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Ive liked ants for years I kept several L.Niger queens with success with eggs etc but my mum through them away by mistake so they never really started, ive also had L. Flavus I think it is ?
But im looking to start on Tuesday my own colony im looking to go for a queen with upto 100 workers however
I want to start a colony that containts SOLDIER ants also aswel as workers, I need to no what colony to choose that contains soldiers, and also what set up to buy and if any additional lighting is requiered?
Im currently a reptile keeper but ants just interest me ever since I saw the bitg leaf cutter colony in longleat zoo :) any help greatly appreciated but remember I want a colony with Soldiers ! i was pretty certain the english red ants had soldiers but upon looking here i seme to be proven wrong!
There is no significant polymorphism in English species.
Pheidole and some Camponotus exhibit clear dimorphism with distinct soldier and worker castes.
Leaf cutters and Messor species exhibit strong polymorphism with workers showing a range of sizes.
I would strongly advise you to try keeping UK species successfully for a while before you try any of the above.
L. niger or M. rubra/ruginodis would be a good bet. All of the above have either specific requirements or present containment problems.
It is not easy to keep ants and it takes practice.
I was thinking of Pheidole pallidula as there virutally same price of normal English species I have the funds available for lighting etc i was looking to buy an colony of upto 200 and a queen - would they not just get on with building there nesT?
Hello Cracksolja and welcome. :sign_welcome:
Pheidole pallidula has majors. They are not that hard to keep but need more care than Center European ants. They need heating and a nest that can be kept moist very well. If they get to dry the colony can die in a few days. Also they are master in escaping, small ants with strong jaws... ;)
They are great if you like to switch from European ants to exotic. It is always best if you have experience with European ants first. There is a lot of info on this forum about this species, look around and read about them. You can learn allot. ;)
Good luck.
So is there no escape proof tank I can keep them in ? I have heat matts and thermostats spare as I used them for lizards so heating if it can be used via a heat matt is no problem keeping moist is cool kinda similar to my toads then as they need a moisty humid atmosphere i think id really just need to no
1.Were exactly I spray
2.How many times p/day i spray them
How can I prevent escapes? any links you could provide would be great, looking to buy the £20 colony
Take a look here to start with. ;)
Keeping moist depends on the type of nest you have. First you have to decide which farm you are going to make (keep them in) and than look how to keep it moist and what is the best way to heat it.
Also check on the likes and dislikes of these species, that way you can adjust the farm to there needs.
If you have more questions feel free to ask.
you just need to keep the nest part moist not a moisty humid atmosphere as there not tropical ants and you can use PTFE to help prevent escapes
I feel like a noob now but whats PTFE, how does this prevent escapes? - can I used Heat matts and do i need any bulbs i will use the link provided also :)
PTFE
No problem, we all needed to start somewhere. ;) Sure do and read around at the rest off the forum to.
Still abit confused on how u use it ? lol my bad - also whats the best looking set up for these guys ive just been looking at pics they look cool and kind of seem simple to be honest, lighting ETC wont be an issue since I keep reps im constantly monitoring temps anyway, I think my main concerns are
Escaping as when I bought a log for my bearded dragon I had a nest of red ants somewere in it as I had them all over my room! not good
Really I want to be buy the bigger nest - but want to just make sure I buy all the stuff thats going to be ideal to keep there lives happy and on going ! sorry to be a pain