Keeping Ants When Life Gets Busy or On Vacation - AntsCanada Tutorial #18

Summary

In this tutorial, Mikey Bustos from Ants Canada shares tips for managing ant colonies during busy periods or vacations. He advises focusing on a few colonies, avoiding releasing captive ants into the wild, and preparing food and water schedules for caretakers. He also mentions an upcoming product for hibernating ants.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, Mikey Bustos, is also known as Ants Canada and provides tutorials on ant care.
• 🚀 He emphasizes that while ants are easy to keep, they are not low-maintenance, especially as colonies grow.
• 📚 It's important to assess one's ability to care for an ant colony before acquiring more.
• 🌟 He advises focusing on a few colonies of favorite species or those that are thriving, rather than having many.
• 🔬 The speaker warns against releasing captive ants into the wild due to potential disease transmission.
• 🌱 Instead of releasing, consider finding someone to adopt the ant colonies through online forums or classifieds.
• 👫 If you're busy or on vacation, delegate ant care to a trusted friend or family member.
• 📝 Provide clear instructions and labeling for the person taking care of the ants, including feeding schedules.
• 🍽 Prepare food portions in advance with both protein (like crickets) and carbohydrates (like honey).
• 💧 Ensure that ants have access to water, with clear instructions for watering and an emergency water source.
• ❄️ Ants can be hibernated during winter, reducing the need for frequent care, and a new product is coming to assist with hibernation.
• 📧 For questions about ant care or products, the best way to get a response is to email the customer service directly.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video script?

The speaker is Mikey Bustos, also known as Ants Canada.

What is the main topic of the tutorial?

The main topic is providing tips for caring for ant colonies when one is busy or away.

Why does Mikey Bustos suggest not to release ants kept in captivity into the wild?

Releasing ants from captivity into the wild is discouraged to prevent the potential spread of diseases or infections that the ants may have acquired while in captivity.

What is Mikey Bustos' advice on the number of ant colonies one should maintain?

Mikey advises focusing on one to three ant colonies of favorite species or those that are doing well, to ensure adequate care and attention.

What is the alternative to releasing ants into the wild suggested by Mikey Bustos?

A better alternative is to post about the ant colony on the web or use forums and platforms like Craigslist to find someone who might want to adopt the ant colony.

How does Mikey Bustos recommend organizing the care routine for ant colonies when one is away or busy?

He suggests labeling each ant farm, preparing food portions for each colony in labeled baggies, and providing a schedule for a trusted friend or family member to follow.

What does Mikey Bustos include in each food baggie for the ants?

Each food baggie contains a dead cricket or mealworm smothered with honey to provide both protein and sweet nutrients for the ants.

How often should the ants be watered according to Mikey Bustos?

Mikey suggests printing out instructions for watering the ants on a daily basis, as it is very important for their survival.

What is the emergency measure Mikey Bustos recommends for providing water to the ants?

He recommends having a test tube filled with water and blocked with cotton attached to one of the nest exits as an emergency water source.

What does Mikey Bustos say about the upcoming product from Alliance Tour?

The product will help in hibernating ant colonies, particularly addressing the needs for watering and humidity during the hibernation process.

How can viewers get their ant-keeping questions answered according to the script?

The best way to get questions answered is by emailing the customer service at [email protected].