5 replies to this topic

[Myrmecologeek]

Greetings fellow Myrmecophiles! My [real] name is David Ian Go, a Myrmecophile since forever, but an ant-keeper for as short as 3 months. I caught my very first queen (Solenopsis geminata) somewhere around July this year which was quickly followed by my second queen (Odontomachus simillimus) on that very same month. I started the hobby only this year because I had no idea that it was possible and not to mention very manageable. I've had experience keeping a handful of different genera including Solenopsis, Tetramorium, Monomorium, Crematogaster, Paratrechina, Nylanderia, Odontoponera, Odontomachus, Harpegnathos, among others, all of which (except the ponerines) are still in their test tube stage. More on the colonies on actual journals I'm planning to start.

My love for all things that move started when I was a boy, a toddler even. I lived in a rural town near forests, beaches and mountains, which was prime habitat for a lot of creatures, ants included. Everytime I went out to play, I'd encounter something new, ants being the most inconspicuous, so I got curious, and that spark of curiosity grew into a passion that has now become a hobby. 

I started off keeping different insects in jars (a lot of which died in a few days due to my lack of knowledge) then, I started keeping vertebrates, (fish, birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians) crustaceans, (shrimp, crabs, lobsters) and eventually ants. 

Aside from ants, I also keep mantids, katydids, crickets, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, earwigs, isopods, paper wasps, roaches, beetles, fish, birds, shrimp, crabs, lobsters, birds, hamsters, mice, frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, lizards, snakes and a dog. I did not include feeders (crickets, mealworms, roaches etc.) All of the aforementioned creatures are being bred. 

Now, a lot of you might wonder if that is even legal, well, it actually is. Most of these creatures don't count as pets in my country. 

So, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed finding out about who I am and I look forward to knowing much about all of you as well.

[wook]

Welcome to the forum David, I hope you will have good time here.
Nice place and weather you have there.

[dspdrew]

Welcome. Your place must look like a zoo! I thought I had a lot of creatures, but you definitely have me beat.

[Crystals]

Welcome!

That is quite a list.  In Canada, it is illegal to catch and keep wild animals (non-endangered insects don't count for some reason). 

There is a native fish and bird I would love to keep, but sadly cannot.

[Myrmecologeek]

I would actually like some laws to be passed regarding the catching and keeping of local fauna, which then I'd be guilty of, but would indeed help with the dwindling populations of some. The only species I catch and keep are those that are not at all endangered.

[Crystals]

It does protect the species that could be harmed by it.  There are a few endangered and threatened species that it definitely helps.

I always liked the Yellow Perch (fish) and Canadian Magpie, both of which are extremely common and not likely to ever be wiped out.