ANTCUBE Starter Set for Harvester Ants – L – Popcorn

Contents:
1x Cricket Jam
1x grain food minor 100g

1x ANTCUBE – Arena 20x20x10 – flat
1x ant arena frame 20×20
1x ant arena cover 20×20
1x fixing points for arena cover 4 pcs.
2x ANTCUBE – Ant farm – L – 20×20 – upright

1x ANTCUBE – Digfix Terra nidum 20×20 – L – beige
1x Popcorn Nest 20×20 – L

1x 1m tube transparent 20/16 mm
2x ANTCUBE – Red foil 20×20 – filter
2x adhesive clips – transparent 2 pcs.
1x substrate – desert – 1 kg

2x grid insert – 50mm – stainless steel
1x grid insert – 27mm – stainless steel
1x grid cap – 16mm – stainless steel

1x tank hose connector 27-14,16,20 mm – transparent
1x feed dispenser 2ml – dosable
1x drinking trough clear 20ml – sponge
1x bowl clear 1×20 – sponge
1x Mini thermo-hygrometer analog – display – hanging
1x Ant escape protection oil 10ml
1x Tweezers spring steel – wide – soft
1x Tweezers plastic transparent
1x Plastic pipette 3ml
1x hand magnifier – 2x – 30mm
1x foam wiper 150x18x2,5mm
1x photo back – desert – 20×10

Description:
This starter set is especially suitable for grain-collecting ant species of the genus Messor or Pogonomyrmex. The farm with the popcorn plate is intended for storing the seeds and ant bread and should therefore be kept completely dry to prevent the seeds/grains stored there by the ants from germinating or becoming moldy.
The second farm with the “Terra nidum” plate is intended as a nesting and breeding area for the ant colony. This should always be kept slightly moist.

Description of the Terra nidum plate: The Terra nidum (Latin for earth nest) plate made of diggable material is a perfect fit for our ANTCUBE ant farms. It can be used both dry and wet. It is also suitable for many ant species, especially for species that nest in sand and (dead) wood. It can be used instead of sand/clay mixtures or cork nest inserts. The advantage of this nest is that the moistening of the plate is easier to control due to a clearly visible discoloration and the coloring of the plate offers a super contrast to the usually darker ant species. In addition, the inner panes of the ant farm cannot be soiled with substrate, as is the case with sand/clay mixtures, for example, which allows a perfect view of the nest. Our nesting material also has a much firmer structure so that tunnels and chambers dug by ants do not collapse.

Important: Please moisten the substrate before use so that the mixture can bind together and develop a firm hold in the ant farm. In addition, a dry and dusty substrate can lead to the ants’ airways being blocked and, in the worst case, the animals suffocating.

Recommendation: We recommend a substrate layer of 2 mm in height so that the animals cannot burrow into the arena and instead use the farm provided for this purpose. We also recommend that the nesting material in the farm (sand/clay, Digfix, Terra nidum, etc.) is slightly pricked in one place to make it easier for the animals to dig.

Notes on production
The glass is cut to size according to DIN 1249 with a tolerance of +/- 1mm. Additional escape protection is essential for extremely small ant species.

Notes on the farm
Please note the following when attaching or removing hoses:
If the tube is very difficult to fit onto the connection socket, the socket should be lightly rubbed with a drop of our break-out protection oil or powder. The hose should then be pushed onto the socket using twisting or screwing movements without straining the socket with up and down movements. The same applies when removing the hoses from the farm connection socket. Please do not simply pull it off!

Note on the Terra nidum: The natural color shade can vary between beige / sand-colored and light brown. The color tone has no influence on the quality.
Due to the manufacturing process, the dimensions may vary by +/- 1mm

Notes on the Cricket Jam:
Our Cricket Jam is an easy way to provide your ants with freshly preserved protein food without having to feed live insects. The contained crickets (Acheta domesticus) have been gently cooked to ensure that nutritional values, taste and aroma are preserved. In addition, the chitinous shell of the insects is softened in this way so that it can be digested more easily. The bonds of the collagen proteins are broken down so that the ants can utilize them better. Canned Acheta domesticus has the same nutritional value as live crickets, but is easier to digest.

The Cricket Jam is not suitable for hunting ant species that require live food. (e.g. ponerines (great ants) such as Harpegnathos or Odontomachus)

Further advantages:
Guaranteed mite-free
Can be portioned and diluted with water
Sterilized and vacuum-packed
Without additives
Crickets from sustainable, purely organic breeding, fed with organic waste

Note:
Can be kept in the fridge for about four days after opening. Longer shelf life if frozen.
Attention: First portion, then freeze.