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Hi, I'm a biology teacher at a small school and I've been dreaming of trying to set up a formicarium as a "project" with my students. Can you advise me a species that would be easy to keep (I have no experience) but interesting for kids? It looks like L.niger is a good option but they are quite small - are there any bigger ones but just as easy?
Formica fusca would be a good choice. The workers are 4-7mm long, compared to 3-5mm of L. niger.
I would recommend L.Niger if you have no experience, They may not be all that big but are wonderfull ants to watch, they will also grow fast so you'll have a nice big colony quite soon. Best of luck whateva you decide.
Lasius Niger are definitly the easier option, having said that, as you have probly more resources than the average starter, then pherhaps a tropical Camponotus species would be good, they dont need a huge amount of special care, only a good setup, with heating and humidity checks
Pherhaps it could be a good project for the pupils, to design the formicarium based on research of where they live, what they eat, and how they build there nest?
Certainlly dont jump in feet first! Do plenty of research, ask questions :) we'll be happy to help!
As it goes, i'm writing a short book on careing for the easier types of exotic ant, you may be interested in, depending on when you are planning on getting the colony...its got some nice pics, aswell as point-by-point plans for designing a formicarium for a specific species, based on research by the reader (ie it doesnt just tell you what to do, it gets you to investigate it, and work it out for yourself, but with plenty of hints)
Also something important to think about, what will happen to them during the holidays?
2 days in a hot tank without water will kill your colony! more than a few weeks without protien and sugar will stunt and damage your colony....but its not recomended that you move your nest around to much, so you need to come up with a design that will cause as little stress to the ants during movemnets as possible
Also, you need an ant species that can put up with a bit of stress from being looked at and noise....many Camponotus are good for this, some however are not
Also if you get a European species, you will have to hibernate them, this is very important, and takes about 4-6 weeks of droping the temp, then 3-5months hibernation, then 4-6 weeks raising the temp again
just some thoughts
excellent project tho :-)
thanks a lot for all these ideas/thoughts. There is a lot to plan and foresee!
miszt, I'd be very interested in your book! When is it published?
Looks like we'd possibly need a tropical species that doesn't need hybernation.
I count on training security guards provide basic care during the holidays.
Are there any not-terribly-expensive climate-controlled formicaria for ants? Like maybe some sort of a thermostat with a humidity sensor? Trying to asseble one could be part of my project.
They are easy enough to build, book will be published at the end of Feb, gives lots of info on that ;)
Hello kirillovp and welcome.
If you are looking for a exotic species i would recommend a Camponotus species. It would help if you had some experience. ;)
Like miszt said, read a bit here at the forum, plenty of good information. If you still have questions, just ask. ;)
Let is know who you are,
here
Maybe we'll try to get both Lasius and Camponotus. Though, sound like a tropical Componotus is a better option (faster growth, no hybernation). Will be waiting for one available in the store!
If your going with a Camponotus id recommend Substitutus which has beautiful markings and is fairly easy to keep. If you do keep Lasius Niger it could be really good for you to create satalite nests around the classroom all linked together :)
Anyways let us know what you decide and if you need any more advise, and best wishes.
Many connected nests was the plan! :grin:
We were even thinking of making nests in different rooms and connecting thim with pipes.
Would it work faster with a few queens or different "clans" would fight?