471 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Not sure. I don't think bleach is leaving much of anything behind. I clean the containers my ants are hydrated with using bleach as well and have never had any noticeable problems.

[dspdrew]

Update 1-23-2016
 
So I decided to give fresh substrate a try again, and they seem to really like it this time. When I moved into my new apartment, the backyard was nothing but dirt, so I tossed a bunch of wild flower and bluegrass seeds back there. Now I have tons of new plants and grass growing, so I decided to pick some of it and toss it into the out world of my largest colonies. Right away they started cutting it up and carrying pieces of it down into their nest. So far I can see quite a few pieces stuck to their fungus since it's very easy to tell it apart from the dry stuff.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Three hours later.
 

 

 
 
I sold a few of the new colonies, some of which had quite a few workers already. One colony probably had close to 60 workers, and was already hanging a lot of fungus from the lid of their nest. I have ten of the new colonies left, and they all have between 20 and 30 workers each.

[Vendayn]

65q24g4g5f

Edited by Vendayn, March 9 2018 - 7:06 PM.

[dspdrew]

I just added two pictures to the update. After just three hours, it looks like someone took a weed-wacker to the plants. They might not want all of it now, but they still chop every last bit of it up.

[Gregory2455]

So cool!

[dspdrew]

Here's a pretty cool before and after picture of my other large colony after giving them some of the wild flower plants. Keep in mind this was actually the third time I placed this much of it in their out world, and it was mowed down all three times. I think they've had enough now.
 
Before
 

 
 
After
 

[dermy]

Wow hungry ants! I wonder how much they'll eat when the Colony gets massive!

[Alexant]

I can only Imagine

[Vendayn]

65q24g4g5f

Edited by Vendayn, March 9 2018 - 7:06 PM.

[Mdrogun]

You might want to eventually make a queen restrictor and let them forage outside. I don't think they will abandon the nest because the queen will be there and so will a lot of fungus.

[dspdrew]

You might want to eventually make a queen restrictor and let them forage outside. I don't think they will abandon the nest because the queen will be there and so will a lot of fungus.

 

You know, I have three of these big colonies, and really need to get rid of one anyway, so that actually sounds like a good idea. Only problem is, that will probably be instant death with the infestation of Argentine ants we have here.

[Mdrogun]

I forgot about the Argentines. I wish I could purchase a colony. Maybe you could do it for a couple of days and then if you see the colony population start to drop or if the argentines start to attack then you stop.

[Vendayn]

65q24g4g5f

Edited by Vendayn, March 9 2018 - 7:06 PM.

[Vendayn]

65q24g4g5f

Edited by Vendayn, March 9 2018 - 7:07 PM.

[dspdrew]

They can grow pretty fast. If they are in a setup like mine, moving a colony that size wouldn't be any different than moving what you have now.

[dspdrew]

I forgot about the Argentines. I wish I could purchase a colony. Maybe you could do it for a couple of days and then if you see the colony population start to drop or if the argentines start to attack then you stop.

 

If Argentine ants attacked, the entire colony would be dead and gone within hours.

[yen_saw]

Wonderful pictures. I wonder if the fungus will be accepted by different species or even different genus of leaf cutting ants. It looks very similar to the Texas leaf cutter ants fungus.

[Mannomorth]

 

I forgot about the Argentines. I wish I could purchase a colony. Maybe you could do it for a couple of days and then if you see the colony population start to drop or if the argentines start to attack then you stop.

 

If Argentine ants attacked, the entire colony would be dead and gone within hours.

 

Kind of wish that you could have a collar on each ant with a antdoor that only opens for your ants

[Alexant]

Each species uses a specific species of the Fungus, so I wouldn't think so

[Subverted]

Each species uses a specific species of the Fungus, so I wouldn't think so

Actually...I'm not sure that there is a whole lot of evidence for that when we are talking about the genera Acromyrmex and Atta. As far as I am aware most all of those two use Leucoagaricus gongylophorus in their fungus gardens. Cyphomyrmex and some other fungus farming species do have other (species specific) associations.