ANTCUBE Starter Set for Pogonomyrmex or Harvester ants

Get the ultimate Pogonomyrmex ant - keeping experience with our ANTCUBE Starter Set! This set is tailor - made for various Pogonomyrmex species. One of the two ant farms is for storing grains and ant bread, and it must be kept bone - dry to stop the grains or seeds stored by the ants from germinating or getting moldy. The fully transparent farms are super versatile. You can insert the “Digfix plates” or fill them with the “Substrate – Desert”. If you want to expand, just connect additional modules like separately available foggers, fans, or lights through the 50mm holes in the cover. There are also matching grid inserts to close the openings. You can even operate the formicarium open by placing the removable frame on top and applying ant escape protection oil on its edge. The “Drinking trough clear 20 ml – sponge” provides water for the ants, and the “Food dispenser 2 ml – dosable” is for grains. Attach the “Mini thermo - hygrometer” to the frame or cover to keep an eye on the climate. What's in the box? - 1x 25g Cricket Jam - 1x ANTCUBE – Arena 20x20x10 – flat - 1x 20×20 ant arena frame - 1x 20×20 ant arena cover - 4x fixing points for the arena cover - 2x ANTCUBE – Ant farm – M – 20×20 – upright - 2x ANTCUBE – Digfix plate 20×20 – M - 1x 1m transparent tube 14/10 mm - 2x ANTCUBE – Red foil 20×20 – filter - 2x transparent adhesive clamps (2 pcs.) - 1x 1 kg substrate – desert - 1x 20×10 photo back wall – desert - 2x 50mm stainless - steel grid inserts - 1x 27mm stainless - steel grid insert - 1x 10mm stainless - steel grid cap - 1x transparent tank hose connector 27 - 14,16,20 mm - 1x 2ml dosable feed dispenser - 1x 20ml clear drinking trough with sponge - 1x 1×20 clear bowl with sponge - 1x analog Mini thermo - hygrometer with hanging display - 1x 10ml Ant escape protection oil - 1x wide, soft spring - steel tweezers - 1x transparent plastic tweezers - 1x 3ml plastic pipette - 1x 2x, 30mm hand magnifier - 1x 150x18x2.5mm foam wiper Before using, moisten the substrate so it binds well in the ant farm. A too - dry and dusty substrate can block the ants' respiratory tracts and even suffocate them. We suggest a 2 mm soil layer so the ants use the provided farm instead of burrowing in the arena. Also, lightly prick the nesting material in the farm to help the ants dig in. The glass is cut to DIN 1249 with a +/- 1mm tolerance. For extremely small ants, extra breakout protection is a must. When attaching or detaching hoses, if it's tough to fit the tubing on the connector bushing, rub a drop of our breakout protection oil or powder on it. Then twist or screw the hose onto the bushing without up - and - down movements. Do the same when removing the hoses. The natural color of the Digfix can vary from green/gray - brown to earth brown, but it doesn't affect quality. Our Cricket Jam is a great way to give your ants preserved protein food. The cooked crickets (Acheta domesticus) keep their nutritional values, taste, and aroma. The chitinous shell is softened for easy digestion, and the collagen proteins are broken down for better utilization. It has the same nutritional value as live crickets but is easier to digest. However, it's not for hunting ant species that need live food. It's mite - free, can be portioned and diluted with water, sterilized, vacuum - packed, and additive - free. The crickets come from sustainable, organic breeding, fed with organic waste. After opening, keep it in the fridge for about four days or freeze it for a longer shelf life. Remember to portion it before freezing.

Using your ANTCUBE Starter Set is a breeze. First, moisten the substrate before putting it in the ant farm. This helps it bind well and gives the ants a good home. Make sure to have a 2 mm soil layer to guide the ants to use the provided farm. You can also lightly prick the nesting material to make it easier for the ants to start digging. For the hoses, when you're attaching or detaching them, if it's hard to fit the tubing on the connector bushing, use a bit of the breakout protection oil or powder. Then, twist or screw the hose on or off, not pull it up and down. Keep an eye on the climate in the ant farm using the Mini thermo - hygrometer. If you want to expand the setup, connect additional modules through the 50mm holes in the cover. When it comes to food, use the Food dispenser 2 ml – dosable for grains and the Drinking trough clear 20 ml – sponge for water. Our Cricket Jam is a great protein source, but remember it's not for hunting ant species that need live food. Maintenance is simple. Check the substrate regularly to make sure it's not too dry or dusty. Keep the ant farm clean by using the included foam wiper. If you're not using the additional openings in the cover, close them with the grid inserts. Store the Cricket Jam properly. After opening, it can stay in the fridge for about four days. For a longer shelf life, freeze it, but make sure to portion it first. And for extremely small ants, always add extra breakout protection to keep them safe in the farm.