Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I don't know if anyone has posted anything pertaining to the ant containers but I got a problem. We have a Rubbermaid container about a foot deep or so with smooth sides I would say. We recently ordered 1000 ants from Life Studies and put them into the container of course with shallow sand. Well the ants are climbing up the walls to the top of the container and we cannot stop them. Is there any way to stop them from this? Plus we received an ant double the size of the worker ants and it has wings. If it's not a worker ant then what is it????? Help!!! It's outta control!
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Sikamicah

Try a couple of 5 gallon buckets. Preferrably new ones. you can get them at home depot for about 3.50. Also, if the sides of your current container are dirty or dusty it lets them have a better foothold for climbing.

You might also try running something like vaseline (a think layer) around just below the top to stop them.

The winged ant is probably a queen but not likely fertile.

Good luck with your ants.
Cheers!

nm

Are you trying to say nevermind about the vaseline on the wall????
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Sikamicah

Thanks,I appreciate your input! I'll try vaseline. Right now the trick is trying to open the container, haha. With ants at the lid and all, it would be too much a shame is some got out now. Would a bucket be big enough to house 1000 ants?!?!?
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Sikamicah

Tap the container before you open it to force them to the bottom. You might need two buckets for 1000 with an inch or two of sand if possible. Are you feeding and watering them?

Yeah, we feed them forage type veggies, and some rhinds. We water them once a day.

Thank you again!
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Sikamicah

antsalive.com has some good info on keeping ants.

It sounds like you are making it a bigger problem keeping ants to feed the HLs than it is. It is very easy keeping ants. When you receive ant supplies, either by your own field collecting or mail order, place and keep them in the refridgerator. This slows down the ant activity and metabolism. Offer only a few ants at a time to the HLs and continue until the HLs no longer require them. Remove excess ants from the enclosure and save for the next meal. I works great. I have used this method for years with my captive study group of HLs. The are no special containers required or problems feeding the ants their proper diets either. Lester G. Milroy III

If the refrigerator gets very cold (close to freezing, around 33 degrees) wouldn't the ants die? I keep my fridge nice and cold, so it would be a shame to freeze 500 ants to death when they could go out much more quickly and usefully--as food!

That was my thought exactly! Putting them in the fridge 5 minutes or so to slow them down sounded almost too long let alone all day all the time. But if it truly works, I will try it. Maybe you could tell me the Temp. you keep your fridge at so that I too could try this crazy technique. Thanks everyone for your thoughtful ideas!
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Sikamicah

Now, I haven't been doing this for much longer than a few weeks, but I catch my ants out in the field, well sand, myself, and have a container that I keep them in. They stay in the fridge, and it is about 35-40 give or take a few degrees. I am leaning closer toward 35 in there. I haven't had any problems with the ants not coming back for me. I just scoop them out with a spoon, and put them in the aquarium with the HL's. I got another baby now. Anyway, the ants wake up pretty quickly, and the HL's make quick work of their food. I do not feed more than 20-30 ants a day, so I am not sure how long they could stay in there, mine are only in the fridge for about two days in all. Don't know how fast you go through 1000, but I don't see that you would have a problem with them waking up, figure it is what happens in the winter time, right? Well, hope this gives you an idea on the whole fridge thing.
Keesha

Thank you! That does help out a lot. I'll def. keep that in mind.
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Sikamicah

I keep mine in the fridge all the time. It's around 40*. I've never had a problem