24 replies to this topic

[cap_backfire]

Looking for a small species of ant that I could put into a small formicarium (one of those jobs with the 'outworld' attached and the 'nest' as a vertical wall along one side).   Pavement ants maybe?   Nothing TINY as I can expand this nest if needed but what species might be good in one of these setups?   All acrylic, put together with the rubber bands and tiny screws with tinier nuts (so annoying).   Setup has a hydration chamber in the nest and two spots for water tubes or whatever I want to attach.  

Anyway... advice?   Still new to this, I have three Camponotus species-two in test tubes and one in a 3D printed nest with a tube system to explore and 'hunt' for treat items.   

[Antkeeper01]

Looking for a small species of ant that I could put into a small formicarium (one of those jobs with the 'outworld' attached and the 'nest' as a vertical wall along one side).   Pavement ants maybe?   Nothing TINY as I can expand this nest if needed but what species might be good in one of these setups?   All acrylic, put together with the rubber bands and tiny screws with tinier nuts (so annoying).   Setup has a hydration chamber in the nest and two spots for water tubes or whatever I want to attach.  

Anyway... advice?   Still new to this, I have three Camponotus species-two in test tubes and one in a 3D printed nest with a tube system to explore and 'hunt' for treat items.   

i would send you like 20 tetramorium queens but they arent deregulated and are an invasive

[Swirlysnowflake]

I had my tetras in a setup like that and half of them escaped and made a nest in my room. This obviously depends on the exact nest, but imo I would go for a slightly bigger species because tetras are escape artists, and they honestly do best in a tubs and tubes setup.

[RushmoreAnts]

Pavement ants maybe? 

Yes, I would say that Tetramorium would be your best bet. They are fast growing, hardy, and seem to fit your size range.

[ANTdrew]

Tetramorium, Nylanderia, Crematogaster, Monomorium, Solenopsis (native species) would all be good options. Black lights are a good way to find queens of many smaller species.

[gs5248]

I am not so sure tetrmorium would be the best choice. I have heard that formicarium like the one you have are prone to having gaps. And tetramorium are VERY good at escaping .Maybe crematogaster?

[ANTdrew]

Crematogaster are even better at escaping, believe me!

[RushmoreAnts]

I am not so sure tetrmorium would be the best choice. I have heard that formicarium like the one you have are prone to having gaps. And tetramorium are VERY good at escaping .Maybe crematogaster?

Tetramorium are not the best escape artists. They are mediocre at best, I'd trust them in a nest more than Lasius. Nylanderia, Crematogaster, and especially Solenopsis are all better at escaping than Tetramorium.

[MinigunL5]

Looking for a small species of ant that I could put into a small formicarium (one of those jobs with the 'outworld' attached and the 'nest' as a vertical wall along one side).   Pavement ants maybe?   Nothing TINY as I can expand this nest if needed but what species might be good in one of these setups?   All acrylic, put together with the rubber bands and tiny screws with tinier nuts (so annoying).   Setup has a hydration chamber in the nest and two spots for water tubes or whatever I want to attach.  

Anyway... advice?   Still new to this, I have three Camponotus species-two in test tubes and one in a 3D printed nest with a tube system to explore and 'hunt' for treat items.   

You could catch some thief ants( Solenopsis spp.) and keep them in the same set-up for a long time because of how small they are. Or Temnothroax are good too but they grow pretty slow. Monomorium would work if you can find some. Tetramorium can grow really big really fast so maybe not them.

[RushmoreAnts]

 

Looking for a small species of ant that I could put into a small formicarium (one of those jobs with the 'outworld' attached and the 'nest' as a vertical wall along one side).   Pavement ants maybe?   Nothing TINY as I can expand this nest if needed but what species might be good in one of these setups?   All acrylic, put together with the rubber bands and tiny screws with tinier nuts (so annoying).   Setup has a hydration chamber in the nest and two spots for water tubes or whatever I want to attach.  

Anyway... advice?   Still new to this, I have three Camponotus species-two in test tubes and one in a 3D printed nest with a tube system to explore and 'hunt' for treat items.   

You could catch some thief ants( Solenopsis spp.) and keep them in the same set-up for a long time because of how small they are. Or Temnothroax are good too but they grow pretty slow. Monomorium would work if you can find some. Tetramorium can grow really big really fast so maybe not them.

 

Thief Ants are Solenopsis, and I'm pretty sure that's what ANTdrew meant.

[Spazmops]

Unpopular opinion: Lasius could work. The queens are a bit large, but the workers aren't. They're also easy to care for. 

[RushmoreAnts]

Unpopular opinion: Lasius could work. The queens are a bit large, but the workers aren't. They're also easy to care for. 

Colonies can also get quite large, and queens can get physogastric. I especially like neoniger's coloration.

[gs5248]

I always forget about lasius. Probably because I never see them in my neighborhood.

[cap_backfire]

All good info!  I was just using Tetramorium as an example, not sold on any species.  Lasius might just be the way to go.  Thanks a lot!  Not in a hurry as  I may have a move in my near future.   I'll test the formicarium for leaks when I get home.    You guys are so great! (using 'guys" as a gender-neutral term to include the non-dude-guys)  

[Spazmops]

All good info!  I was just using Tetramorium as an example, not sold on any species.  Lasius might just be the way to go.  Thanks a lot!  Not in a hurry as  I may have a move in my near future.   I'll test the formicarium for leaks when I get home.    You guys are so great! (using 'guys" as a gender-neutral term to include the non-dude-guys)  

Glad we could help!

[NickAnter]

Temnothorax are great, very resistant(in my experience anyway) to desiccation, and starvation.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

I'd definitely pick lasius.

Especially for beginners it's a great species.
You wouldn't believe the conditions my lasius niger used to thrive in they are very forgiving to mistakes.

They didn't even attempt an escape until they were in the hundreds.
By the time they hit the thousands I had to seal the setup with plastic foil and release them. In year 2 or 3 they explode in numbers if you feed them well and then it becomes a little more challenging.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

By the way once they have some numbers I'd give them eggs, tuna and raw chicken.

Don't even need feeder insects at that point they tare apart your foods scraps if you let em.
Don't serve the eggs raw tho.
They like it but I have lost at least 40 ants in a single egg yolk cause I served it in the shell. lol

[ANTdrew]

I'd definitely pick lasius.

Especially for beginners it's a great species.
You wouldn't believe the conditions my lasius niger used to thrive in they are very forgiving to mistakes.

They didn't even attempt an escape until they were in the hundreds.
By the time they hit the thousands I had to seal the setup with plastic foil and release them. In year 2 or 3 they explode in numbers if you feed them well and then it becomes a little more challenging.

North American Lasius aren’t even half as vigorous. Folks are doing great if their colony gets to fifty workers.

[antsandmore]

 

I'd definitely pick lasius.

Especially for beginners it's a great species.
You wouldn't believe the conditions my lasius niger used to thrive in they are very forgiving to mistakes.

They didn't even attempt an escape until they were in the hundreds.
By the time they hit the thousands I had to seal the setup with plastic foil and release them. In year 2 or 3 they explode in numbers if you feed them well and then it becomes a little more challenging.

North American Lasius aren’t even half as vigorous. Folks are doing great if their colony gets to fifty workers.

 

very true