Camponotus nicobarensis

[Lewis]

Hi,
Recently I have sold all my ants including my Camponotus ligniperdus [lignis] and Pheidole and a few others. This was to save up for one more ant colony which I have just ordered from an English base site that in port Thai ant species. I have ordered a colony of 2 queens and around 50 workers. They should be arriving tomorrow or on Wednesday. I will keep them in a simple out world and a large y-tong as I have seen on many other websites that they grow fast in the right conditions (1 month egg to worker).

[Mod; I edited the species name like it made the most sence, to Camponotus ligniperdus]

[Ukantzz]

Nice I want to use a similar set up for my Messor barbarus only I would glue the ytong to the tank, but what species did you get?

[Lewis]

cool, I had Messor barbarus for a while too in an up right y-tong. they are quit difficult to start out though (for me). I am keeping Camponotus nicobarensis

[Ukantzz]

This will be my first time keeping Messor barbarus and was wandering if you could give me some pointers in the right direction...

By the way good luck with your new ants as you have given up a lot in order to get them

[Lewis]

Ok, well the best advice i can give you is to keep them in a tut tube for a while until the colony is around 20-30 workers, that way they will be strong enough when they go into a larger habitat. Also, read every single thing about Messor barbarus on this site and others the gain as much knowledge prior to getting the ants. Feed them on grass seeds and other stuff like that, maybe walnuts. they do take insects as well but mainly seeds and honey water.

[Andie]

Good luck Lewis, please keep us updated with their progress

[Lewis]

Will do Andie just found out that the place where I have bought them are importing them in April and they will be delivered on 15th April, of coarse this is a bit annoying but by the time I get them they will apparently have had an increase in workers and have a large number of cocoons and other brood.

[Ukantzz]

Thanks for the info lewis really helped and good luck hope you get the result of a happy healthy colony

[Lewis]

Hey guys,

The dealer has just sent me a photo of my colony which is in Thailand at the moment but will be imported and sent to me in April.
Here it is.

Lewis

[Andie]

I'm excited for you bet you can't wait....

[Lewis]

I know, I can't wait, they also apparently one of the easiest exotic species to keep and the the best first exotic species to keep.

[Ukantzz]

Plz keep us updated

[Lewis]

Well, the seller has informed me that he will be sending me my ants on Wednesday 11th April and should arrive on Thursday 12th. .

[Lewis]

The seller just sent me a email telling me that the ants have been sent this mourning and will be hear tomorrow!!
the set up is ready and i have added one more tank on because these ant grow fast and the more room the better.
Photos soon:)

They just arrived and I placed their tube in the out world. They all came swarming out and started drinking honey water and eating a spider. There are around 100 workers with 2 queens and loads of brood. one worker has gone down the tube to the larger out world and explored it and returned. They have all move into the leaf litter and have started moving it around. I hope they don't stay there, but I don't think they will be able for much longer anyway. a couple of workers have gone up the stick to the tube leading to the Y-tong but turned back. Their were many callow ants and a huge clump of freshly laid eggs. when all the pupae have hatched the colony will be at around 120 workers.

[Lewis]

update