45 replies to this topic

[BeerBandit]

for maybe five years, now, I've been telling my son we would find some queens and start our own colonies.... that was a big failure, lol. and now with school being done online, he is often very bored at home. we started cultivating edible mushrooms in the mean time, but, i want more things for him to enjoy. anyways, I'm not looking for anything in particular. just some colonies that arent going to cost an arm and a leg. however, i am interested in the leaf cutter ants, myself. the ones that also grow fungus. i think that is pretty bad [censored]. i hear that they don't do well being shipped, and i live in needles, california. not too close to anyone, unfortunately. but, if anyone happens to be somewhat near, i would consider a road trip, possibly. thank you for your time

[Ants_Dakota]

for maybe five years, now, I've been telling my son we would find some queens and start our own colonies.... that was a big failure, lol. and now with school being done online, he is often very bored at home. we started cultivating edible mushrooms in the mean time, but, i want more things for him to enjoy. anyways, I'm not looking for anything in particular. just some colonies that arent going to cost an arm and a leg. however, i am interested in the leaf cutter ants, myself. the ones that also grow fungus. i think that is pretty bad [censored]. i hear that they don't do well being shipped, and i live in needles, california. not too close to anyone, unfortunately. but, if anyone happens to be somewhat near, i would consider a road trip, possibly. thank you for your time

not sure if acromyrmex, or leaf cutter ants, are right for a first colony. they are very touchy. Camponotus would be good, because of their large size.

[KitsAntVa]

You should read the how to catch queens and nupital flight guides those both are perfect and camponotus are good ones to keep for beginners or pogonomymex but Pogonomyrmex take a little more work to find, also as i look at peoples shops i see that atta are usually overpriced, to find componotus just go out and look in a wooded area in early spring or at any given time you can go outside take a hammer and break open a old rotting long which will usually yield a queen.

also apheanogaster are flying which are good for beginners

[Ants_Dakota]

this shop might work for camponotus https://www.formicul.../?hl=california

they have good prices, and vicinus is an awesome looking species

Edited by Ants_Dakota, September 17 2020 - 10:09 AM.

[BeerBandit]

i know that they arent easy to keep, but, I'm a quick study. also, i was thinking about those for down the road a bit. and, yes, i do need to read more about catching queens and the nuptial flights. thank you guys for the input

[KitsAntVa]

honestly in my opinion researching is not key unless you have a not really cared for species, pogonomymex occidentalis probably have never seen or ate a termite in their life in the wild, mine however love termites and pillbugs! so waht I'm trying to say is experience is key in some things and knowledge in others i feel antkeeping is experience just as much if not more than knowledge.

Edited by KitsAntVa, September 17 2020 - 10:49 AM.

[BeerBandit]

makes sense. does this mean i can't get any acromyrmex?

[Ants_Dakota]

makes sense. does this mean i can't get any acromyrmex?

They are really expensive and super risky. If you have the funds and can find someone willing to sell a colony, and are willing to take a huge risk and chance losing another colony, than yes. I would recommend a colony with 30+ workers, so they have an established fungus pile, although that will add to the price.

[M_Ants]

I have som V. andrei for $30

[BeerBandit]

yeah, i know. i can't really afford that. especially with the high chance of me killing them off. 

[M_Ants]

They r hard to kill

[B_rad0806]

I can give you a Vicinus for $20. I need this thing gone

[Ants_Dakota]

They r hard to kill

He was talking about the acromyrmex

[Cali_Ant]

If you’re worried about killing a veromessor or camponotus which are easy/beginner species, then you certainly should not be getting a leaf cutter colony since they are extremely difficult and expensive to buy and keep.


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[Ants_Dakota]

If you’re worried about killing a veromessor or camponotus which are easy/beginner species, then you certainly should not be getting a leaf cutter colony since they are extremely difficult and expensive to buy and keep.


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he was worried about acromyrmex

[nurbs]

There's only two antkeepers here that have kept Acromyrmex (leaf cutters) up to the second year, and both of these antkeepers (myself and Drew, the forum owner), can't seem to get them to thrive past the second sophomore year. It's for this reason I do not sell them, since it's also hard to give the buyer support if you can't get them to grow properly yourself, but that's just me. Most kids on here know how desirable this species is, so even if you do purchase them they are quite expensive. I would not buy them. Start with something inexpensive (like Camponotus) and go from there.

 

You said you live in Needles? You realize you're less than 30 min away to the closest confirmed Acromyrmex spot, right? If it rains in your area they should be flying anytime now and you should be able to grab a ton.

 

I've driven out to the border just to look for Acromyrmex, and I live in LA. Obtaining them should be crazy easy for you.

