This fantastic starter set is tailor - made for grain - collecting ant species from the Messor or Pogonomyrmex genus. The farm with the popcorn plate serves as a great storage area for grains and ant bread. It must be kept bone - dry to stop the grains or seeds stored by the ants from germinating or getting moldy. The second farm, equipped with the “terra nidum” plate, is the ideal nesting and brood area for the ant colony. It should always have a bit of moisture. The Terra nidum plate, made from diggable material, fits our ANTCUBE ant farms like a glove. It can be used in both dry and wet conditions and is suitable for many ant species, especially those that nest in sand and (dead) wood. You can use it instead of sand - loam mixtures or cork nest inserts. The advantage of this nest is that you can easily control the wetting of the plate because of the visible color change. Also, the plate's color provides a great contrast to the usually darker ant species. Moreover, the inner panes of the ant farm won't get dirty with substrate, unlike when using sand - clay mixtures, allowing you to have a clear view into the nest. Our nest material has a firm structure, so the passages and chambers dug by ants won't collapse. Before using, moisten the substrate so that it can combine well and hold firmly in the ant farm. A dry and dusty substrate can block the ants' respiratory tracts and even suffocate them. We suggest a 2 - mm layer of substrate to prevent the ants from burrowing into the arena and encourage them to use the designated farm. Also, lightly prick the nesting material at one point to make it easier for the ants to start digging. The glass is cut according to DIN 1249 with a tolerance of +/- 1mm. For extremely small ants, an extra breakout protection is a must. When attaching or detaching hoses, if it's difficult to fit the tubing onto the connector bushing, rub the bushing lightly with a drop of our breakout protection oil or powder. Then, twist or screw the hose onto the bushing without moving it up and down. The same method applies when removing the hoses. The natural color of the terra nidum can range from beige/sand to light brown, but this has no impact on the quality. Due to manufacturing, the dimensions may vary by +/- 1mm. The set includes 1x Cricket Jam, 1x 100g grain food minor, 1x ANTCUBE – Arena 20x20x10 – flat, 1x 20×20 ant arena frame, 1x 20×20 ant arena cover, 4 pcs of fixing points for arena cover, 2x ANTCUBE – Ant farm – L – 20×20 – upright, 1x ANTCUBE – Digfix Terra nidum 20×20 – L – beige, 1x 20×20 Popcorn Nest – L, 1x 1m transparent 20/16 mm tube, 2x ANTCUBE – 20×20 Red foil – filter, 2 pcs of transparent adhesive clips, 1 kg of desert substrate, 2x 50mm stainless - steel grid inserts, 1x 27mm stainless - steel grid insert, 1x 16mm stainless - steel grid cap, 1x transparent 27 - 14,16,20 mm tank hose connector, 1x 2ml dosable feed dispenser, 1x 20ml clear drinking trough with sponge, 1x 1×20 clear bowl with sponge, 1x analog hanging Mini thermo - hygrometer, 10ml of Ant escape protection oil, 1x wide and soft spring - steel tweezers, 1x transparent plastic tweezers, 1x 3ml plastic pipette, 1x 2x 30mm hand magnifier, 1x 150x18x2,5mm foam wiper, and 1x 20×10 desert photo back.
Using this ant starter set is easy. First, moisten the substrate before putting it in the ant farm. This helps it hold together and keeps the ants safe from a dry and dusty environment. For the farm with the popcorn plate, keep it dry as it's for storing grains and ant bread. The farm with the terra nidum plate should be slightly moist since it's the nesting area. We recommend using a 2 - mm layer of substrate to guide the ants to the right place. You can also prick the nesting material to make it easier for the ants to start digging. When it comes to the hoses, if they're hard to attach or detach, use our breakout protection oil or powder. Just twist or screw them on and off, don't pull them. The glass has a tolerance of +/- 1mm, and for tiny ants, add extra breakout protection. The terra nidum's color can vary, but that doesn't affect its quality. Also, remember that the dimensions might be off by +/- 1mm due to manufacturing. As for maintenance, check the moisture levels regularly. Keep the popcorn plate dry and the terra nidum plate slightly moist. Clean the inner panes of the ant farm to keep a clear view of the ants. Replace the food and water as needed, and enjoy watching your ant colony thrive.
