26 replies to this topic

[cap_backfire]

 

I have them with all three of my colonies now, two of which are still in the test tube.   The larger colony has decided to leave them be for the most part but the 4 worker colonies have eaten them as far as I can tell.   I put maybe a dozen or so in with the tube colonies and about 50 in with the larger colony.  Initially they feasted on the springtails but have since moved up to getting the occasional isopod or wait for their dubia nymph.  

 

I am NOT an ant expert by any means, but this has been great for MY three colonies of camponotus.   

 

can I purchase springtails from you bud?

 

Yeah for sure.   My email is joshuawinterfeldt@gmail.com.   I haven't sold them before but I imagine shipping will be the biggest part of the cost.  

 

[ANTdrew]

When do you recommend adding springtails to a colony?

I have springtails for sale. They are a Sinella species that cohabits really well with ants.

You could add them any time in a natural set up. Adding springtails to Tarheel Ants formicariums is still somsthing I need to experiment with more. My attempts last year failed. I plan to try again with Sinella.

[CasiahJade]

 

When do you recommend adding springtails to a colony?

I have springtails for sale. They are a Sinella species that cohabits really well with ants.

You could add them any time in a natural set up. Adding springtails to Tarheel Ants formicariums is still somsthing I need to experiment with more. My attempts last year failed. I plan to try again with Sinella.

 

What are some of the risks/pitfalls?

[ANTdrew]

There aren’t any I’ve experienced. Springtails are pretty much the coolest things ever. Worst case, they would get eaten or not adapt to the formicarium, but I do need to experiment more using them in Tarheel setups.

[ConcordAntman]

Interesting. Clarify this for me, springtails outcompete grain mites for resources rather than actually eat them so the mites die from starvation (then assumingely get eaten)? Also, releasing them in the outworld wouldn’t prevent them from colonizing the nest.  

[ANTdrew]

That’s right. The standard outworld would probably be too dry to support them, though. You would want them down in the chambers eating trash and mold.

[cap_backfire]

That’s right. The standard outworld would probably be too dry to support them, though. You would want them down in the chambers eating trash and mold.

100% this.   They literally don't harm anything.   Now, the first time I introduced them to my larger colony, there was a feeding frenzy but since then there's a fair amount inside the nest, taking care of business (business being eating mold and garbage).   My Camponotus aren't very good at moving their trash out to somewhere less... Less like their living room.   They also have accepted a few isopods in their outworld and are leaving them alone so long as they don't migrate to the nest.   

I DO notice my springtails tend to congregate at the more moist areas of the nest, so maybe keeping a small area damp in the outworld would help them establish there?  I have yet to use them in a more naturalistic setup but soon that will change.