32 replies to this topic

[RushmoreAnts]

I have a feeling this is mostly going to be on occidentalis, lol.

[ponerinecat]

Why are there so many genus based threads. Not that it's a bad thing, but they're starting to overflow.

[RushmoreAnts]

This is the last one. I chose the ones that are most commonly spoken of.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

yeah, however timing did have some...misfortune. Perhaps if you ever try to do this again, don't do it so suddenly. Such as a new culture every month would have been a good idea...  

[OhNoNotAgain]

This is actually kind of vaguely similar to the idea I had that was so thoroughly shot down, so hey.

Are you looking for tips on keeping Pogonomyrmex? I just have Pogonomyrmex californicus. After reading a bunch of journals it sounded like are best kept in dirt. I have my colony in a DirtBox and I see workers on the surface almost daily. When they are on heat, they put the larvae at the bottom and clear the bottom area. However, right now the heat is off and I have trouble finding the brood. They don't make the cleanest, most visible tunnels. 

 

I put in a few springtails and now, as expected, it's bursting with springtails. At least the mold problem is thoroughly under control now. 

 

I'll add I have just a few Pogonomyrmex occidentalis workers from Uncle Milton, in a classic ant farm. They are big, beautiful, make really nice tunnels in the Uncle Milton substrate, and most of them died rapidly as I think they are older workers from last year.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, February 28 2020 - 7:36 PM.

[Enderz]

This is very stupid.

[ponerinecat]

This is actually kind of vaguely similar to the idea I had that was so thoroughly shot down, so hey.

Are you looking for tips on keeping Pogonomyrmex? I just have Pogonomyrmex californicus. After reading a bunch of journals it sounded like are best kept in dirt. I have my colony in a DirtBox and I see workers on the surface almost daily. When they are on heat, they put the larvae at the bottom and clear the bottom area. However, right now the heat is off and I have trouble finding the brood. They don't make the cleanest, most visible tunnels. 

 

I put in a few springtails and now, as expected, it's bursting with springtails. At least the mold problem is thoroughly under control now. 

 

I'll add I have just a few Pogonomyrmex occidentalis workers from Uncle Milton, in a classic ant farm. They are big, beautiful, make really nice tunnels in the Uncle Milton substrate, and most of them died rapidly as I think they are older workers from last year.

Since Pogonomyrmex like it mostly dry, booklice would do wonderfully instead of springtails.

[ANTdrew]

I still say one of the moderators needs to make a Pogonomyrmex occidentalis care sheet. With deregulation, they’re likely to become one of the more commonly kept ants.

[RushmoreAnts]

This is actually kind of vaguely similar to the idea I had that was so thoroughly shot down, so hey.

Funny how this thread took the brunt of the bullets as opposed to Tetra Talk, which came around at the same time.

 

 

I still say one of the moderators needs to make a Pogonomyrmex occidentalis care sheet. With deregulation, they’re likely to become one of the more commonly kept ants.

Wait- they still don't have a care sheet for these?!

[Mdrogun]

Producing a proper care sheet for Pogonomyrmex occidentalis is difficult. Since their range extends from Northern Mexico to Alberta, Canada you would have to figure out exactly where your particular specimens came from in order to properly care for them. Just because two individuals are of the same species, does not mean the care they require is the same.

[TennesseeAnts]

Producing a proper care sheet for Pogonomyrmex occidentalis is difficult. Since their range extends from Northern Mexico to Alberta, Canada you would have to figure out exactly where your particular specimens came from in order to properly care for them. Just because two individuals are of the same species, does not mean the care they require is the same.

Exactly. Individuals from Mexico don't need hibernation, for instance.

[RushmoreAnts]

And here, they do.

[ANTdrew]

Here’s a question for you PogoProphets: do seed gathering ants like coconut flesh?

[Ferox_Formicae]

Ha! All you noobs keeping occidentalis! I get to keep badius which are twice their size and heavily dimorphic! I have no room to talk though... The only ever gyne of badius I've ever owned died 3 days after I received her, and I still haven't found a local population, or the species in the wild for that matter...

[RushmoreAnts]

Do badius exceed 20K workers in size?

[Ferox_Formicae]

Do badius exceed 20K workers in size?

Yeah. Their colonies are very large, and can extend down several meters. They don't make the large mounds seen in occidentalis though, rather a small hole, or even a pit, almost always marked by bits of charred plant bits.

Edited by Ferox_Formicae, March 1 2020 - 4:00 PM.

[FSTP]

The cool thing about Pogonomyrmex californicus is if you ever get bored of their seed harvesting behavior you can train them to be leaf cuter ants. Here are some pics of mine enjoying some fresh broccoli. I learned they like broccoli completely by accident. I accidently dropped in a small piece of broccoli one day and lazily left it there and noticed they ate it. So I gave them a whole floret and they quickly cut it into pieces and took it into the nest.  

 

 

 

 

 

[ANTdrew]

The cool thing about Pogonomyrmex californicus is if you ever get bored of their seed harvesting behavior you can train them to be leaf cuter ants. Here are some pics of mine enjoying some fresh broccoli. I learned they like broccoli completely by accident. I accidently dropped in a small piece of broccoli one day and lazily left it there and noticed they ate it. So I gave them a whole floret and they quickly cut it into pieces and took it into the nest.

That’s wild! Did you ever try coconut? It’s a giant seed after all. The idea dawned on me today when we gave my kids some whole coconuts since they’re obsessed with Moana, lol.

[FSTP]

no I've not tried coconut. If I ever happen to have one I'll try it. Although its not often I get whole mature coconuts. The only coconut I usually buy are young green coconut. Though I suppose I coudl try that as well. 

 

It really fun watching them process the broccoli its like a poor mans leaf cutter experience, lol. 

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

lol