Bitterlime's Acromyrmex octospinosis colony

[Bitterlime]

They have moved some of the fungus!! Between the two rocks which is supposed to be their feeding platform!!! They might have moved the queen the fugues could fall into the water!!!

[Acromyrmexbob]

Okay, Eloise. If they have done this they really dont like something in the nest tank. It could be temp or humidity, substrate choice or a combination of things. You need to recheck the parameters right at the fungus. We need to eliminate possible causes for this behaviour. Of course there is a possibility that they just think conditions are perfect between the bricks. But I suspect theres something amiss about your nest tank.

[Bitterlime]

Yeah I don't think they like the conditions in the Vitopod! The temperature is exactly 25c the humidity is 85% I could put another two trays in the vitopod and put a different substrate in? could it also be possible that it is not dark enough in the Vitopod? There was a slate on top of the rocks and they were underneath it! There is no waste near the fungus but they have moved a the soil away from the fungus a bit!

[Bitterlime]

All is well! I successfully removed the piece of fungus that was wedged in between the two rocks and reunited it with the bigger piece of fungus! The ants have settled down, I offered them another tray with clay balls as a substrate! So far they haven't moved! I can't see any negative change in the fungus but I'm still worried that conditions are not right for them!

[Deansie26]

Have they added leaves to the fungus Eloise?

[Bitterlime]

They added a leaf last night! But they are not cutting very often! I have raised the water level in the tank so that it's touching the slate that's on top of the rocks so this will prevent them from nesting underneath the slate!

[Acromyrmexbob]

Acros can be very temperamental. Humidity is a little low but Acros should be OK with it. Can you put a small tub upside down over the fungus so they have an enclosed space to build inside. Also do the grape v's orange peel test and let us know which they prefer or do they take both?
Light may be an issue, can you temporarily cover the outside of the box?
Are you feeding at the fungus. Are you measuring humidity and temperature directly where the fungus is or somewhere else in the box?

[Bitterlime]

I will do the grape and orange peel test tonight! The seed trays come with a lid so I put the lid on it but I maybe I should use something smaller! I have measured the temperature inside the seed tray and its 29c and the humidity is 70% but outside the seed tray in the Vitopod the humidity is 80% and the temp is 25% I think I should take the seed tray lid off in case they overheat!

I have been feeding them in the vitopod and the feeding platform but they have been taking leaves from both places!

[Acromyrmexbob]

Temp is way too high and humidity is way too low. Try something over the fungus that just fits over it and no more. The ants will appreciate the security they get from the confined space. But check the temperature often inside the small tub and keep an eye on humidity.

[Bitterlime]

I have placed a small tub over the fungus! I also did the orange peel and grape test they took the grape! The soil was drying up really quickly in the vitopod I have sprayed it with water everyday! The ants are cutting and have seemed to settle down! I can't get the humidity any higher than 80% I don't think the vitopod is a very good setup! The temperature keeps dropping and it's a bit unpredictable!