Jack's final gambit Atta colony.

[MartinD]

Shamuel, i think you have same kind of issues as me. I have heat mat underneAth setup which provides gentle heat to substrate which you need to keep moist, (maybe moisten the substrate away from the fungus though). You dont want heat mat touching tank or for heat mat to be covered, safety reasons. So what I did was to elevate the heat mat from my shelf on 'legs' then the ant nest tank on taller legs, providing air gap all around heat mat. I also added a heat 'block' layer for the nest tank to sut on so heat mat temperatute has to be conducted through that first. Saves nest getting too hot. So to summarise in order. Shelf,legs,heat mat,taller legs, heat block layer eg- book,sheet of wood,tile or something and then nest sitting on this getting gentle heat. This sent my humidity up loads. Neat box needs to be practically sealed (air tight). In ny experience the ants try and close and holes you make to keep humidity in. You have to keep the clay/substrate damp using this method because the under floor heating will soon dry it out!. I house my setup in a cupboard where i can open and close the cupboard doors as I wish. I have a heat mat hanging from ceiling of cupboard to provide ambient/outside warmth in cupboard (not touching nest). Good luck , hope that may has helped.

[Shamual]

Thanks for the advice but unfortunately my setup was already like that 3 levels, floor, heat mat and nest. But I will try the cupboard method if all else fails.

I also feel, that ive been being a little confusing recently. I've been very tired. So Im going to summarize it in this paragraph.

I had 3 measuring pieces of equipment from exoterra. All of which are broken. It is because they are broken that I thought that the temperature had risen to 28 degrees Celsius. I felt the substrate and no way it was 28 degrees Celsius, Which would explain why my thermostat didn't turn off after 25 degrees Celsius, because it never reached it. I have ordered a thermo hygrometer set from ant-store. They should be here next week.

I removed the waste area. There really wasn't a need for it yet. The fungus isn't that big at the moment so its easier just to sweep up the rubbish from their out-world. Its also 1 less entrance. which should mean higher humidity.

They are cutting/feeding so there is not a real alarm at the moment. The fungus hasn't grown but thats more likely going to be because im in their nest tank every 5 flipping mins trying to raise the humidity.

I am currently not heating the tank at all. This means no condensation and a higher humidity. What im trying to do at the moment is trying to convince the ants to forage in the out-world.

Im not getting involved with them anymore. Im gonna put leaves in the out-world and leave them to it. If it starts to go wrong ill interven

[Deansie26]

If your not heating the set up at the moment Jack how are you achieving 24-25 degs in the fungus tank?
Is the room heating on all day and night? Sorry for the interrogation but better leaving no stone un turned

No heating, condensation won't nesseassly mean higher humidity, the water may not leaven the soil lol

[Shamual]

24-25 dogs

Fine you caught me I was lying. There is no way that 25 dogs could fit in that tank

But in all seriousness

My room is facing the sun with 2 radiators and central heating, I used to have a fan on during the winter lol, so during the day it's pretty warm, it may drop to a high 23 degrees but pretty much always 24-25.

And as for humidity I really don't know. It's a sealed tank so I know already it's going to be high. The hygrometer from antstore will confirm it when I get it.

[Shamual]

Guys I think I may have figured it out!

As soon as I removed the dump tank they showed a hell of a lot more foraging activity. And they are adding to the fungus again. I assume this is because the nest tank only has 1 enterance, and I've looked at a lot of people's setups and they seem to have only 1 entrance also. I think this might have been the final push it needed to raise the humidity. This would explain why you they were clogging it up! I will be able to confirm in a couple of days!

[Formica123]

Jack how are the ants?

[Shamual]

They are doing ok thank you. Definately tending to the fungus, can't see it growing an awful lot, but then again I've only had them for 1.5 weeks

[Shamual]

Right, sorry for the lack of updates. They have definitely settled in, as they are cutting leaves etc. But the humidity is still too low. I was talking to Pierre through Facebook, about this and he suggested that I place a tub over the fungus inside the tank to create a micro-climate (still dont know what that is.)

Anyway below is the before picture. This is what it already looks like.

And the after, this is what im PLANNING to achieve, ive done nothing yet.

[Shamual]

Also do i move the fungus into the acrylic tank straight away, or do I let them move in themselves?

[Acromyrmexbob]

Why dont you just put the tank over the fungus and so not need to disturb it at all.