10 replies to this topic

[Billi]

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to set up a series of formicaria for various ant species, and I’d love some advice on the best setup given my space limitations.

My Setup Constraints:

I have shelves with space for about 10 formicaria, 10 nests, and 10 arenas. Space is very limited, so I need to optimize the layout as much as possible.

I plan to keep a variety of ant species, meaning I’ll have different colony sizes and worker sizes, from small to large and from calm to highly active species.

Two Setup Options I’m Considering:

Option 1: A single arena (20x20x10 cm or possibly 20x20x20 cm) connected via a 20mm tube to a 20x20x4 nest.

Option 2: Two smaller arenas (20x10x10 cm each), stacked vertically, connected via a 20mm tube, and also connected via another tube to the same 20x20x4 nest.

My Main Concerns:

Will these setups be sufficient as the colonies expand?

Which option is better for the ants’ well-being, considering their comfort and space requirements?

Should I reconsider and build larger formicaria from the start, even though that would mean keeping fewer colonies?

I want to plan this once and do it right. Right now, my shelves are already set up, and they limit me to these two options. If the setups turn out to be too small, I’d have to rebuild the shelves, which might not be possible.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Which setup would work better in the long run, or should I rethink my entire approach?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Edited by Billi, February 8 2025 - 10:40 AM.

[Ants_Dakota]

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to set up a series of formicaria for various ant species, and I’d love some advice on the best setup given my space limitations.

My Setup Constraints:

I have shelves with space for about 10 formicaria, 10 nests, and 10 arenas. Space is very limited, so I need to optimize the layout as much as possible.

I plan to keep a variety of ant species, meaning I’ll have different colony sizes and worker sizes, from small to large and from calm to highly active species.

Two Setup Options I’m Considering:

Option 1: A single arena (20x20x10 cm or possibly 20x20x20 cm) connected via a 20mm tube to a 20x20x4 nest.

Option 2: Two smaller arenas (20x10x10 cm each), stacked vertically, connected via a 20mm tube, and also connected via another tube to the same 20x20x4 nest.

My Main Concerns:

Will these setups be sufficient as the colonies expand?

Which option is better for the ants’ well-being, considering their comfort and space requirements?

Should I reconsider and build larger formicaria from the start, even though that would mean keeping fewer colonies?

I want to plan this once and do it right. Right now, my shelves are already set up, and they limit me to these two options. If the setups turn out to be too small, I’d have to rebuild the shelves, which might not be possible.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Which setup would work better in the long run, or should I rethink my entire approach?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Hello Billi,
This is a great question, and one that many long time ant keepers struggle with. I have a few pieces of advice and a setup idea that could work.

1. I have shelves with space for about 10 formicaria, 10 nests, and 10 arenas. The definition of how large a formicarium or outworld is is highly dependent on where you get them, so could you specify the dimensions?
2. Will these setups be sufficient as the colonies expand? In all theory, having one large outworld will house any size ant colony forever with fluon or baby powder, but I think it is really important to grow the space as your ants grow, which is your concern. In my experience, having one outworld is much more manageable, realistic, and future-oriented than having two. Most ant keepers who have two do so because they cannot get the ants out of the first one to replace it. I think your first option is the best one.
3. Which option is better for the ants’ well-being, considering their comfort and space requirements? Here is where things get tricky, though. Getting tall outworlds is quite difficult, as most companies sell longer horizontal ones. If the most space efficient option is stacking outworlds, you will want some that stack securely. I am not sure how many companies sell stackable outworlds, but you can look at the ones I make here: https://www.formicul...pping/?p=162209. Again, though, having one large outworld is more aesthetically pleasing and realistic if you have the space for it. Even a small colony benefits from a large outworld, just as small animals in the zoo benefit from large cages. The more similar you can get the outworlds to the ants natural habitat (which in this case is quite large, as ants can range far), the better in my opinion.
4. Should I reconsider and build larger formicaria from the start, even though that would mean keeping fewer colonies? I would highly recommend starting out small. I know it is tempting to want to get ready for the population boom as soon as possible, but ants often become stressed when housed in formicaria that are too large for them, not to mention that colonies will trash empty sections of their nest if it is too big. Start small with a test tube, and go from their. Personally, once my colonies get workers, I put their test tube into one of my outworlds and leave them in the test tube until they have 30 ish workers. Only then do I move them into a small sized formicarium. You will need to clarify what size colonies you have currently, though.

