Bees and Foundation Blocks

[iamlegend201]

I'm trying to breed Nickel Bees from Forestry, which NEI says requires a ferrous block as a foundation. I've tried breeding them in both an apiary and an alveary with ferrous blocks under every single block with no success. Either I'm the most unlucky person in the world or something is wrong.

 

[Chaka]

Are you in the right enviorment

 

[YX33A]

Are you in the right enviorment

Hold up one second...
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Breeding Bees with special mutations is all about knowing what mutation needs what, just like ALL bee keeping. Nickel Bees have a special mutation modifier, namely they need a nickel block under 'em. Ferrous Blocks should work, but the odds are not 100% for the mutation, and it can be maddening if it doesn't occur quickly.

@iamlegend201: Take my advice, get some Oblivion Frames. They are simply the best for mutating bees. Why? The kill your queen in one bee tick, and do little else! No lasting side effects to your bees either!

If you can't get it still, just get Gendustry and force the mutation, it totally ignores special mutation limits, but "secret" bees are harder to get without the advanced mutator, as they have a reduced chance, plus you can't pick your mutation otherwise.

 

[DriftinFool]

Bees are funny like that. I have gotten really low chance mutations on the 1st try or 2, while common ones have taken 15+ life cycles. It is completely random. As long as you have all the right conditions, just keep trying. If you are only going for one type, you can make a small automated setup to just keep cycling it while you do other things.

 

[YX33A]

Oh, and as a reminder, you aren't going to know if a mutation has occurred unless you analyze your bees in full. I've had new breed pop up as recessive traits before, so run those centrifuges as often as you can.
Also the Escritoire can Really Help, both with boosting mutation chance and with all the spare honeycombs it gets you.

 

[kaovalin]

Alternatively, if you have access to uranium (IC2, dont think Atomic Science works) and mutators, you can use those to increase mutation chances really high. Also chocolate frames I've found to be helpful when oblivion frames werent easy to come by.

 

[RealSketch]

You're lucky my friend, I can't even get enough seed oil to make a seed oil can!

 

[iamlegend201]

Well I eventually managed to breed Nickel Bees after very many trials even though I was using 3 mutator blocks with uranium ore. I assumed the mutation chance was over 100% given that each uranium ore increases the chances by a factor of 10. Guess I'm just really really unlucky. Also, are oblivion frames better than necrotic frames?

 

[Bomb Bloke]

Reminds me a little of this guy's problem, where attempting to flatline the life span of his bees when aiming for a biome-specific mutation screwed him up. If you were using oblivion frames, that may've been part of the problem.

I gather necrotic frames otherwise aren't as effective as oblivion, plus they also generate flux.