Trials and prototypes

[Britishants.com]

Thanks Dean, much appreciated! I've stacked the other set ups on top of this one now, looks good with different species running around!

[Britishants.com]

Feeding time!

[Leafcutter]

Feeding time! https://youtu.be/fQAQ2KDKJVw

The ants seem to be struggling a bit to get the leaves through the tubing with the platform stick slightly in the way, are the ants able to carry leaves back to the fungus without the stick?

[Britishants.com]

I was going to move it but it's more fascinating watching them over come such problems, they employ other workers and team up to pull them through! they have two feeding pods, the other pod is easier for them but I have noticed they have the smaller ants use that while the bigger ones take on more of a challenge further from the fungus garden.

[Leafcutter]

I tried using acrylic cylinders to act as a foraging area for my lot but the issue is the number of ants which hang around the edge of the cylinder so whenever I open it, 20+ ants run out. PTFE doesn't work long term as the humidity affects it's usefulness. Any ideas of how you might be able to overcome this issue?

[Britishants.com]

Leave the lid off the Fluon sprayed tub or have multiple feeding pods like me! That seems to work for me. X

[Deansie26]

Or an open moat feeding table, more space would be useful and more practical for a big colony. I can also imagine a very large colony being torture to feed other wise.

[Acromyrmexbob]

Personally I do not think it is a good solution to have a feeding table where you have to risk escapes every time you feed. It is better to be able to work at your leisure separating ants etc at the feeding table without having to worry about ant numbers escaping. In our commercial setups all the feeding tables are moat based allowing the keeper to interact without escapes. Smaller setups, like Seans, may become difficult to manage when attas get really big. I would think they would be at their best when housing small colonies of Attas or Acromyrmex when overwhelming numbers are not a problem.

[Britishants.com]

I must confess to having an Acro colony in a second hand Perspex box and they can get out, I find it fascinating watching them doing their rounds, they never go far and always return! I was talking to one the other day and got caught by the other half! Awkward trying to explain why your saying, 'hello you...where you off to little fella' and my partner says are you talking to an ant? Thought they where all girls! Lol

[Deansie26]

So you think a feeding table is a good idea Andrew? The start of your reply threw me as it seemed you where against them then for them?
Going only from experience with my colonys I think it doesn't take a colony to be very large to become a nightmare to feed without a moat. I used to kill my Acros constantly trying to feed and keep in escapees.

I'm sure leafcutter will back me up here lol