Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering what the best way was to get the ants from their container into the HL's? I know putting them into the fridge will help slow them down. But I mean should I use a cup? Spoon? Maybe where some gloves because I have heard Harvester ants have a nasty sting. What is the best size rubbermaind container to keep them in? http://www.infowest.com/life/hornfood.htm they say you can put them in a rubbermaid container or glass cage. A glass cage is too big to put in the fridge. So what is the best container? And best way to get the ants into my HL's cage?
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks
- Jim

Keep the ants in a fairly large jar(just take of the tape off the container from life studies and quickly dump them into the jar). When offering the ants tilt the jar until a few fall into the enclosure.Keep a lid on them to prevent escape. Jeff

Thanks, after trying to think up these complex idea to make it easy... I forgot the simple ways :-P
Thanks
- Jim

When I first got my DHL’s, I tried the life studies observatory but had trouble getting them what I thought was enough water without getting mold too. After a few ant orders I had to keep scraping the mold off the top of the sand so figured. . .why not try an old Rubbermaid container I had lying around. It’s about 10’x5’x5’deep. I poked about 3 small holes in the center of the lid (figured the observatory only had 1. . . but maybe more would allow moisture to escape better), and poured my observatory sand into the Rubbermaid. Have had no mold problems since. Also, it’s long enough that I can lay a large collard green stalk (Iguana left overs), split down the middle that provides them both moisture and food (not the only food source though). . . AND provides ME something for them to climb on, that I then can pick up (with tweezers) and shake into my feeder cup (big 7-11 slurpy type cup) and . . . shake the occasional vitamins supplement into. . . .swirl around and. . . .voila . . . .dump into the lizard tank. Because my fridge is too cold for the ants, I only chill them a bit in the little taped up container, before shaking them into Rubbermaid. The whole set up works great for me. Never been close to getting bit. Ants last until my (3) DHL’s have eaten them all (even when I order 1000 at a time). I wouldn’t go back to the ‘observatory’ for the world.

Hope this helps someone . . . even if you’ve already found another solution that’s working for you.
Regards,
Rebecca

I keep several genus/species of ants in the 'fridge in plastic containers. All ants are field collected and keep just fine for 2 to 3 weeks. When it is time to feed the HLs in my study group, I take the containers out of the 'fridge and use a spoon to scoop out the ants and present them to the HLs. The ants, being chilled, slowly become active. The HLs have a "good time" eating the ants and do very well. I have used this method for 16+ years without problem. Even ants that are mail ordered during the winter, if my HLs "decide" they do not want to stay in hibernation, keep just fine in this manner. When ants are received from mail order, the containers are placed in the 'fridge' and cooled, and then transfered to new containers. Works great. Lester G. Milroy III

Thanks for the help, I have them in a little plastic tank right now, I use the little tubes they came in and scoop them up I just ordered 500 more. I need to get some D3 and multi vitamins right away though too.
Thanks
- Jim

Why do you need D3 and vitamins? If you are getting ant supplies regularly, you have all essentials for the HLs already. Supplements tend to cause more problems than they "solve." If you feel you must supply vitamins, use a liquid vitamin (Reptosol) in the water and dilute 10x the recommended weekly or every 5th water change. Nothing more nothing less. Lester G. Milroy III

Ok then, thanks for the info, he has eaten nothing but ants since I got him.
- Jim