Leaf Cutting Ant Forum

Deansie26 wrote:Look forward to the updates!
Eloise, when you had the ants in Andrew's tank did you ever have to top up the water? How frequently if you did.

Everyday I had to top up the water and once I forgot and the thermostat started burning!

Ha ha thought as much. I ended up with mould on my walls and around the window. I wouldn't have an open top tank in my house again.
I can see you needing a heat mat and thermostat to lie on the top of your vitopod, set at a slightly lower temp than the unit. This will keep the moisture in the air more and stop it condense on he roof and also improve your visibility.
Hopefully I'm wrong

Yes I think your right! The humidity has definaty gone up it is 75%

The rope walkway has been set up, my mum tied it up with fishing line!

I managed to move the fungus!!!!!!!

I removed some of the soil with my hands.

Then I used a clean metal spoon to pick up the fungus and put it into the seed tray! It's amazing to see the whole fungus and all the larvae!



I saved as many ants as I could! I couldn't see the queen anywhere!! I'm slightly worried! But I hope she is in the fungus somewhere!

If I were you I would break up the fungus and find the queen

Eloise, a few things. Firstly the fungus appears small for the time you have it. It is also quite white. This may be a product of having to house them in a way not ideal for a while. Secondly, I agree with Marco, you need to get eyes on the queen. What have you done with the old media, is there any chance the queen could still be there? Finally is your room where you are keeping the ants over 20C all the time. If its not the ants wont make the journey from nest to food very enthusiastically. I would be tempted to place an inverted clear container over the fungus until it is growing strongly. With an exit / entrance hole.

Acromyrmexbob wrote:Eloise, a few things. Firstly the fungus appears small for the time you have it. It is also quite white. This may be a product of having to house them in a way not ideal for a while. Secondly, I agree with Marco, you need to get eyes on the queen. What have you done with the old media, is there any chance the queen could still be there? Finally is your room where you are keeping the ants over 20C all the time. If its not the ants wont make the journey from nest to food very enthusiastically. I would be tempted to place an inverted clear container over the fungus until it is growing strongly. With an exit / entrance hole.

She is definitely not in the substrate left in the tub because I sifted through the entire thing! My room is in the loft and gets very warm in the summer, I can turn up the heat! They are already cutting leaves and have started to climb the rope! I'll break up the fungus and check!

I have located the queen! She is definitely there!

Good! Now let's hope that fungus grows nice and big