Jacks Final Gambit Atta Setup

[Shamual]

Cheers I really appriciate it "Dave"

[Formica123]

Cheers I really appriciate it "Dave"

[Deansie26]

Jack no one would make fun on this forum Like formica saidand I don't think the members wouldn't stand for that behaviour, its a learning place and mistakes is how we learn. I used an exo like you so I know exactly the problem, I went down the silicone route but its a nightmare. So if they where escaping they must have been doing ok? Did the fungus just shrink down? How did you heat it? was the nest and foraging all in the exo?

[Formica123]

Jack no one would make fun on this forum Like formica said, the members wouldn't stand for that behaviour, its a learning place and mistakes is how we learn. I used an exo like you so I know exactly the problem, I went down the silicone route but its a nightmare. So if they where escaping they must have been doing ok? Did the fungus just shrink down?

There was one funny story he told me though.
Once a worker escaped and cut a leaf out of his house plant he sent me a picture of it lol

[Shamual]

yes one of my plants has a nice leaf cutter shaped hole in it now. I keep it as a memory.

The waste fungus and feeding were all in the nano, but it was 1/4 full of soil so I was hoping they'd sort it out. And the colony although very good was still quite small. The fungus was nearly the size of a golf ball. They did pretty well for the first couple of weeks. The cut leaves and petals and were generally ok. But one day the fungus just upped and died. And by that I mean they ceased foraging that day and within about 24 hours the workers were taking the remaining scraps of fungus to their little waste bit.

When I cleaned the tank out I found the queen in pieces. Pretty grim.

It was heated by a heat mat under the gravel. But it was never on because the soil tended to get way too hot and not register on the thermometer which was about half way up the tank.

The problem was that there was a lot of time for me to act and I didn't. I was too preoccupied to notice. And my stupidity cost me the colony.

[Formica123]

To help Jack deal with his loss:






(He asked me too)

[Deansie26]

I wouldn't beat yourself up about it as sometimes you can only recognise things after you have experienced them. Your set up didn't sound bad to be honest, I'm surprised they just died as they can usually go on sub-optimally for a time. This is when you have a chance to intervene.

[Shamual]

Haha that's great Marco. I'm gonna make a tombstone and put that picture as the epitaph.

And I know we all make mistakes, and if I'm honest if they had worked then I wouldn't that's looked into it in as nearly as much detail about their care. So I'm hoping that this is a blessing in disguise.

[Irish]

Really nice setup! Very clean and goes really well on that table

[Shamual]

As RichardP suggested, I've just ordered some "lips" for the dump and outworld. I will cover the 3 sets of lips with paraffin oil. As an escape prevention, because I can almost guarantee that 1 day with them and that mesh, and I'll be looking for them around the house lol.

Also I've located a spotted laurel plant in a pot on my driveway, it's been there for years but I never noticed it! So that will be their main diet supplement. Tempted to move it inside to stop little buggies from the uk taking a nibble.

I'm returning to school soon and will not have a lot of time in my hands. But the pipe is connected now and all that's left to do is cut a couple of holes in the top white circle plastic thing for the thermometer and hygrometer.

Then i shall order the ants, and begin my wonderful journey.