57 replies to this topic

[Vendayn]

My favorite overall are Leafcutters and seed specialists (like Veromessor and Pogonomyrmex)

 

However, my favorite ants to keep are probably Pheidole megacephala, despite being an invasive species. I don't have any now and I don't live in the area anymore, that they are in. But, super clean species, super easy to keep, incredibly hardy and they are semi-subterranean so they don't tend to want to escape much. Compared to Solenopsis invicta, Ph. megacephala are vastly easier and S. invicta is already really easy. They also readily breed in captivity (unlike S. invicta) so they are an immortal growing species that has no end.

 

Can't think of an easier species than Pheidole megacephala, don't think it gets easier than them.

[MrOdontomachus]

Everything, FTA said. I love everything about them - other than their uncanny drive and ability to escape that is!
On a deeper level, I’m personally only interested in keeping ordinary ants.

You're the exact opposite of me. I loooove me some weird ponerids.

[Somethinghmm]

Dorymyrmex insanus, hands down. Beautiful species with great coloration. I love their foraging patterns and just, everything about them.

[LaTun]

For me its Dinomyrmex species. They combine everything I look for in an ant species. Large size, not super aggressive and they lack a painful sting.
But sadly they are quite a rarety in shops and if available super expensive.

[Kaelwizard]

Myrmica species. Small, aggressive, and active, though I haven’t managed to raise a queen yet. And most of all, Ospisthopsis.

Edited by Kaelwizard, June 21 2020 - 12:11 PM.

[JenC]

Dorymyrmex insanus. Beautiful species with that amazing coloration. Gotta love everything about those Dorymyrmex.

[Guy_Fieri]

I'd have to go with Dorymyrmex insanus. Very active colonies with unique nests. Their colonies are easily worth the relatively slow and difficult founding stage.

[NickAnter]

Very funny.

[Temperateants]

You know what would be cool? If anyone here is a JoJo's fan, we could make "stand stat circles" but for ants. 6 categories, Prolificness, Toughness (Humidity levels and temperature), Agressiveness, sensitiveness (to light and how much they eat their eggs due to stress) Appetite and size.

(Kinda cringe idea I know lmao)

https://chachart.net/radar?lang=en

Edited by Temperateants, June 20 2020 - 2:43 PM.

[CatsnAnts]

A little late to this thread, but my favorite species (or genus, rather) would be Temnothorax. Though they may be generic, their small size and nesting habits really promote some interesting setups. They’re basically the perfect terrarium species, and they’re relatively easy to find if you know where to look.

[TennesseeAnts]

A little late to this thread, but my favorite species (or genus, rather) would be Temnothorax. Though they may be generic, their small size and nesting habits really promote some interesting setups. They’re basically the perfect terrarium species, and they’re relatively easy to find if you know where to look.

The coolest looking Temnothorax I've seen is T. pergandei. They come in two color variants: red with orange/brown and just black. My colonies accepted each other's workers, so both colonies have a mix of red variant and black variant workers! 

[CatsnAnts]

A little late to this thread, but my favorite species (or genus, rather) would be Temnothorax. Though they may be generic, their small size and nesting habits really promote some interesting setups. They’re basically the perfect terrarium species, and they’re relatively easy to find if you know where to look.

The coolest looking Temnothorax I've seen is T. pergandei. They come in two color variants: red with orange/brown and just black. My colonies accepted each other's workers, so both colonies have a mix of red variant and black variant workers! 

It’s almost like having two separate species hahaha, now I want some

[RushmoreAnts]

Crematogaster, Pheidole, and Prenolepis.

Seems like it’s Crematogaster for the win!

I like ‘em a lot, they’re just not my favorites.

[RushmoreAnts]

A little late to this thread, but my favorite species (or genus, rather) would be Temnothorax. Though they may be generic, their small size and nesting habits really promote some interesting setups. They’re basically the perfect terrarium species, and they’re relatively easy to find if you know where to look.

The coolest looking Temnothorax I've seen is T. pergandei. They come in two color variants: red with orange/brown and just black. My colonies accepted each other's workers, so both colonies have a mix of red variant and black variant workers! 

It’s almost like having two separate species hahaha, now I want some

Our populations of Solenopsis molesta do this with queens. Queens can be anywhere from golden, orange, or black, either of the previous two sometimes have a red thorax.

[Manitobant]

Temnothorax Americanus is the coolest temnothorax in my opinion. They are slave makers and need a constant supply of new slaves to survive.

[Manitobant]

I just love slave makers...

Edited by Manitobant, June 20 2020 - 7:03 PM.

[MrOdontomachus]

I just love slave makers...

Has anyone kept a slaver species like polyergus mexicanus successfully before? I imagine if purdue and antdude kept a species as challenging as neivamyrmex someone out there has certianly kept polyergus or T. americanus before.

[RushmoreAnts]

I just love slave makers...

Has anyone kept a slaver species like polyergus mexicanus successfully before? I imagine if purdue and antdude kept a species as challenging as neivamyrmex someone out there has certianly kept polyergus or T. americanus before.

AnthonyP163 keeps T. americanus, while Manitobant here does own a colony of Polyergus, which is the reason he mentioned slave raiders.