Martin's Atta colony

Let everyone see the story of your colony(ies) over time. Pictures, developments, success and failures, what works / what doesn't, and your plans for expansion as time goes by!
MartinD
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Martin's Atta colony

Post by MartinD » Thu Apr 07, 2016 5:53 pm

Got my new colony a week or so ago from Andrew: here are a few pics of initial developments

Arrived and introduced:

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After few days:

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Week or so later:

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Will update with current picture tonight, growing very nicely: first soldier about to be born (whatever the correct terminology is). Was quite surprised to see a couple of soldier pupae in this size colony, but nice surprise

Formica123
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Re: Martin's Atta colony

Post by Formica123 » Thu Apr 07, 2016 6:00 pm

Looking fantastic!!!
Much bigger fungus than the last colony already ! :)
I keep over 20 species of ant, inc. Acromyrmex Octospinosus
Owner of AntKeepingShop (www.antkeepingshop.weebly.com)

MartinD
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Re: Martin's Atta colony

Post by MartinD » Thu Apr 07, 2016 8:06 pm

Image

Image

Formica123
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Re: Martin's Atta colony

Post by Formica123 » Thu Apr 07, 2016 8:06 pm

Looking good!
I keep over 20 species of ant, inc. Acromyrmex Octospinosus
Owner of AntKeepingShop (www.antkeepingshop.weebly.com)

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Deansie26
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Re: Martin's Atta colony

Post by Deansie26 » Thu Apr 07, 2016 8:16 pm

Great stuff Martin, glad to see you jumped straight back in. Is your set up basically the same?
Can I ask what that green flexi hose is from?

Shamual
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Re: Martin's Atta colony

Post by Shamual » Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:39 pm

This is why Andrew is my bae.

Because he's so damn generous with the fungus.

MartinD
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Re: Martin's Atta colony

Post by MartinD » Fri Apr 08, 2016 7:34 am

Deansie it is very similar setup, the nest box is sitting on biscuit tile (absorbent non painted tile) as before, but this time I have added sand around base and tile, is really helping to keep box humid :-) .
The green walk way, is just a cheap garden wire type thing I found in the local poundshop. It is a fine dense foam outer, with metal wire inner, meaning you can contort it to shape you want. Ideal size atm for the colony.

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Acromyrmexbob
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Re: Martin's Atta colony

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Fri Apr 08, 2016 8:44 am

The colony is looking strong and well recovered. Nice dark fungus, they will go well now I think. You need a humidity probe and a temperature probe right in where the fungus is so you are measuring directly off the fungus what the conditions are right there. Happy to see progress.

MartinD
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Re: Martin's Atta colony

Post by MartinD » Sun Apr 17, 2016 11:02 am

Update. Still doing well.

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New nest box prepared for them to expand into:

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Deansie26
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Re: Martin's Atta colony

Post by Deansie26 » Sun Apr 17, 2016 11:23 am

Fantastic!

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