Atta - Aquarium setup

[reevey]

hi m8 hows everything going

[RichardP]

Hi Reevey..

All good this end. They have absolutely filled the first nest box so I can say with some accuracy that the fungus size is 2000 sq cm. They have been feasting on periwinkle leaves for the last month but they just told me they'd had enough so I've just given them an assortment of alternatives which they've gone crazy for.

I am hoping they will move into the next nest box but so far not. I tried using red film to make the space more inviting.

No news is good news... I'm continuing to watch everyone else's endeavours with great interest though.

[reevey]

looking well good

[Deansie26]

Glad as is well, set up looks great in that photo. Like the film idea, I think it can only help.

[reevey]

hi how to you control the humidity mine is to high all the time
oh hows the fish doing

[RichardP]

hi how to you control the humidity mine is to high all the time
oh hows the fish doing

Hi, my nests are open to the atmosphere inside the aquarium so the humidity is passively controlled by:

150 litre tank filled with 60 litres of water
The water is heated by a 200w aquarium heater set to 27 degrees. The thermometer in the water shows the water temperature at 26 degrees

And that is all I do or have ever done. The ambient air in the aquarium is always about 85% humidity and I measure that by dangling the probe just 6 inches into the top of the aquarium. It's probably a bit higher nearer the water surface. And the temperature in there is a constant 24/25 degrees.

I hope that helps.

The fish are going well.. I must be doing something right as my Platy's had a little baby platy that is now about an inch long and very cute.

[Acromyrmexbob]

I must be doing something right as my Platy's had a little baby platy that is now about an inch long and very cute.

Okay Im no fish keeper (no wait, I am) but I thought you measured success in terms of livebearers on how many thousands you bred rather than whether one gave birth or not. Is it just me, have I been thinking leaf cutters in terms of millions for too long, or does 'one' platy sound like a slightly overly boastful "I must be doing something right".
Richard...."Darling, one of my rare platy's has given birth, I'm thinking of writing an article for Practical Fishkeeping magazine"
Richards wife...."Thats nice darling, well done"
Richard...."yes, and I thought I would set up another tank to put the cute little baby in"
Rustling sound...
Richard...."Darling, why are you packing that bag......"

[RichardP]

Haha.. I'm every proud of my little baby platy I should have you know... I've called it Andrew!!

[RichardP]

Nasty incident today... I saw about 10 ants all having a go at one of the majors and they'd ripped her legs off and were just sort of man handling her. It seemed like they were trying to drop her over the side into the water. But didn't. They left the discarded legs on top of the nest box... charming.. oddly, they left the middle two legs... it's still alive now... Poor thing...

I have to say with the 8 months growth in the colony they've gone from being fairly benign and "cute" to actually feeling quite threatening... I would not want to put my hand in there when they are agitated... they're mental... all feelers and teeth..!!

[Britishants.com]

Haha! Mine are the same! I now use ptfe in the feeding pod to avoid having a face full of mandibles!