2 replies to this topic

[futurebird]

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis and Camponotus discolor colonies are doing great. They both have 20cm by 20cm out worlds and there are just a ton of ants out at all times of the day and night. They have empty space in the nest and get fed until I notice stuffed gasters or neglected seeds so it's not food. 

 

I think there are just a lot of workers who are at the age in their lives when they are ready to forage. But they don't have a ton of space to do it. 

 

How do you provide more outworld space? what products work well and are large? 

 

Could I possibly put some more rocks and branches to increase the surfaces for them to explore? 

 

The problem with pet colonies is very few workers ever die, they all live their longest possible life. So not only do you have less space to offer there are more ants than in a normal colony of this age. No one gets eaten or lost. The only threat is getting caught in the hinge of the lid, and that's only happened like four times. 

 

anyone else have this issue?

[CheetoLord02]

at 8x8 inches, you're going to find very little on the market that's larger than what you're currently using.

If you want something nice, look for used aquariums. They're usually available for relatively cheap, especially if they don't hold water anymore (which you wouldn't need to worry about, obviously). Just make sure to get one that isn't tempered glass if you plan to drill any holes in it.

If you want something still nice but a lot less effort, just go to your local target/walmart and look for large storage bins. There'll probably be something there you can use for relatively cheap.

I do think that based on what you're describing, a larger outworld is a good idea. Just very active species wanting more space to forage.

[ANTdrew]

I make my CrematoProof outworlds using this container:
https://www.amazon.c...ob_b_prod_image

I can make these to order with all the cool decorations you can see in my Crematogaster journal. Having too small of an outworld creates a myriad of problems for captive colonies and for their keeper. It’s unsanitary and probably very frustrating for the ants, along with making feeding, escape proofing, and cleaning a nightmare.