JimmyVe: (19. Aug 2007 11:06)

What's the Aphaenogaster's specialty?

I don't keep them myself but a friend of mine does,
he told me they grow really fast, he has the colony for about a year and already he has about 1000 workers. ;)

mpir: (19. Aug 2007 12:24)

... what makes them interesting; a perfect opportunity to plug your favourite ants...

I started with a small M. barbarus colony Q+5. I guess what makes them so fascinating is their polimorfism. First you have just small ants - little bigger than L. niger workers. But then you start to notice bigger and bigger larvae and pupae. And it is exciting every time you see a bigger larvae or pupae and you wonder how big ant is it gonna be this time. Right now I'm at Q+ 55 and there is really big pupae in the nest and I can't wait for it to hatch and see how big worker is it going to be. You are never boared with this ants, I guess.

@Morbidmike

I give them a mix of seeds for small birds. Some they manage to eat and some not yet. They love dandalion seeds. My colony is making a lot of ant bread recently - maybe they are preparing for winter. :wink:
I never give them sweet water. I was adviced to not feed this species with sweet water. They seem to be doing fine without it. They do have constant supply of drinking water. I tried to feed them with fruits several time but they do not show much interest in it. My colony also loves a big meaty fly every now and then.

Varban: (19. Aug 2007 18:16)

Mpir can you put a pic of the antbread if you can? Is it stored in chambers or?

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