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luketheluke: New to ants - Formica (Serviformica) cinerea good starter? (20. Jun 2008 20:09)

Hi guys Ive been keeping insects all my life scorpions, spiders, mantids, stick insects and ive always wanted a proper ant farm so ive decided to go for it!

I bought a new tank from antstore http://www.antstore.net/shop/product_info.php/info/p848_ANTSTORE-Starter-Set---acrylfarm-arena.html

and I was wondering if Formica (Serviformica) cinerea are a good starter species? i know everyone says Lasius Niger but these are also central europeon so maybe there easy too? :D

also the tank came with some sand/loam mix and some red gravel stuff do i put this gravel in the bottom with the loam on top? and a tube going down so i can apply water to the bottom or do they not require this much humidity? also i read somwhere im supposed to wet the loam after i put it in to harden it a little?

thanks in advance! :grin:

tail__: (21. Jun 2008 09:07)

Yes, Formica cinerea is not harder to keep than Lasius niger. The only difficulty is they are much more nervous and are stressed by any knocking and trembling - the colony must be put in a calm, quiet place, and the formicarium should stay on something soft (like towel) to avoid "quakes".
They love heat and they usually nest in flat, sunny places, under heated rocks and concrete pavements. The colony will grow very fast in high temperature (25-30C). The nest must be moist, of course, if you can, try to make diversed humidity so they could choose which level they like.

luketheluke: (21. Jun 2008 13:30)

ahh right I just read there really aggressive so i thought they might have been a bit more interesting than lasius niger, is there any other good starter species that i could keep in this tank? :D

thanks guys

JimmyVe: (22. Jun 2008 14:14)

Hello Luketheluke and welcome.

It not that these ants are really hard to keep, only Lasius niger is easier because they adjust sooner and grow really fast.

There are much species you can keep in this tank. ;) You should look at some and see which ones you like. Than look what they prefer to live in and make for them a good home. ;)

Let us know who you are,
here .
Thanks !

luketheluke: (23. Jun 2008 19:46)

thanks for the replys guys :D I have gone with a myrmica ruginodis collony off a member here kiam cameron :D cant wait to get these i got there tank all ready :')

JimmyVe: (24. Jun 2008 16:39)

Good luck with them Luke. ;)
Feel free to post some picture of your setup and ants.
Don't forget, these ants prefer moist farms and like sweets very much.