It is difficult to fully anticipate how big the colonies will get, but I truly recommend just focusing keeping the colonies alive before putting too much brainpower into what happens when they get big. So few members on this forum even have colonies big enough to fit on a shelf, so worry about that when the time comes and enjoy your colonies now!
Ants_Dakota

Edited by Ants_Dakota, February 8 2025 - 1:54 PM.

[Billi]

Hello Ants_Dakota,

Thanks for your response! I really appreciate the detailed insights.

Regarding the dimensions, I actually provided them in my original post, but just to clarify:

Nest: ~7.87 x 7.87 x 1.57 inches

Arena Option 1: ~7.87 x 7.87 x 3.94 inches or ~7.87 x 7.87 x 7.87 inches

Arena Option 2: Two smaller arenas, each ~7.87 x 3.94 x 3.94 inches, stacked vertically


Your advice about starting small and expanding gradually makes a lot of sense. I definitely don’t want to rush into large setups too early if that might stress the colonies. At the same time, I want to ensure my shelving system is optimized for future growth so that I don’t need to rebuild everything later.

I understand that a single large outworld is often more practical for keepers, but my main focus is what’s better for the ants themselves in terms of their natural behaviors, movement patterns, and long-term colony development.

So my key question is:

Which setup is actually better from the ants' perspective?

Would a single larger arena (~7.87 x 7.87 x 3.94 inches or ~7.87 x 7.87 x 7.87 inches) provide a more natural environment?

Or would having two smaller but separate arenas (~7.87 x 3.94 x 3.94 inches each, stacked) be more interesting for them in terms of exploration and activity?


I personally prefer the stacked two-arena setup since it fits my shelving layout best. However, I can also accommodate the larger single arena (~7.87 x 7.87 x 3.94 inches) without needing to rebuild everything. If one option is significantly better for the ants' well-being, I’d rather make the right choice from the start.

Also, considering that I’m starting with Messor barbarus, Harpegnathos venator, and Odontomachus rixosus, would my chosen arena sizes still be suitable for their long-term development? Or should I rethink my approach before finalizing my setup?

Thanks again for your time and advice!

Best,
Sebastian

[rptraut]

Hello Billie;

I keep many of my colonies in “all in one” setups - nest and outworld in one container. For me, this method has turned out to be a real space saver and a good way to start small colonies. I can keep many small colonies on one shelf this way. It’s hard to predetermine how big colonies will get and how quickly they will get there. I’ve found that using a flexible shelving system allows me to modify it as the colonies grow.

In nature, few ants live in a flat, featureless environment. If you want to make an outworld more interesting and fun for your ants, consider adding some plastic plants and flowers, rocks, sticks etc and make use of the 3-dimensional space available in a container. I prefer to do this instead of adding additional outworlds.

If you’re concerned about a colony outgrowing their space, consider reducing their numbers by culling. By doing this you can keep a colony to a size that’s suitable for the container. This way you can maintain your colonies size and number for the shelf space you have available. Good luck and enjoy your time!
RPT

[ANTdrew]

I would also highly recommend limiting the number of colonies you keep if space is an issue. A few well cared for colonies will be more rewarding in the long run than lots of colonies cramped for space and care.

[Miles]

I would also highly recommend limiting the number of colonies you keep if space is an issue. A few well cared for colonies will be more rewarding in the long run than lots of colonies cramped for space and care.

Having a handful of well-cared-for ant colonies in beautiful setups is a hugely underrated mode of ant keeping. I've reduced my non-research collection to a selection of favorite colonies and it's been a major quality of life improvement for me and for the ants. Allows you to fully invest in each colony.

Edited by Miles, February 9 2025 - 5:58 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

I would also highly recommend limiting the number of colonies you keep if space is an issue. A few well cared for colonies will be more rewarding in the long run than lots of colonies cramped for space and care.

Having a handful of well-cared-for ant colonies in beautiful setups is a hugely underrated mode of ant keeping. I've reduced my non-research collection to a selection of favorite colonies and it's been a major quality of life improvement for me and for the ants. Allows you to fully invest in each colony.

