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Ant Farm Universe Frequently Asked QuestionsWelcome to Ant Farm Universe’s collection of frequently asked questions. Here you will find a comprehensive selection of the questions Ant Farm Universe has received from our customers. Ant Farm Universe has researched the answers and presents them here for your review and use. Our experts have consulted with the insect habitat manufacturers, dictionaries, encyclopedias and other recognized resources in developing the answers listed below. We hope you will benefit from our efforts whether you are seeking to purchase an ant farm, insect habitat, or are simply looking to increase your knowledge and understanding. In order to facilitate your ease of use, AntFarmU.com has formatted the information in two distinct styles. Immediately below you will find an alphabetized index of the questions. Simply read down the list until you find the question you are interested in answering. Select the question and your browser will take you directly to the answer. When you are finished reading the answer you can select the "Return to Index" link that will bring you back to the start of the index. The second method of exploring the Ant Farm Universe questions and answers is to browse the question and answer section itself. The questions are organized according to how frequently they are asked by Ant Farm Universe customers. By simply reading the questions with their accompanying answers, you will likely find the answer to your current question. (You may even find answers to some questions you didn’t even know you had.) Finally, if you find that we have not yet answered the question that is troubling you, please take a few moments to drop us an e-mail. The Ant Farm Universe staff will research the question to the best of their ability and will add both the question and the answer to this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy a "Gel" or "Sand" filled Ant Habitat? 1) Gel Habitats are almost entirely maintenance free. The Gel provides both food and water for your ants, so all you really need to do is cleanup the habitat from time to time. Dead ants and waste should be removed to minimize the chance of disease in your ant colony. Sand filled Ant Habitats require more work as you must feed and water your ants in addition to cleaning up after them. 2) Your ants will adapt more quickly and easily to Sand filled Ant Habitats than they will to Gel filled Ant Habitats. This is because Sand filled Ant Habitats more closely resemble your ant's natural habitat. As a result, your ants will begin to tunnel much more quickly in a sand filled habitat than they will in the unfamiliar Gel filled Ant Habitat. 3) The Gel is translucent so you can easily see the entire 3-dimensional tunnel structures that your ants develop. However, since the Gel is translucent rather than transparent, you will not be able to see your ants anymore easily in a Gel filled Habitat than in a Sand filled Habitat. The only way you will be able to see your subterranean ants clearly in either type of Habitat will be when they construct their tunnels directly against the transparent wall of the Habitat. 4) Since the Gel is translucent, the Gel Habitats are typically thicker than the depth of Sand filled Habitats. This gives your ants more area in which to tunnel before coming into contact with the restriction imposed by the sides of the Habit. This provides more area to spread out in and allows your ants to build larger rooms. This additional depth also results in less of your ant's tunnels being directly observable against the sides of the Habitat.
5) Your ants will be able to tunnel more quickly and easily through Sand than through Gel. As a result, your ants will be able to generate more elaborate tunnels in far less time. If you are the impatient sort, a Sand filled Habitat could be your best option. The down side is that the tunnels made in Sand are far more fragile and subject to shock damage than tunnels that are constructed in Gel. Although you would not want to shake any Ant Habitat, the Gel filled Habitats are much more forgiving of the small bumps that may result from close proximity to inquisitive children.
How do I order ants for my Uncle Milton Ant Farm?
Uncle Milton Industries, Inc. Or call 1-(888)-742-2484 (within the US only) or 1-(818)-707-0224 to place an order.
Depending on the weather, your ants will arrive in approximately 2 to 6 weeks.
How do I order ants for my AntWorks Ant Habitat?
Guy Rock Or e-mail suzannerock@rocknreptile.com for customer support or to place an order.
Or...
Life Studies
490 S. 400 W. Hurricane, UT 84737 Or call 1-(877)-864-2207 (within the US only) or 1-(435)-635-3244 to place an order. Or...
Edmund Scientific
Attn: Live Orders 60 Pearce Ave. Tonawanda, NY 14150 Or order online at www.scientificsonline.com/alive or call 1-800-728-6999. Or...
Science Kit, LLC
Attn: Live Orders PO Box 5003 Tonawanda, NY 14150-5003 Or order online at www.sciencekit.com/alive or call 1-800-828-7777.
Depending on the weather, your ants will arrive in approximately 2 to 6 weeks.
How do I order caterpillars for my Green Earth Butterfly Kit?
Butterfly Store
Or fax your order form to 800-955-1497. Or...
