Leaf Cutting Ant Forum

Set up a large Atta colony in a big tank, 750mmx750mmx1200mm high with moat, central reservoir and soil, around 800 litres of compost. Being in a tropical greenhouse the compost will act as a buffer against differing temperature. Heres some pictures of the setup in the middle of a planted area........

Nice one Andrew, are they just going to feed them directly in the tank for a while till they grow? didn't see a walk way.
Was that a concrete base you made to give the tank a solid foundation?
What thickness of glass did you use for the tank?

deansie26 wrote:Nice one Andrew, are they just going to feed them directly in the tank for a while till they grow? didn't see a walk way.
Was that a concrete base you made to give the tank a solid foundation?
What thickness of glass did you use for the tank?

The feeding table is only a few feet away. They will feed for a few months in the tank and then into the feeding table. It was a good sized colony they got so will display immediately. Yes, a concrete base with polystyrene. Tank is off show so made in 6mm glass.

Andrew is there a dump chamber in this set up?

Deansie26 wrote:Andrew is there a dump chamber in this set up?

Not yet, I'll add that later.

Acromyrmexbob wrote:

Deansie26 wrote:Andrew is there a dump chamber in this set up?

Not yet, I'll add that later.

Can you say how will you do that? Be interesting to know, I'm going back and forward with location of dump area. You have said they always go lower, any other ways/techniques you know about to help with this area.

Deansie26 wrote:

Acromyrmexbob wrote:

Deansie26 wrote:Andrew is there a dump chamber in this set up?

Not yet, I'll add that later.

Can you say how will you do that? Be interesting to know, I'm going back and forward with location of dump area. You have said they always go lower, any other ways/techniques you know about to help with this area.

I will drill a hole in the glass at ground level and fit a tube running to a tuperware box with a lid. That way the client can empty the dump when full. I think this is a potential gold mine for keeping various beetle larvae. I have been meaning to bring a large container of inverts from a dump chamber and set something up to see how they go. I might do this at the Zoolab Jungle Room when its finished.

Would they eat this or what?
What would be the signal to attach the dump? When the dump can be seen at the base?
Thanks!

Deansie26 wrote:Would they eat this or what?
What would be the signal to attach the dump? When the dump can be seen at the base?
Thanks!

Yes. Technically it should have been done at setup but I have come to the opinion that a return to do this raises many issues regarding the care of the ants as well as opportunities to up sell and generate new projects at a later date with the establishment.