8 replies to this topic

[VoidElecent]

Hello everyone!

 

I am back after a lengthy hiatus doing my best to stay sane during quarantine. My brother and I have a few young, healthy colonies, that we intend to keep for the long run. We have:

1. Formica pallidefulva, 4 workers
2. Formica pallidefulva, 2 workers
3. Colobopsis impressa, 1 worker

These colonies currently live in test-tube setups which they have for a little less than a year at this point and I'd like to move them into more comfortable enclosures for 2020. I've had success with Tarheel Ants formicaria in the past, but I'd like to branch out and see what other options there are. AntsAustralia formicaria look really nice, but I'm not sure how long shipping will take, nor if my colonies are large enough at this point.

 

I've been out of the game for a while at this point so I am not caught up to speed with the latest and greatest—do you guys have any recommendations?

[JenC]

They can live in their test tubes for awhile. If you need to move them though, homemade formicariums work. They're usually cheap and rewarding to make!

[ANTdrew]

My ants are keeping me sane, too. That’s what I’m telling myself in any case.
I honestly think that THA is your best choice. All the other makers seem to cut corners with plastics, acrylics, and cheaper materials. One tip I learned, though, is to make sure you specify your species size in your order. If they know it’s for small ants they do a lot of extra steps to seal up potential gaps. I recently ordered a ready to ship Nucleus that was for large species, and I had to seal up some gaps with hot glue to keep my Crematogasters from turning my kitchen into their outworld.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

THA is really god in nearly all aspects, so I agree with ANTdrew

[TennesseeAnts]

I'd keep the Colobopsis in test tubes, but THA for the Formica.

[Ants_Dakota]

My formica stay in a test tube for a while. They don't grow that fast at the beginning. I am keeping mine there until they have around 20 workers.

[CheetoLord02]

If you've got the money, others have said it and I'll say it again: TarheelAnts. Their formicaria are a head and neck above all others, and well worth the price point. A standard mini hearth would suit your Formica colonies excellently once they outgrow their test tubes. As for Colobopsis, I'm less positive as I've never kept them, but I'm sure a TarheelAnts formicarium would also suit them nicely.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I would found Formica in a Devolve Chamber (given you can control the water and humidity well enough), it's a great founding formicaria  

[Aliallaie]

Yeah I also agree with antdrew. THA formacerium are the best and their shop is located in the US so you won’t have to worry about shipping problems.