Crazy what they can accomplish in a week!

This is my first colony of ants and I'm hooked.

So active and coordinated in everything they do, it's amazing to see.

Tons of new additions and growth on the fungus garden, a new worker ant to join the crew, several other pupae getting ready to eclose, and all with me hovering over them 24/7 bothering them every step of the way.

Going to give the time-lapse and the ants a day break then try some new settings for the new week!

Do y'all like the longer video with the faster ants? This is a whole week of footage sped up even more so that every 30 seconds is a whole day instead of one minute per day.

wow you are very lucky to keep fungus growers. hope they do well!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nice

Edited by ryanp347, December 14 2021 - 1:31 PM.