AndyJ's Buggery room

[Andyj]

The chap i was talking to, Ed Cooper who supplied the ants couldn't believe people make a living from Ants now and wondered if you, Andrew had anything to do with the LC display in basel switzerland where he lives now.

[Acromyrmexbob]

Andy J's Buggery Room. It feels nice to be back here. I think I supplied the colony but didnt do the set up. My travel list this summer would put British Airways fleet to shame, and all for Ants! I think my current activity is mainly based on a decision to move away from selling to private enthusiasts and into commercial displays. Today alone I have had 3 calls from TV company's, one wanting to make a documentary on Army Ants, on wanting to film Leaf Cutters stripping a plant and the other was BBC's One show. Also got a zoo wanting a setup. Its nice to get these calls as incoming based on word of mouth.

[Andyj]

Andy J's Buggery Room. It feels nice to be back here. I think I supplied the colony but didnt do the set up. My travel list this summer would put British Airways fleet to shame, and all for Ants! I think my current activity is mainly based on a decision to move away from selling to private enthusiasts and into commercial displays. Today alone I have had 3 calls from TV company's, one wanting to make a documentary on Army Ants, on wanting to film Leaf Cutters stripping a plant and the other was BBC's One show. Also got a zoo wanting a setup. Its nice to get these calls as incoming based on word of mouth.

Well i wish you all the luck, but i hope i have time to buy my Atta before you stop selling to us mere mortals

....anyway little update well hardly so,,

Today i decided to give the fungus pod a clean out as the sides were so dirty i couldn't see through very well. I placed the pod in a bowl of water to stop the rush when i opened the top. Most of the mess on the sides apart from the obvious mud was the droppings from all the Spring tails and to my delight there really wasn't that many of them left now. Here we go,, off comes the top...... aaaannnnnnd,  well not much. Ok a few pretty angry ants but not the mass attack i was expecting. So a quick wipe avoiding the fungus and put everything back together with only two casualties.  Suprising how quick these ants sink considering where they come from but both survived.

I can now see through the sides again. Yay.



The small tub in the front is the dump
The small specs on the fungus below are Quinoa seeds



The fungus has filled about 2/3 of the pod now, i'm glad it's not all happening to fast.

And a couple of more pics





Oh i am getting about 30 visitors a day on my blog so ive put a link on to this forum for ya.

[Deansie26]

Great update Andy and super photos. I really need to get quinoa to try, could be a real winner.
When do you think you will get your Atta colony?
Have you thought about the idea of adding another queen to your existing colony?

[Andyj]

Thanks Erm,,,, I keep thinking of Atta and then i think of the size and i should just concentrate on my Acros. Don't really see the point in having two species very much the same and squeezing them into what space i have. I have thought about adding another queen though. How easy is it to get a hold of one ?? I dread the thought of one dying. Or,,, i could wait until Raj gets fed up with his bull ants,,, shouldnt be to long now.

[Deansie26]

I've had to colonies and done big set ups for both and as you say Andy they're just to similar I felt, plus the space needed. I think you would need to buy a small Acromyrmex colony and add that to your existing, really increases the size potential.

[Andyj]

It's a thought for the future but i'm happy with the speed of things but it's defo something i want to do, and my web cam is becoming more interesting well at cetain times of the day and night. Just given them some Fuchia so i'm watching on the cam. Those quinoa seeds don't seem to get chewed up and are added as is.

[Acromyrmexbob]

Or,,, i could wait until Raj gets fed up with his bull ants,,, shouldnt be to long now.

By the way, I would forget any worries about eventual size of the colony of Acro. I have done 2 displays in public over the years with Acros and I can tell you they ended up a similar size to Atta. Amazonia in glasgow had an Acromyrmex single queen colony and it was as big as any Atta I have seen, with a heavy foraging procession travelling 20m to the food source. It just takes a little longer.

[Deansie26]

Did you not say in a previous post if I remember right that there fungus gardens would amount to around 2-3 pods?

[Acromyrmexbob]

These displays were in huge soil filled containers and the Acros grew very large. Acros will happily accommodate themselves in pods and not be overcrowded but it is possible to make them grow large in the right conditions. Colin Dunlop once raised a colony of Acros for me, he had them in a large RUB, about 60cm long, 45cm high and 45cm wide. The fungus garden filled the entire inside of the box!