15 replies to this topic

[gs5248]

Recently, Tarheel ants came out with the Aerie. It looks amazing, but what species do you think would fit best in this type of formicarium?

[Ernteameise]

Has to be something that does not need a lot of heat, since he writes himself in the description that heating is more difficult and requires more effort and planning.

I had been looking at it, too, but it is too small for my Messor (and my Messor are rather earth-bound anyways) and my Camponotus need some heat at least during parts of the year.

Maybe some ants that live arboreal?

[Virginian_ants]

I'm thinking crematogaster.

[gs5248]

Has to be something that does not need a lot of heat, since he writes himself in the description that heating is more difficult and requires more effort and planning.

I had been looking at it, too, but it is too small for my Messor (and my Messor are rather earth-bound anyways) and my Camponotus need some heat at least during parts of the year.

Maybe some ants that live arboreal?

 

Yeah, the nest looks absolutely amazing, but it isn't very practical for most species. I think it would be suitable for arboreal ants as well.

I'm thinking crematogaster.

 

Yeah, I think that's a good choice. 

[Manitobant]

I think pheidole and liometopum would also look great in one.

[gs5248]

I think pheidole and liometopum would also look great in one.

Same, I was thinking of getting one just to put my pheidole into. The problem is that they would outgrow it pretty fast. If you wanted a small colony though it would be awesome.

[antsriondel]

Yeah I am thinking of getting one for my Lios but I also like the Fallen fortress style formicarium. 

[UtahAnts]

I'd second Liometopum, although the genus grows pretty quickly. I think a large Temnothorax colony would be well suited for the formicarium, given they don't need a lot of heat and many species naturally live above the ground.

 

Edit: Not to mention Temnothorax grow slowly and their population will usually cap at a few hundred workers, meaning they will not outgrow the nest.

Edited by UtahAnts, June 28 2023 - 11:59 AM.

[Locness]

I believe he uses a heat lamp for the aerie.

[gs5248]

I'd second Liometopum, although the genus grows pretty quickly. I think a large Temnothorax colony would be well suited for the formicarium, given they don't need a lot of heat and many species naturally live above the ground.

 

Edit: Not to mention Temnothorax grow slowly and their population will usually cap at a few hundred workers, meaning they will not outgrow the nest.

That sounds like the best choice so far.

[Manitobant]

Assuming you want something that won’t outgrow it there are a few options. Temnothorax is one, but i think monomorium, colobopsis or cephalotes would be a better choice or if you can get it, paratrechina longicornis. I think black crazy ants would unironically look amazing in an aerie due to their erratic movement and especially their foraging behaviour, which involves pinning the prey down by its limbs and rapidly bringing it back to the nest. I say this because longicornis often move their catch straight up vertical or upside down surfaces which would look really cool in that kind of nest.

Edited by Manitobant, June 29 2023 - 9:04 AM.

[gs5248]

Wouldn't longicornis outgrow the nest pretty fast?

[Manitobant]

If they have only one or two queens no.

[gs5248]

If they have only one or two queens no.

I heard they mate within the nest. I don't actually know very much at all about this species though. Honestly all I my knowledge about this species comes from when I used to watch ac a couple years back.

[Manitobant]

Yeah they do but it will still take them a very long time especially with only one queen.

[OhNoNotAgain]

If you don't want your colony to outgrow, you just reduce feedings. I do that with most of my colonies so they don't outgrow their formicaria - basically, feed a limited quantity of protein at most once a week. Or for desert harvester species, reduce the heated growing season by some weeks.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, June 30 2023 - 12:16 PM.