10/04/2018 So this colony is acting strange. A few days ago I noticed a worker had taken two pupae and a larva out into the out world. Fearing the worse I carefully placed them back into the nest. Maybe not the best thing to do as I’m sure they had a reason for bringing them out. It was funny to wat...

20/03/2018 My colony survived hibernation and were bought out of it on the 1st March. They are currently in a new Eden Formicaria Micro Mag Nest and have settled in well. Having filled half the nest with grit partly blocking the entrance. They already have a small brood pile. Colony stats Workers: 3...

So I can’t find an answer for this anywhere. When bringing UK species of ants out of hibernation do I need to gradually increase the temperature or can I just take them out? They are currently at 8° C, can I just bring them into the house where they will be at 20° C, Or should the temperature be rai...

29/01/2018 So although my colony is still in hibernation I thought it was time to make plans for their awakening. So early January this year I decided to place an order with Eden Formicaria. Friday just gone it arrived. I’m so excited for my lasius niger to wake up so I can move them. It’s a small V...

Just ordered a new set up from Eden Formicaria for my lasius niger after hibernation. Looking forward to showing you all in March.


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Yes they are fairly new.

They are 45 x 32 x 30cm with built in day and night light.

My only concern is how quickly the ants would out grow it.

I was going to use one of your size 2 ytong nests inside.

Has any one used one of the new Habispheres by Exo Terra to keep ants in? https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171201/6dfc51d7d19c073063a44ac62262bbbb.jpg I’m thinking of using it for some of the larger ants like Harpegnathos Venator. My plan is to line the base with soil and live moss to help with th...

28/10/2017
My colony of Camponotus Herculeanus have now started the process of hibernation. This is their first winter & first time in hibernation.

Colony stats
Workers: 3
Brood: yes

28/10/2017
My colony of Messor Barbarus have now started the process of hibernation. This is their first winter & first time in hibernation.

Colony stats
Workers: 110+
Brood: yes

28/10/2017
My colony of Lasius Niger have now started the process of hibernation. This is their second winter, but first time in hibernation.

Colony stats
Workers: 46
Brood: yes

It is a shame how the forum does seam to have gone very quiet. But people need a break as well as ants. [emoji12] I still find it useful to look back over old threads. I don’t feel I know enough yet about ant keeping to be commenting with help on most other people’s topics. Hopefully in March it may...

20/10/2018 So it's happened a bit sooner than planned and I've got my third colony. Thanks to a fantastic price on Britishants.com I bought a starter colony of Camponotus Herculeanus. Within 48 hours of ordering I received my queen +3 workers and a small brood pile. I gave them a small drop of honey...

Will they need access to sugar water over the hibernation or is just water ok?


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Hi, i would like to know abit more about hibernation as well. I also have Lasius Niger and Messor Barbarus. I have read 5 - 10 degrees for the Lasius and anything from not below 15 and between 12 - 15 degrees for the Messors. I also read the the Messors only need 6 weeks of hibernation. So sorry not...

09/09/2017 Wow this colony is growing, at last count I was at 90+ workers. Its getting impossible to get accurate count now. I rarely see the queen now, she is normally deep inside a mound of workers all pushing together at the far end of the test tube. I have read that this is a sign they are prepa...

09/09/2017 I didn't realise it had been so long since I updated this one. They are now in their new small set up, a test tube with a robj mini outworld. I took the antkit nest out of the set up as they weren't visiting it at all. Growth is still happening, not sure [emoji848] if it's at a normal pac...

How often should we feed the nanitics?


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10/08/2017 I finally got round to decorating the messors outworld, not bad for a first attempt. I made it out of the outworld by making a acrylic tray the same size as the outworld. I filled the tray with grout, topped with a small stone, a twig, a plastic plant and sand. Once set I removed the acry...

I wanted to secure sand to the grout. I applied the sand when the grout was wet, but there are a few bold patches. I was going to look at a non toxic kids version of pva. But maybe a watery grout mix maybe worth a try.


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Is pva glue safe to use in an outworld?


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So queenie didn't stay in the size two nest. Is it because it's to small? Is it worth me putting my spare size four on instead. As I said I think there is about 50-60 workers.


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Ok thanks, that's a shame was getting excited. What's the role of the median workers within the colony?

29/06/17 Great news today, I think I have my first majors. It also looks like I'm up to 55+ workers now, finding it hard to count them. Also while I was trying to photograph the majors queenie decided she didn't want to be in n the picture and moved to the outworld. After doing a lap of the out wor...

Thanks I will check the package for defrost times [emoji12]

I'm going to try feeding dubia roaches to my lasius and messors. I have bought a tub containing 15 baby roaches. My plan was to just put them all in the freezer tonight, and feed them to the ants when needed. Is this ok to do or is it better to keep them alive?


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16/06/2017 Well the colony has kept to themselves for abit, and boy have they been busy. They are now at 37 plus workers and still with a massive brood pile. I have left them alone since the last update. Partly because i was getting bored with nothing happening with them. I have still been feeding ...

Sorry if this is the wrong place to put this. Does anyone know of any where i can get test tube to pipe adaptors?
I love the one Antkit sells but i never seam to catch them in stock.

Cheers in advance.

Yes you can trust them. I got my messor barbarus from them. Arrived quickly and with more workers than advertised.

I have noticed a new strange behaviour. each morning they move the brood from the test tube in to the first 90 degree connector. But by the end of the day they have moved it back to the test tube.

Any news on this instruction video?