AOTR: Which Starter Kit? (6. Apr 2009 21:34)

I'll be buying the stuff for my first ant colony.. What stuff should I buy?

Phasmid: Re: Which Starter Kit? (6. Apr 2009 22:47)

That depends on quite alot of things. What spec. do you intend to get?

AOTR: Re: Which Starter Kit? (6. Apr 2009 22:57)

i was thinking about Alpha Ants Starter Set - A

jartok: Re: Which Starter Kit? (6. Apr 2009 23:19)

and what ants

AOTR: Re: Which Starter Kit? (6. Apr 2009 23:27)

Lasius niger would be best, i assume.

jartok: Re: Which Starter Kit? (6. Apr 2009 23:30)

yeh thats fine for them just dont expect to see much for first year or so unless u buy a well established colony u can keep lasius niger in test tube for first 1.5 too 2 years makes seeing them easier and can see queen and eggs also

AOTR: Re: Which Starter Kit? (6. Apr 2009 23:31)

anything special i should know about keeping an ant colony? i know theres matters like keeping tank moist ect, but any other major things?

jartok: Re: Which Starter Kit? (6. Apr 2009 23:32)

with L asius niger u just need to provide the basics moisture - food ( honey and crickets ) and some sugar and keep there nest dark

and dont forget to hibernate them in september to march between 5c - 8c

also use ptfe on the formicurium to prevent escapes

get some big feeding trays with cotton in them for water or they drown

JimmyVe: Re: Which Starter Kit? (8. Apr 2009 20:33)

Hello AOTR and welcome to the forum.

Best way to keep a small colony is in a test tube. You can keep them there until they have +- 100 workers. Connect the tube to an out world where you can feed them. If the colony gets to big for the tube you can move them to a setup.

There is a lot of information here at the forum about keeping ants, read a bit and use the search engine, if you still have questions later feel free to ask. :)

Good luck.