I absolutely agree. If showing off your colonies on a custom shelf is your end goal, maintaining a single outworld is probably the best option. In my mind, similar to what Miles mentioned, unless you are keeping larger quantities of colonies for research or sale, stacking nests is never the best idea for ease of care and viewability. Sometimes the best use of space is leaving space open so that the colony and the environment you create draws your viewers eyes in.

Edited by Ants_Dakota, February 9 2025 - 6:52 PM.

[Billi]

Thank you for all the suggestions! The idea of decorating the arenas in a way that provides more space for the ants is great—I’ve already ordered some flowers, bridges, stones, sticks, and other decoration elements.

As for the number of colonies, it's really hard to limit myself because there are so many fascinating ant species—Messor barbarus, which collect seeds, Harpegnathos venator, which are amazing hunters, plus all the different behaviors, sizes, and castes… It would be easy to keep a lot of them! But maybe it's better to focus on 4-5 of the most interesting and favorite ones rather than spreading attention too thin.

I also understand the advice about starting with smaller formicariums, but I’m building a shelf setup with long-term planning in mind and want to prepare everything properly from the start. I’d rather invest in high-quality arenas that will last for years. Of course, I know that new colonies will start in test tubes, then move to small plastic arenas, but once they grow, I want to have a well-thought-out space ready for them.

So my main question is: would it be better to go with one 20x20x10 cm arena or two smaller 20x10x10 cm arenas?

I was also intrigued by the mention of population control through reducing the number of workers. Could you share more details about this?

[Ants_Dakota]

Thank you for all the suggestions! The idea of decorating the arenas in a way that provides more space for the ants is great—I’ve already ordered some flowers, bridges, stones, sticks, and other decoration elements.

As for the number of colonies, it's really hard to limit myself because there are so many fascinating ant species—Messor barbarus, which collect seeds, Harpegnathos venator, which are amazing hunters, plus all the different behaviors, sizes, and castes… It would be easy to keep a lot of them! But maybe it's better to focus on 4-5 of the most interesting and favorite ones rather than spreading attention too thin.

I also understand the advice about starting with smaller formicariums, but I’m building a shelf setup with long-term planning in mind and want to prepare everything properly from the start. I’d rather invest in high-quality arenas that will last for years. Of course, I know that new colonies will start in test tubes, then move to small plastic arenas, but once they grow, I want to have a well-thought-out space ready for them.

So my main question is: would it be better to go with one 20x20x10 cm arena or two smaller 20x10x10 cm arenas?

I was also intrigued by the mention of population control through reducing the number of workers. Could you share more details about this?

Population control is fairly straight forward, although there are more or less humane methods to go about it. A cheap vacuum does the job well, although it is less humane then freezing, for example. I often fed excess ants to my fish as well, and they loved them. If you do desire to keep more colonies, this is probably the way to go to keep them manageable but healthy.

[Billi]

Thanks for the insight! I was wondering—does removing ants this way cause any stress to the rest of the colony? Since ants communicate with each other, could this have any negative impact on their behavior or overall colony health?

[rptraut]

Hello Billi;

I have a four year old Camponotus colony that I keep in an all in one setup. I don’t want the colony to get so large that I have to expand their setup because I want to be able to easily transport them for demonstration purposes. I can tell when it’s time to remove some ants because their escape attempts become more frequent. This seems to me to be a stressful time for the colony.

To remove the older ants, I connect a small cube to the setup and the excess ants soon move in. When around 60 ants are in the cube, I remove it and place it in the freezer. According to many sources this is the most humane way to euthanize ants. I don’t feed these dead ants to other ants as I fear transferring harmful pathogens. I put them in the garbage.

I’m always amazed at the change in behaviour of the colony when I remove excess ants, literally overnight. No more wall climbing and the colony settles back down to the business of foraging and raising brood. Their stress level seems reduced and so is mine!

Unfortunately I’m not at home right now so I don’t have the ability to provide you with a link, but if you enter “culling” into the search bar you’ll find more information on this subject. If you’re just beginning your ant keeping adventure it’ll be a while before you have to deal with overpopulation. Don’t get too far ahead of yourself by overthinking. Deal with problems when they arise. We’re always here to help.
RPT