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what should I get next

Started By AntsGodzilla , Sep 8 2024 10:06 AM
ants buying antopia usa

36 replies to this topic

#1 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted September 8 2024 - 10:06 AM

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What colony would be the most fun to keep? I buy from antopiausa and statesideants


Edited by AntsGodzilla, October 10 2024 - 9:21 AM.

I keep:

Pogonomyrmex Rugosus journal
Myrmecocystus Deplisis journal
Monomorium ergatogyn Journal

And many Carnivorous plants such as:

Dionea (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) 

 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 8 2024 - 10:09 AM

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I would go for the Pheidole bicarinata.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
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#3 Offline GOCAMPONOTUS - Posted September 8 2024 - 10:10 AM

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I would get as a single queen C.fragilis. I also second P.bicarinata for smaller colony.


Edited by GOCAMPONOTUS, September 8 2024 - 10:12 AM.

Currently keeping: 2 C.vicinus colonies.2 C.sansabeanus. 1 C.leavissimus. 2 C.Ca02. 1 V.pergandei. 4 T.immigrans.1 F.pacifica. 1 C.hyatti

1 M.ergatognya

 

 

 

 

Trying to get my hands on :C.modoc,A.vercicolor, and Any Honeypots

  

 

 

#4 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted September 8 2024 - 10:11 AM

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I already own a Pogonomyrmex Rugosus and they're great


Edited by AntsGodzilla, September 28 2024 - 4:56 PM.

I keep:

Pogonomyrmex Rugosus journal
Myrmecocystus Deplisis journal
Monomorium ergatogyn Journal

And many Carnivorous plants such as:

Dionea (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) 

 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

#5 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted September 28 2024 - 4:54 PM

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should I try myrmecocystus mexicanus?


Edited by AntsGodzilla, September 28 2024 - 4:57 PM.

I keep:

Pogonomyrmex Rugosus journal
Myrmecocystus Deplisis journal
Monomorium ergatogyn Journal

And many Carnivorous plants such as:

Dionea (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) 

 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

#6 Offline GOCAMPONOTUS - Posted September 28 2024 - 5:27 PM

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Right now they have a sale on P.bicarinata, and would get them.


Currently keeping: 2 C.vicinus colonies.2 C.sansabeanus. 1 C.leavissimus. 2 C.Ca02. 1 V.pergandei. 4 T.immigrans.1 F.pacifica. 1 C.hyatti

1 M.ergatognya

 

 

 

 

Trying to get my hands on :C.modoc,A.vercicolor, and Any Honeypots

  

 

 

#7 Offline Stubyvast - Posted September 29 2024 - 1:59 PM

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Yeah get Pheidole, they've got awesome majors! I hear they are pretty easy to keep?


Currently raising: 

Myrmica rubra (1 queen +  ~5 workers)

Lasius niger (single queen + ~90+ workers)

Lasius neoniger (3 single queen + brood)

Formica spp. (Queen [likely parasitic, needs brood])

Formica pacifica (Queen)

Also keeping a friend's tetramorium immigrans for the foreseeable future. Thanks CoffeBlock!

#8 Offline Yusteponant - Posted September 30 2024 - 7:20 AM

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I think Bicarinata or Sansabeanus


#9 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted September 30 2024 - 10:28 AM

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should I try myrmecocystus mexicanus?

I've heard they're more difficult to keep, and they require specific nests designed to house their repletes. I concur with bicarinata.


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#10 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted October 9 2024 - 3:37 PM

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should I try myrmecocystus mexicanus?

Now they're only $50


I keep:

Pogonomyrmex Rugosus journal
Myrmecocystus Deplisis journal
Monomorium ergatogyn Journal

And many Carnivorous plants such as:

Dionea (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) 

 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

#11 Offline GOCAMPONOTUS - Posted October 9 2024 - 5:07 PM

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The price doesnt really matter. I would still buy the bicarinata


  • RushmoreAnts likes this

Currently keeping: 2 C.vicinus colonies.2 C.sansabeanus. 1 C.leavissimus. 2 C.Ca02. 1 V.pergandei. 4 T.immigrans.1 F.pacifica. 1 C.hyatti

1 M.ergatognya

 

 

 

 

Trying to get my hands on :C.modoc,A.vercicolor, and Any Honeypots

  

 

 

#12 Offline bmb1bee - Posted October 9 2024 - 5:37 PM

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No doubt that Myrmecocystus are some of the most interesting ants out there. However... I have a hot take: Pheidole > Myrmecocystus in terms of how easy they are, growth, appearance, and personal appeal.


