11 replies to this topic

[Bugdaddy]

Hello, friends!

For the last few days, I've been researching ants and their husbandries, as I want to get my very first queen! One thing I'm having difficulty finding are ants that are "Hardy" that are more tolerant of errors. I have a few GAN farmers in my area offering.

 

Solenopsis Molesta

Tetramorium spp

Lasius Neoniger

Pseudomyrmex pallidus

And Dorymyrmex insanus

(I have not look at this forum's marketplace yet, either.)

I was kind of wanting a slower growing colony, but I can handle a larger one.

Most importantly I was hoping to find hardier, less escapee types.


Hoping someone can provide some Colorado recommendations!

[Penguin]

I would not get solenopsis or lasius due to them being known(?) escape artists, I would recommend Tetramorium Sp. E, they are small but not tiny and they are not good climbers, I am not familiar with the other two ask a Colorado native or someone familiar with them.

 

 

If you want to catch a queen on her own, you will likely have to wait 'til next year since nuptial flight season is (almost) over.

[Connectimyrmex]

Dude, get Pseudomyrmex! They have excellent eyesight, thus making them very interesting and interactive pets. They are more likely to survive in a terrarium (all they need is hollow twigs/old atlas moth cocoons). They are also pretty awesome hunters (my old P. gracilis queen would hunt down termites her size and eat it whole). The only problem is their sting.

 

Pseudomyrmex doesn't really have a strong scent trail system, so escape is pretty rare.

[VoidElecent]

I believe Pseudomyrmex can be quite difficult to keep. I've hd lots of success with Dorymyrmex bureni, I suspect Dorymyrmex insanus would be similar.

[Connectimyrmex]

Huh. I've had lots of success with P. gracilis, but those were just founders.

[MegaMyrmex]

Pseudomyrmex are more wasp like and are bit more touchy and I believe coukd sting but in a natural setup they would look AWESOME. S. Molesta and L. Neoniger are escape artists and grow colonies fast. However, for both beginner and advanced keeper, the best is always Tetramorium- they adapt to almost any conditions, are very forgiving of escapes, grow colonies quickly, and are very voracipus feeders. However, the pseudomyrmex is not a bad choice either!

Edited by MegaMyrmex, October 28 2017 - 6:23 PM.

[Penguin]

Pseudomyrmex are more wasp like and are bit more touchy and I believe coukd sting but in a natural setup they would look AWESOME. S. Molesta and L. Neoniger are escape artists and grow colonies fast. However, for both beginner and advanced keeper, the best is always Tetramorium- they adapt to almost any conditions, are very forgiving of escapes, grow colonies quickly, and are very voracipus feeders. However, the pseudomyrmex is not a bad choice either!

 

He said it better than I ever could. 

[Connectimyrmex]

Tetramorium is okay, but they have explosive growth rates and are invasive. I tend to dislike fast growing species, because a huge colony gets sooooooo difficult to maintain. Also, it isn't worth buying tetramorium. They are too common in the summer.

[Bugdaddy]

Thanks, guys! I'll probably get that one, just to start my any keeping hobby.

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis apparently kujawa on this forum has this species. Any opinions on this genus, at least?

[MrPurpleB]

Thanks, guys! I'll probably get that one, just to start my any keeping hobby.

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis apparently kujawa on this forum has this species. Any opinions on this genus, at least?

Sounds like a great choice! Pogonomymrex are typically easy to keep and forgiving at times. I used to own a colony of P.Californicus at first they ate their brood. I was worried that the colony was not going to make, but in a few months the colony was bursting with workers. 

Edited by MrPurpleB, October 28 2017 - 9:48 PM.

[Connectimyrmex]

I want Pogono's so bad, but the only way to get them in CT is to buy the workers in an ant farm kit

[Bugdaddy]

If I do go hunt for my own queens. Anyone have any opinions for Hypoponera opacior or Prenolepis imparis? Or their genus' in general? Apparently their nuptial flights are this month and December, according to https://nuptialfligh...antkeeping.wiki