Edmund Scientific
Attn: Live Orders 60 Pearce Ave. Tonawanda, NY 14150
Or order online at www.scientificsonline.com/alive or call 1-800-728-6999.
Depending on the weather, your caterpillars will arrive in approximately 2 to 6 weeks.
How do I order Praying Mantis eggs for my Green Earth Praying Mantis Kit?
Planet Natural Or fax your order form to 406-5875-0223 or order online at www.planetnatural.com/site/praying-mantis-egg-cases.html. Or...
Edmund Scientific
Attn: Live Orders 60 Pearce Ave. Tonawanda, NY 14150 Or order online at www.scientificsonline.com/alive or call 1-800-728-6999.
Depending on the weather, your Praying Mantis egg cases will arrive in approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
What kind of ants can I buy for my Ant Farm or Habitat?
How can I get a Queen ant for my ant colony?
How long will my ants live after I purchase them? • The life span of adult ants varies from species to species. Some adult ants live only a few weeks while others can actually live for several years. Obviously the normal lifespan of your species is a major factor in how long your ants will live. • A second factor is how well you care for your ants. If you feed them properly and ensure that their habitat is kept clean, it will help to extend their lives to the maximum extent possible. • Finally, recognize that the ants that forage above ground, and are therefore the most easily collected specimens, are among the older members of the colony. Thus collection of these foraging workers will result in your ants being closer to the end of their life cycle.
With all of these factors being considered, don't be too surprised if you have some of your ants expire within the first few weeks or even days. With Harvester ants you should however be able to enjoy your colony for as much as two to three months before all of your workers expire.
My ants seem reluctant to dig tunnels in my Gel Habitat. What can I do to encourage them? • First, you need to create a break in the otherwise smooth surface of the gel. By creating a starter hole for your ants to work with they will more quickly get the idea that they can indeed tunnel in this new environment. The starter hole should be from 1/8 to 3/16 inch in diameter and 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches in depth. This size hole will provide access while still being small enough that your ants will recognize it as a "tunnel" that they can expand on. • Depending on the number of ants in your habitat, you should create 1 to 4 starter holes. The goal is to give your ants something to occupy their efforts without leaving starter holes that are not being worked. If you notice your ants are trying to dig into the Gel in the corners of your habitat, you probably don't have enough starter holes. • Because of the translucent nature of the Gel, covering the sides of your Habitat to block the light and encourage tunneling is inadequate. The best way to "dim the lights" and encourage tunneling activity is to put an opaque cover completely surrounding your Habitat. A properly sized cardboard box works well.
• Finally, be patient! It will take some time for your ants to get comfortable in their new environment. Not only is the Gel totally unlike their normal environment, but the way it passes light seems to confuse their instincts as well.
Can I purchase replacement gel for my ant habitat? The most common reason cited for not importing the replacement gel kits into the North American market is the liability incurred by the manufacturer and/or distributor. Due to the high temperatures involved in processing the nutrient gel; the risk of injury, and resulting litigation, makes it financially impractical to sell the replacement gel in the US.
Some manufacturers, such as the distributor of the AntWorks habitats, have informed Ant Farm Universe that they have chosen not to develop or market a replacement gel product for any of their customers. The AntWorks distributor cites the inability to maintain proper quality control of nutrient gel that is processed by individuals, and their company's subsequent inability to guarantee the resulting product, as the reason for not offering a gel refill product.
Can I reuse my gel filled ant habitat? Allow the gel to drain for a half hour or so and then carefully reinsert the clean gel block into the habitat enclosure. Reinstall the lid on the habitat so the gel does not dry out. At this point you are ready to introduce new residents to your gel habitat. The one down side to reusing the gel is that it now contains tunnels and as a consequence there is usually less activity and tunneling by subsequent ant colonies. You will also find that eventually the gel will begin to settle and dry as more and more tunnels are excavated. At some point, you will need to replace the habitat in order to maintain a viable environment for your ants.
Before discarding your retired habitat, you may want to consider memorializing the intricate tunnels your ants have created. The AntWorks Sculpture Kit will allow you to create a permanent resin replica of the tunnel network which you can display for many years to come.
What do my ants eat?
For the residents of your Ant Habitat, a small amount of jelly, honey or other sweet is one option. You may also consider fruit flies, crickets, or grubs. For Harvester ants you can also add small seeds. In addition to food, your ants need a source of water. If you have a Gel fill Habitat the ants will do just fine eating the nutritious Gel that serves as their tunneling medium.
How can I get a replacement Owner's Manual?
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