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#13 Offline GOCAMPONOTUS - Posted October 9 2024 - 6:46 PM

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I second that, not saying yo don't have experience but I would up that level by keeping a easier colony first and observing ect-


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Currently keeping: 2 C.vicinus colonies.2 C.sansabeanus. 1 C.leavissimus. 2 C.Ca02. 1 V.pergandei. 4 T.immigrans.1 F.pacifica. 1 C.hyatti

1 M.ergatognya

 

 

 

 

Trying to get my hands on :C.modoc,A.vercicolor, and Any Honeypots

  

 

 

#14 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted October 10 2024 - 8:15 AM

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I am for sure getting pheidole, this would just be a second species that I would purchase.


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I keep:

Pogonomyrmex Rugosus journal
Myrmecocystus Deplisis journal
Monomorium ergatogyn Journal

And many Carnivorous plants such as:

Dionea (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) 

 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

#15 Offline GOCAMPONOTUS - Posted October 10 2024 - 8:23 AM

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I would just stick with The P.bicarinate for now then buy the M.mexicanus later on.


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Currently keeping: 2 C.vicinus colonies.2 C.sansabeanus. 1 C.leavissimus. 2 C.Ca02. 1 V.pergandei. 4 T.immigrans.1 F.pacifica. 1 C.hyatti

1 M.ergatognya

 

 

 

 

Trying to get my hands on :C.modoc,A.vercicolor, and Any Honeypots

  

 

 

#16 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted October 10 2024 - 8:42 AM

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What about Novomessor Cockerelli?


I keep:

Pogonomyrmex Rugosus journal
Myrmecocystus Deplisis journal
Monomorium ergatogyn Journal

And many Carnivorous plants such as:

Dionea (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) 

 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

#17 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted October 15 2024 - 7:06 AM

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What about camponotus vicinus? What is their care?


I keep:

Pogonomyrmex Rugosus journal
Myrmecocystus Deplisis journal
Monomorium ergatogyn Journal

And many Carnivorous plants such as:

Dionea (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) 

 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

#18 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted October 15 2024 - 9:25 AM

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What about Novomessor Cockerelli?

 

What about camponotus vicinus? What is their care?

 

Of these two Novomessor cockerelli is easier to care for, though vicinus are not hard. They are both large and active, though Novmessor colonies will grow much faster. The only appeal for vicinus over cockerelli in my opinion would be some populations' polygyne. They are some of the largest polygynous ants in North America.


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#19 Offline AntsTx - Posted October 15 2024 - 9:51 AM

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I recommend getting Novomessor cockerelli as they are an easy species to keep, grow fast, and are just a fun species. If you want to get a Myrmecocystus you should try to catch one next season, but if you don’t want to do that, I recommend Myrmecocystus mexicanus as you said earlier. Camponotus vicinus is my least active colony of Camponotus, but that may be because of hibernation coming up.

Edited by AntsTx, October 15 2024 - 9:52 AM.

Currently Keeping:

Camponotus texanus x2                                             Pheidole obtusospinosa - Pupae

Camponotus vicinus - 15-20 workers                         Solenopsis xyloni x7 - Batch of eggs

Camponotus pennsylvanicus - 75-85 workers           Pheidole lamia - Batch of eggs

Crematogaster lineolata x4 - 40-50 workers

Dorymyrmex bureni - 3 workers

Solenopsis invicta - 10000-15000 workers

Formica spp. - 5 workers

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis x2

 

#20 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted October 15 2024 - 11:38 AM

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Do cockerelli also eat seeds, or is that just a Pogonomyrmex thing?


I keep:

Pogonomyrmex Rugosus journal
Myrmecocystus Deplisis journal
Monomorium ergatogyn Journal

And many Carnivorous plants such as:

Dionea (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) 

 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

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