Leafcutter's Atta cephalotes 2018
Posted: Thu May 31, 2018 7:13 pm
So after messing up the upload of the photos, I'll start again haha!
Hi guys,
So it has been a while since keeping my first colony of Atta cephalotes a few years ago, which is now on display at the Amazona Zoo in Norfolk . I have been developing a new solution to keeping leaf cutter ants in the form of an all-in-one set which is fully heated and humidified without any other equipment needed. The system incorporates the existing design of the GroPods Starter Set which I currently sell, to those who don't know I run LC Ants (http://www.lcants.com). I call it the HT (HydroThermo) Series GroPods.
This method of housing is very exciting as it is extremely simple to set up and a stable 25C and high humidity can be achieved within hours of plugging in, making housing leafcutter ants a breeze! The insert is where all the magic happens, releasing humid warm air into the GroPods, without allowing the ants to enter and shred the electronics! The insert is thermostatically controlled via a water heater inside, this means you can say bye bye to heat mats, heat cables, incubators, thermostats and aquariums altogether! This is an exciting prospect for all leaf cutting ant keepers and more so to those who are considering keeping them. The first of its kind, this system will revolutionise the way we keep leaf cutting ants, and will be available for purchase from our store very soon.
I will be documenting the progress of the Atta cephalotes colony here.
This morning I received the Atta cephalotes colony and transferred over the ants and fungus to an XL HT Series GroPod, connected up to a smaller standard GroPod. They have been busy rebuilding the fungus and started cutting the privet I added almost instantly after locating it! I'll attach photos below:
Overview:
Vents which can be opened or closed:
Fungus and ants in, mostly:
Bits of fungus and the stragglers added to the smaller GroPod (foraging area):
Photo from the side:
Overview after adding the privet:
Fungus taking shape and freshly cut leaves:
Visible brood:
Temperature and humidity spot on:
Queen visible with brood and darker fungus:
Thanks for reading! Exciting times ahead in the world of leaf cutter ants!
Hi guys,
So it has been a while since keeping my first colony of Atta cephalotes a few years ago, which is now on display at the Amazona Zoo in Norfolk . I have been developing a new solution to keeping leaf cutter ants in the form of an all-in-one set which is fully heated and humidified without any other equipment needed. The system incorporates the existing design of the GroPods Starter Set which I currently sell, to those who don't know I run LC Ants (http://www.lcants.com). I call it the HT (HydroThermo) Series GroPods.
This method of housing is very exciting as it is extremely simple to set up and a stable 25C and high humidity can be achieved within hours of plugging in, making housing leafcutter ants a breeze! The insert is where all the magic happens, releasing humid warm air into the GroPods, without allowing the ants to enter and shred the electronics! The insert is thermostatically controlled via a water heater inside, this means you can say bye bye to heat mats, heat cables, incubators, thermostats and aquariums altogether! This is an exciting prospect for all leaf cutting ant keepers and more so to those who are considering keeping them. The first of its kind, this system will revolutionise the way we keep leaf cutting ants, and will be available for purchase from our store very soon.
I will be documenting the progress of the Atta cephalotes colony here.
This morning I received the Atta cephalotes colony and transferred over the ants and fungus to an XL HT Series GroPod, connected up to a smaller standard GroPod. They have been busy rebuilding the fungus and started cutting the privet I added almost instantly after locating it! I'll attach photos below:
Overview:
Vents which can be opened or closed:
Fungus and ants in, mostly:
Bits of fungus and the stragglers added to the smaller GroPod (foraging area):
Photo from the side:
Overview after adding the privet:
Fungus taking shape and freshly cut leaves:
Visible brood:
Temperature and humidity spot on:
Queen visible with brood and darker fungus:
Thanks for reading! Exciting times ahead in the world of leaf cutter ants!