 

 

for maybe five years, now, I've been telling my son we would find some queens and start our own colonies.... that was a big failure, lol. and now with school being done online, he is often very bored at home. we started cultivating edible mushrooms in the mean time, but, i want more things for him to enjoy. anyways, I'm not looking for anything in particular. just some colonies that arent going to cost an arm and a leg. however, i am interested in the leaf cutter ants, myself. the ones that also grow fungus. i think that is pretty bad [censored]. i hear that they don't do well being shipped, and i live in needles, california. not too close to anyone, unfortunately. but, if anyone happens to be somewhat near, i would consider a road trip, possibly. thank you for your time

 

[Zeiss]

 

There's only two antkeepers here that have kept Acromyrmex (leaf cutters) up to the second year, and both of these antkeepers (myself and Drew, the forum owner), can't seem to get them to thrive past the second sophomore year. It's for this reason I do not sell them, since it's also hard to give the buyer support if you can't get them to grow properly yourself, but that's just me. Most kids on here know how desirable this species is, so even if you do purchase them they are quite expensive. I would not buy them. Start with something inexpensive (like Camponotus) and go from there.

 

You said you live in Needles? You realize you're less than 30 min away to the closest confirmed Acromyrmex spot, right? If it rains in your area they should be flying anytime now and you should be able to grab a ton.

 

I've driven out to the border just to look for Acromyrmex, and I live in LA. Obtaining them should be crazy easy for you.

 

 

for maybe five years, now, I've been telling my son we would find some queens and start our own colonies.... that was a big failure, lol. and now with school being done online, he is often very bored at home. we started cultivating edible mushrooms in the mean time, but, i want more things for him to enjoy. anyways, I'm not looking for anything in particular. just some colonies that arent going to cost an arm and a leg. however, i am interested in the leaf cutter ants, myself. the ones that also grow fungus. i think that is pretty bad [censored]. i hear that they don't do well being shipped, and i live in needles, california. not too close to anyone, unfortunately. but, if anyone happens to be somewhat near, i would consider a road trip, possibly. thank you for your time

I've kept Acromyrmex for just over 2 years now.  I've said this multiple times Nubby.

 

With that being said, you should not start with Acromyrmex.  They are not beginner friendly.  It is maybe 1/100 queens that you get a good one and one of those needs to be able to have a fungus pellet with them if you plan to not get fungus from one of us with successful colonies.

Edited by Zeiss, September 17 2020 - 11:57 AM.

[nurbs]

 

 

There's only two antkeepers here that have kept Acromyrmex (leaf cutters) up to the second year, and both of these antkeepers (myself and Drew, the forum owner), can't seem to get them to thrive past the second sophomore year. It's for this reason I do not sell them, since it's also hard to give the buyer support if you can't get them to grow properly yourself, but that's just me. Most kids on here know how desirable this species is, so even if you do purchase them they are quite expensive. I would not buy them. Start with something inexpensive (like Camponotus) and go from there.

 

You said you live in Needles? You realize you're less than 30 min away to the closest confirmed Acromyrmex spot, right? If it rains in your area they should be flying anytime now and you should be able to grab a ton.

 

I've driven out to the border just to look for Acromyrmex, and I live in LA. Obtaining them should be crazy easy for you.

 

 

for maybe five years, now, I've been telling my son we would find some queens and start our own colonies.... that was a big failure, lol. and now with school being done online, he is often very bored at home. we started cultivating edible mushrooms in the mean time, but, i want more things for him to enjoy. anyways, I'm not looking for anything in particular. just some colonies that arent going to cost an arm and a leg. however, i am interested in the leaf cutter ants, myself. the ones that also grow fungus. i think that is pretty bad [censored]. i hear that they don't do well being shipped, and i live in needles, california. not too close to anyone, unfortunately. but, if anyone happens to be somewhat near, i would consider a road trip, possibly. thank you for your time

I've kept Acromyrmex for just over 2 years now.  I've said this multiple times Nubby.

 

 

Did you read what I said? How much larger are they when you first bought from Drew and that first year?

 

can't seem to get them to thrive past the second sophomore year.

[Zeiss]

Did you read what I said? How much larger are they when you first bought from Drew and that first year?

 

can't seem to get them to thrive past the second sophomore year.

Yeah, but you also only said there have been 2 ant-keepers to get them to the second year, just correcting that, haha.

 

I got them as lone queens with fungal pellets about 6mm across.  I have also not cared for them the best and they've had plenty of fungus and worker die-off, but always sprung back.  Right now they have an entire chamber full of fungus (for maybe the 6th time) and a couple months ago I added a new chamber for them to grow fungus in.  They seem to be doing just fine for me right now.

[nurbs]

You should give the OP support then when he grabs them this year.

 

 

Did you read what I said? How much larger are they when you first bought from Drew and that first year?

 

can't seem to get them to thrive past the second sophomore year.

Yeah, but you also only said there have been 2 ant-keepers to get them to the second year, just correcting that, haha.

 

I got them as lone queens with fungal pellets about 6mm across.  I have also not cared for them the best and they've had plenty of fungus and worker die-off, but always sprung back.  Right now they have an entire chamber full of fungus (for maybe the 6th time) and a couple months ago I added a new chamber for them to grow fungus in.  They seem to be doing just fine for me right now.