72 replies to this topic

[Spazmops]

I was reflecting the other day on how Pogonomyrmex occidentalis might be the species that's best suited for antkeeping. I have a few reasons for thinking this: 1.Their diet is simple and doesn't require live food or freshy killed insects. 2. Their temperature and humidity are easy to maintain and don't have to be exact. 3. They're big, so it's not very hard to spot mites or similar issues. 4. They're deregulated, so it's easy to get a colony of your own. 5. They can't climb plastic or glass, making lidless nests easily possible and escape attempts almost nonexistent. 6. They're active during the day, making it easy to monitor the activity of your colony.

I'm not saying that they're my favorite species or that they're the most fun to keep, but in my opinion they're the best suited to be kept in captivity. If you disagree or if I got some information wrong, feel free to correct me or put your own opinion. 

 

Edited by Spazmops, December 7 2020 - 10:44 AM.

[Swirlysnowflake]

Wow, that does sound well suited to captivity lol. The downside is the price, $82+ for a colony from THA. 

Edited by Swirlysnowflake, December 7 2020 - 10:48 AM.

[Spazmops]

Wow, that does sound well suited to captivity lol. The downside is the price, $82+ for a colony from THA. 

Yeah, THA's are pretty expensive. I'll be selling my $20 queens again next year, provided I catch enough.

[Devi]

 

Wow, that does sound well suited to captivity lol. The downside is the price, $82+ for a colony from THA. 

Yeah, THA's are pretty expensive. I'll be selling my $20 queens again next year, provided I catch enough.

 

Yes, absolutely!  We will be selling them for sure provided we can find them.  Think good thoughts!

[Swirlysnowflake]

 

 

Wow, that does sound well suited to captivity lol. The downside is the price, $82+ for a colony from THA. 

Yeah, THA's are pretty expensive. I'll be selling my $20 queens again next year, provided I catch enough.

 

Yes, absolutely!  We will be selling them for sure provided we can find them.  Think good thoughts!

 

Oh, great! I'll definitely purchase some, occis are cool

[TechAnt]

Agreed, but I find some cons:

Stinging - children/pets/allergic people can be fatally hurt/severely injured.

Climate - They are ants suited for warm climates which means they don't do well without heating in colder climates. Which means you need to have gotten some sort of heating for them in the winter.

 

Otherwise I do not see any other cons overall.

[Ants_Dakota]

the biggest con i have is that they are, for an experienced ant keeper, not that new and cool. sure, they are everything you want in an ant, but for me, they get boring after a little.

[Devi]

Agreed, but I find some cons:

Stinging - children/pets/allergic people can be fatally hurt/severely injured.

Climate - They are ants suited for warm climates which means they don't do well without heating in colder climates. Which means you need to have gotten some sort of heating for them in the winter.

 

Otherwise I do not see any other cons overall.

As for stinging-

Oddly enough I have had dozens of Pogonomyrmex crawl on me, and I have never been stung.  I don't know if I'm super lucky or something, but they seem to only sting prey or in self defense.  Ohhhhh, I wonder who voted no.  Lol

[Ants_Dakota]

 

the biggest con i have is that they are, for an experienced ant keeper, not that new and cool. sure, they are everything you want in an ant, but for me, they get boring after a little.

For me, Pogonomyrmex never get boring. They only get boring when you keep em small. My 100-125 worker Pogonomyrmex never makes me bored lol. 

 

i just like keeping challenging species. maybe that is why

[Devi]

 

 

the biggest con i have is that they are, for an experienced ant keeper, not that new and cool. sure, they are everything you want in an ant, but for me, they get boring after a little.

For me, Pogonomyrmex never get boring. They only get boring when you keep em small. My 100-125 worker Pogonomyrmex never makes me bored lol. 

 

i just like keeping challenging species. maybe that is why

 

Ahh, I get that.  Try atta or Acromyrmex if you ever get a permit.  Lol

[Spazmops]

I've never been stung, even after sticking my finger into the hole in the nest and letting them crawl on me. I've only ever even seen them sting when there was a dying grasshopper right on their hill.

[TechAnt]

 

Agreed, but I find some cons:

Stinging - children/pets/allergic people can be fatally hurt/severely injured.

Climate - They are ants suited for warm climates which means they don't do well without heating in colder climates. Which means you need to have gotten some sort of heating for them in the winter.

 

Otherwise I do not see any other cons overall.

 Ohhhhh, I wonder who voted no.  Lol

 

Nah, I voted to Agree actually 

 

Edit: maybe I shall change my mind.

Edited by TechAnt, December 8 2020 - 9:15 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

I feel like Veromessor would be the better alternative since they don’t sting as far as I know.

[Swirlysnowflake]

I feel like Veromessor would be the better alternative since they don’t sting as far as I know.

I keep Veromessor, and they're cool, but I like Pogonomyrmex's red coloration. It's really beautiful lol

[Ants_Dakota]

 

 

Agreed, but I find some cons:

Stinging - children/pets/allergic people can be fatally hurt/severely injured.

Climate - They are ants suited for warm climates which means they don't do well without heating in colder climates. Which means you need to have gotten some sort of heating for them in the winter.

 

Otherwise I do not see any other cons overall.

 Ohhhhh, I wonder who voted no.  Lol

 

Nah, I voted to Agree actually 

 

i voted no.

[RushmoreAnts]

Uh, in order for them to thrive they require live insects. They might just get by on seeds alone.

[RushmoreAnts]

I’d say Tetramorium are better suited. Their diet is wider, they’re even less picky about food than Pogonomyrmex, they grow faster too, and they can’t sting humans.