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koln Zoo, Germany

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:38 pm
by Deansie26
This morning I received a message on my facebook page from a nice guy in Germany called, Detlef. It's of him infront of a huge Atta colony in Koln Zoo, Germany. It's quite an unusual set up and very interesting. He also send me a video and said it was ok for me to share them.

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Re: koln Zoo, Germany

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 1:19 pm
by RichardP
That is fungus heaven!

Re: koln Zoo, Germany

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 5:50 pm
by Acromyrmexbob
Jamie, thats epic. Heres a theory, I am convinced this is correct. I think the size of a fungus garden, its maximum size, is determined by its weight. There will come a point where the weight of the fungus will crush the lower part of the garden. I think the fungus gardens in this setup are as big as it is possible to go. Any bigger and they would fall to pieces. That is a spectacular setup. So well fed. I think there is another public display thread showing a similar setup here where the fungus is in a large tank. Thats one way to see everything thats going on in the nest! Slightly bigger than one of Seans pods. (Do I need to get permission from him to use that word?)

Re: koln Zoo, Germany

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 6:56 pm
by Deansie26
Yeh he will be after royalties :)
Your theory sound good, I've seen gardens as big a few times but noting I'd say was bigger.
Maybe the ants alter the architecture to accommodate the weight? I doubt it but you never know with these ants do you.

Re: koln Zoo, Germany

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:37 pm
by Acromyrmexbob
deansie26 wrote:Yeh he will be after royalties :)
Your theory sound good, I've seen gardens as big a few times but noting I'd say was bigger.
Maybe the ants alter the architecture to accommodate the weight? I doubt it but you never know with these ants do you.
I think its just that the fungus is not capable of supporting any weight. Interesting to see how that colony develops. I take it you asked the guy to join?

Re: koln Zoo, Germany

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:42 pm
by Deansie26
Acromyrmexbob wrote:
deansie26 wrote:Yeh he will be after royalties :)
Your theory sound good, I've seen gardens as big a few times but noting I'd say was bigger.
Maybe the ants alter the architecture to accommodate the weight? I doubt it but you never know with these ants do you.
I think its just that the fungus is not capable of supporting any weight. Interesting to see how that colony develops. I take it you asked the guy to join?
Yeh I sent him the kink to this thread too :)

Re: koln Zoo, Germany

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:46 pm
by Acromyrmexbob
deansie26 wrote: Yeh I sent him the kink to this tread too :)
Yes, Jamie, about that. We will never get any new members if you are using words like 'kink'! I for one would delete my membership of this forum if you try anything inappropriate with me any time we meet. Just keep your distance.

Re: koln Zoo, Germany

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:32 pm
by Deansie26
Ha ha, you would miss my special deansie words if I started using an actual keyboard.
Have you never sent the kink like? :lol:

Re: koln Zoo, Germany

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 7:53 am
by Britishants.com
Mm mm kinky fungus set up, fifty shades of fungus :lol: someone say Pod? Lol

Re: koln Zoo, Germany

Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2019 5:20 am
by earthtiger
BTW, in 2018 the colony raised males and queens. ...but and breeding attempt by Detlef didn't work.

This year, the colony almost colapsed. First they thought the queen has die - the colony is about 15 years old - but is was probably due to the heat in this summer. Currently the colony is recovering.