White Ants

[Reubenvg]

Hi,
I managed to find a heap of white ants in some rotten wood. So in collected a heap and put them in a plastic lunch box with some rotten wood. I put that in the aviary this morning and the Waxbills love it and they have eaten heaps. The Gouldians have had a look but so far haven't eaten any.

Does anyone have any tips on how to keep white ants for a period of time and how they feed them (so they don't escape and eat my house)

I was also thinking of getting a fish tank maybe so I could start a farm perhaps ?

any tips would be great

Thanks

[fincher]

ypu can put them in a metal rubish bin then run a think rim around the top with greese so black ants dont get in. then also add extra wood to the nest so it regenerates better then you can go back a few months later and get it again. if your worried about them escaping and start on your house dont as they will not be able to survive with out the Queen so make sure you dont get it to.

[Reubenvg]

Ok thanks

[mrsmacka]

I keep mine in one of those 20 L plastic buckets with a lid, keep the dirt damp but not enough to drown them. A mate digs the nest mounds up & puts it in a bathtub on a stand so it is not on the ground then covers the mound with a wet chaff bag. Feed just enough that the birds eat them all, my mate puts them in a little dish inside a plastic dish of water -- if they get out they'll drown.
I also feed mine ant larvae as well, they love it. My Gouldians very seldom eat the white ants

[Lukec]

Hi

Living in suburbia does cater for access to collecting white ants, what are people doing to obtain?

Do they know people with properties?

Are you allowed to collect from Crown land etc?

How do you break a mound down so that you can get the most out of it?

Sorry have never done this before and i know it has held me back from breeding birds over the years.

Best Regards
Luke

[Reubenvg]

I found some on my parents place in some rotten wood just lying in bush.

[mrsmacka]

Be careful of Termites as there are some that they won't eat i.e. a brown one with a pointy nose when you squash them they smell "yukky" sort like a strong vinegar smell. The good ones have a more rounded head when a fatter white abdomen
Bob my friend digs up the whole mound which when you count the bit on top as well as what is underground it can be as high as almost a metre & takes some digging.