15 replies to this topic

[Roachant]

Hi guys!

I was just wondering what the oldest colony you have kept was. I read online that the record for a single ant queen in captivity is 22 years (Lassus species) and I was wondering if any of you fellow ant keepers have had colonies last for a long time.
Don

[T.C.]

Honestly, the oldest colony I had was two years old. Caught the colony in a log. Camponotous Pennsylvanicus. I could have kept them longer, but they were tunneling in the plaster formicarium I made and I was rather sick of never seeing them. So I took it outside and busted it open. Quite the colony in there, however oddly enough I never seen them come out too forage. So it made me wonder what in the world they were eating?

Edited by T.C., March 8 2017 - 9:21 AM.

[Nathant2131]

I think the longest recorded was actually 29 or 30 years.

[Roachant]

I think the longest recorded was actually 29 or 30 years.

Wow, even longer! Gotta be amazed at a creature that is likely no bigger that inch long could live far longer than any dog or cat.

[Nathant2131]

 

I think the longest recorded was actually 29 or 30 years.

Wow, even longer! Gotta be amazed at a creature that is likely no bigger that inch long could live far longer than any dog or cat.

 

I know. Before I got into this hobby, if I had to guess their lifespan I'd say a few months at the most haha.

[Alabama Anter]

I have a 1 year old P. pallidula xD

[MrPurpleB]

I have a a five month colony Pogonomyrmex colony, does that count? 

[ctantkeeper]

I have a Lasius neoniger colony that is going on it's second year.

Edited by ctantkeeper, March 8 2017 - 1:22 PM.

[Leo]

2016-08-10 till 2017-03-9

my camponotus nicobaensis

Edited by Leo, March 8 2017 - 5:26 PM.

[AntsMAN]

I've have a Camponotus novaboracansis colony going on 2 1/2 years. I had three but I found after they made it to a certain point they started to have problems, I've had a few of them just die off for no apparent reason.

I've had a few different colonies make it past the 1 year mark. After a while I realized that getting  a colony to live over 10 years is a major accomplishment, and the odds are low.

[Roachant]

My tetramorium colony is going on three years. I recently woke them up from hibernation and they are doing very well. I will have to give them more room soon as they are getting very cramped in their current formicarium.

[Canadian anter]

All my colonies are under a year old

[Socalfireants]

there's been a Pogonomyrmex californicus nest in my neighborhood for going on ten years now I think. My neighbor said the nest was there when he moved in, which was probably around 10 years ago. Just recently i noticed the nest being raided by a small black ant species, probably Dorymrymex insanus. 

[Superant33]

Two colonies of C. sayi. Each over a decade old. I think about 12 years old. Two honey pot (M. mimicus) that are about 5 years old. I had one invicta colony for 5-7 years. Didn't keep track of the dates.

[Martialis]

Technically speaking, I captured a founding colony of Camponotus chromaiodes which had around six workers. This particular species flies mostly in April, making the colony around a year old. 

 

The colony I've kept longest are my Tetramorium.

[Siddharth]

the longest i've kept an ant colony is my first colony: a Solenopsis geminata which lasted 3 months after the first workers enclosed. named them the Gemini Empire cause it had two queens.