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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 13:44:13 GMT 1
Hi everyone! So, I'm drawn to the idea of keeping some ants as pets - I'm really fascinated by thier behaviour and the nature of thier society. I've had a few ants as pets before - but never in a farm; I used to have a bunch of lasius niger come into the house, I fed them jam and they left me alone Now - everyone seems to recommend lasius niger as a good starter ant? However, I've spent years observing that species and ideally I'm looking for a larger ant species. I'm really drawn to Camponotus ligniperdus - however, antstore list them as a level 1 (beginner ant) - yet everything I read says they are slow to develop as a colony and not that easy to keep? Can anyone recommend a largish sized ant that is relatively easy to keep? I intend on using one of the popular ant starter kits, with a nest and a forraging tank . . . quite happy to dedicate the required time & attention. I'm really looking for something other than lasius niger, who I know quite well already
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 14:11:46 GMT 1
Hi Starblood and welcome to the forum! I would suggest Formica fusca, because they are larger and more active than Lasius niger.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 15:13:00 GMT 1
Would you say they were relatively easy to look after? Antstore list them as level2 - I've only been considering level1 ants, being somewhat of a beginner. The other thing I'm curious about, anstore only sell a lone queen - how long roughly before she produces any larvae? and how long before they hatch? I see you have camponotus modoc? How difficult have you found them to keep? I really do have a fondness for carpenter ants Many Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 15:37:43 GMT 1
Yes, I have several small colonies.
I seriously have no idea about why AntStore lists them as L2. They have been very easy to keep, almost as easy as the Camponotus.
Formica fusca should produce workers within 2 months, and each stage should take 2-3 weeks time. I have found my F. fusca queens to eat almost anything I give them, such as honey. What processes of ants are you most interested in?
I do keep Camponotus modoc, and I have found them to be quite easy, abeit slow to start up. The flights here in the US for Camponotus are only weeks away actually.
Camponotus would require a source of heating if you would want their colony to grow quickly. I have watched 3 Camponotus queens lay eggs simultaneously. That was actually a few day ago.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 16:14:08 GMT 1
Thanks ever so much for the really informative replies! I'm most interested in communication and co-operation processes of ants. I find the nature of thier society to be absolutely fascinating - maybe that suggests another species? Although I am quite attracted to a larger ant Once other question that has recently confused me! I was all set to go for a damp sand/loam mix in my nest chamber and a dry sand in the foraging tank. However, I've just become aware of y-tong and now I'm very confused? I would rather watch my ants build thier own home rather than offer them pre-built y-tong. Then again there may be pros & cons I'm not currently aware of. May I ask your opinion on the relative beneifts of damp sand in the nest over pre-built y-tong structures? Is it species specific? I'm quite happy to build in some reflector lamps, heat pads etc. whatever they need to be happy & healthy. I'm still leaning to camponotus ligniperda . . . would they be happier in y-tong or sand/loam do you think? Thanks again for your sharing your knowledge!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 16:23:43 GMT 1
For your interests I would suggest a larger species of ant, such as F. fusca and C. ligniperda. I can understand how a sand farm could be thought of as more attractive to you. Are you looking to buy or make your own ant farm? If you are looking to buy I would suggest AntHills.net. What are you confused about Y-tong (AAC)? It is a highly absorbent, mold-resistant material that is easy to carve. Many german ant keepers use them with good success. They offer great visibility (depending how it is made) and can be very suitable for ants. I would, however, suggest AntHills.net or an AntStore starter set. Keep in mind that Camponotus do not like digging in soil/sand farms, and plaster or Y-tong is preferred for them. F. fusca would do well in either. Have you heard of the test tube setups? Glad to have you with us.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 16:34:00 GMT 1
I think that helps my confusion . . . I was going to get a starter set from antStore; which comes with a sand/loam mix for the nest. I just wasn't sure why you would chose ytong over sand/loam really. However if camponotus do not like to dig then there's my answer Thanks again!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 16:47:24 GMT 1
Well, both have their advantages really. Where are you located?
Don't make any harsh decisions though.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 17:05:25 GMT 1
I'm in the UK . . . lots of research to do yet, before making any decisions. Just thinking about the practicalities of where to get a piece of ytong to fit the nest and the best way of cutting it? AntStore don't seem to have any ytong whatsoever on thier site? I may change my mind regarding species yet and be back to square one! but at least I understand, in broad terms, the advantages/disadvantages now.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 17:06:59 GMT 1
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 18:48:28 GMT 1
Yes . . . my bad, there is so much stuff on that site - it's hard to know what I'm looking at! So - forget the starter sets Would something like this be suitable for a small/medium colony of componotus ligniperdus? antstore.net/shop/product_info.php/info/p3537_ytong-nest---premium-l-form-35x25x25.htmllooks perfect to me and much 'neater' than the two tank starter sets? Also, with the basin being a tad shallower it will be easier to heat - although I do intend to keep it in a room at about a constant 24c? Decked out with a nicely decorated outside world in the basin - that could be a perfect farm for me. Unless, of course you can think of anything I need to be aware of? I'm really taken by that design of farm! Thanks again for all your advice & valuable information - it is hugely appreciated!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 21:21:05 GMT 1
That's a very nice formicarium you've found, but I think it may be designed with a smaller species of ant in mind, as the chambers are quite thin. It is also, in my opinion, a bit expensive for what it is. You could buy a ytong brick in B&Q for very little, use glass from a cheap photo frame, buy some aquarium sealant, make something like it yourself and buy a plastic tank for a foraging area for probably significantly less than £20 all in all. You would also need tubing to connect the nest to the tank, but that isn't expensive. You might also want to consider just buying a tank, half-filling it with sand and using that, which is what many people do and is very cheap. However, you are unlikely to be able to see into many of the chambers. If you like nice, neat, aesthetically pleasing formicariums, you might want to consider AntStore's acrylic ones here. Many of these may be unsuitable for large ants though. You can also make a plaster nest, but I've heard some horror stories about mould problems with these. As for which species to get, Formica fusca is a good suggestion. It is native, so if the colony gets too large or you are unable to keep it for some other reason, you would be able to release it into the wild.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 22:31:32 GMT 1
I however think you should start with myrmica rubra, I started with Lasius Niger and they died . However, My Myrmica Rubra's are thriving and I've had them for nearly 3 years I think, yet I do forget , Lovely ants and rarely sting but they do have the ability so feeding them livefood is good to watch if your Into gore etc, a mealworm or waxworm for example wriggling in pain, it's natural to enjoy it because yes, it is natural for ants to kill mealworms etc. After all they are feeder-food, So yeah I recommend Myrmica Rubra Because They are POLYGYNOUS meaning they can have multiple queens in a colony so 1-9 is the maximum I think but I am not sure, that was an average guess, most colony's have 3-6 queens some only 1-2 though, So meaning you get many eggs being layed meaning more ants, but Formica fusca have been rumored to be Monygynous (Meaning 1 queen) but have adopted 2-3 in a colony. Just trying to help, and If You see Billy's Picture above He has A very nice Young-ish Rubra as his avatar, which I forgot to exalt him for back in the day so EXALT [+1] Billy. Also welcome to the forum starblood!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 22:38:22 GMT 1
Thanks for the exalt. I agree that M. rubra is a very good species to start with. My colony survived until dad knocked them off my desk. However, they aren't very large.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 22:40:49 GMT 1
Never mind their size, they have Big Attitude XD.
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