TURNING A DEAD TERRARIUM ALIVE! | D colony

Summary

In this informative video, the host shares effective methods to control mite infestations in ant colonies and revitalizes a dead terrarium into a thriving green space. They introduce a polyrhachis ant colony and discuss the importance of proper food supply when leaving pets unattended. The video demonstrates how to deal with mites by soaking ants and using isopods to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Despite an unexpected plant-killing incident with the isopods, the terrarium is restored with new substrate, plants, and a smaller species of isopod for a successful bioactive setup.

Takeaways

• 🌳 The video discusses the process of controlling mite infestations in a terrarium and revitalizing it with lush greenery.
• 🐜 The creator introduces a new colony of polyrhachis ants to the terrarium and explains the reason for their new setup.
• 📦 When leaving ant colonies unattended for several days, it's important to leave enough food and water but avoid overfeeding to prevent mite infestation.
• 🍽️ The best foods to leave for ants when away are non-perishable items like protein jelly cups, dried insects, or seeds.
• 🚫 Mite infestation can occur if there is excess food or leftovers in the terrarium that aren't cleaned promptly.
• 🕊️ The video mentions that the mites in the scenario are not parasitic and will not be dealt with using harmful methods like formic acid or predatory mites.
• 🛁 A method to help ants affected by mites involves soaking them in water to make the mites jump off and then quarantining them.
• 🪲 Isopods are introduced to the terrarium to help control the mite population by competing for food and feeding on mite eggs.
• 🌿 The creator had to remove large isopods that were killing plants and replace the substrate with a fresh layer to restore the terrarium's ecosystem.
• 🌳 After a few months, the terrarium is shown to have lush greenery and is ready for the return of the ant colony.
• 🎥 The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to like and share the content, and a special thanks to a supporter of the channel.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is dealing with mites in an ant colony and transforming a dead terrarium into a lush greenery, followed by introducing a polyrhachis colony into it.

Why did the creator address the issue of leaving the ant colonies for several days?

The creator addressed this issue because a viewer named Dreed asked about what to do when leaving the house for days to ensure the ants don't die of hunger.

What is the recommended food for ant colonies when the owner is away for an extended period?

The recommended food for ant colonies when the owner is away includes protein jelly cups, dry food, dried insects, or seeds, as they don't spoil easily.

What can cause a mite infestation in an ant colony?

A mite infestation can be caused by overfeeding the ants with too many insects, which can lead to leftovers that mites can feast on, resulting in a booming mite population.

How did the creator handle the mite infestation in the featured polyrhachis dives colony?

The creator handled the mite infestation by soaking the affected ants in water to make the mites jump off, then quarantining them in a sanitized pot with soil for the mites to jump off completely.

What role do isopods play in controlling mite infestations in ant colonies?

Isopods help control mite infestations by competing with mites for food and feeding on mite eggs, which reduces mite reproduction.

Why did the creator decide to remove the giant isopods from the terrarium?

The creator decided to remove the giant isopods because they were killing the plants, possibly due to their digging power, and causing the ants' liquid feeders to fall to the ground.

What steps did the creator take to rejuvenate the dead terrarium?

The creator removed some substrate, added a fresh layer using a mix of leaf litters, cork barks, dried moss, and coco peat, added decorative rocks, introduced new plants, and replaced the driftwood with one having more branches.

What changes were made to the terrarium to accommodate the ants' needs after the rejuvenation?

The creator connected the ants' setup to the rejuvenated terrarium, added twigs glued together for a better nest foundation, and provided more moss for the ants' construction material.

Why did the creator choose to use a smaller species of isopod in the terrarium after the rejuvenation?

The creator chose to use a smaller species of isopod because they believe it is better suited for ant farms and have had positive experiences with them in other bioactive setups.

What was the unexpected outcome of introducing isopods to the terrarium initially?

The unexpected outcome was that the isopods managed to kill the plants in the terrarium, which led to the decision of removing them and rejuvenating the terrarium.