ANTSTORE World of Ants

[kashmir79]

I am Considering Buying Atta Ants say around about Christmas time and was wondering

on the store it says Shipping time ; Unavailable

now does that mean theres no info on how long it should take or just that the Ant is not in stock

Thanks Very much, Ryan

[Skippy]

They´ll swarming sometimes at September/October I think ,I also want Atta ants ,but I think on start is better Acromyrmex (if you want leafcutters) ,Atta is for proffesionals ,believe me ,it is better if at mistake will dead acromyrmex like expensive and nice Atta ,if you understand

[JimmyVe]

Leafcutters are in deed difficult and expensive ants (not only to buy also to feed) Atta colonies get very big. Acromyrmex colonies stay a bit smaller.

[kashmir79]

Acromyrmex ill go for then

cheers guys !

[Skippy]

I also think it is hard to keep (Acromyrmex) ,you are new here and I am not sure If you have experience to keep them ,dont have much info about you

[JimmyVe]

In deed, it is not that they are easier to keep than Atta.

They need good humidity and a good temperature. (also for the fungus, not only for the ants) I do not know if you have much experience, but if you like to keep these ants you need a lot.

[kashmir79]

if i get the right equipment etc

i think i may be ok to do it, i really would just like one Queen and let her start the Colony off to see how things go

[willi461]

My opionion to Atta and Acromyrmex if you want to see more get Atta only if you have space and a lot of tanks for them.But Acromyrmex do get big once their fungus is bigger.What i mean is that once its avergae sized (soccer ball) it will go pretty fast.
Also you can control a colonies growth by ajusting the leaves they get.
You can keep an Atta funungues at tennisball size for a year and the conony will stay small enough to keep in one single tank.If you feed daily of course they will get huge.
Personally i dont really agree to the poeple that say you "need a lot of experience" nothiong against you but as long as you watch the temp. and humidity its quite easy. i had leaf cutting ants as my second ant species right after Myrmica rubra.
Make sure that you have a very secure lid to cuz mine like and tend to go to the corner with silikon and peel off the tape with Ptfe on it to get out.
Just my personal tips from the experince i have from mine.
And no critics plz...

[kashmir79]

thanks, you brought my Confidence back

do you think Ant store would sell A queen to me or is there anyone else willing to sell an Atta Queen

Regards

[Necturus]

More important then experience is looking into the Future. There was a list of one keeper who had several thousand workers after 2 years. what is it gonna be like in 5 years, or in 10? How many more tanks do you plan to buy before you decide you wont spend more money and space on them? Not that they are gonna listen and stop growin...
In nature, the mounts of single atta colonies are used as landmarks... how would you ever fit that in a single room?
Necturus

[Dr.House]

@willi461: You should get experience with a local ant not because you then will know what an exotic one needs (how should you learn that from a local ant ^^) but you will know if it is the right hobby for you, after one year and holidays you will know what to do when you leave two weeks for holidays (someone has to take care of em) you will know how to prepare your Formicarium, to stop them escaping and much more things.

And after one or two years you will be ready for exotic ants, you have collected loads of knowledge from reading and by taking care of ants.
I think that is meant by "having experience" ... and that's the reason why no one should start with exotic ants ... . Everyone makes mistakes, why doing them with expensive exotic ants? Ant colonies become big and very old sometimes ... over five years. it's not that easy to give them away when you have three tanks full of Atta. Also you can't put them into nature, not only that they would die, but they may carry parasites and such which can have major infects on local environment.

Although, nobody may stop you from buying exotic ants, but it would be better making experiences with local species and if you know how to handle em we will be glad to help you on your next projects.

greetings

[Skippy]

I think Dr.House and Necturus says right.

I started with exotic ants afte 6 years with local ants ,so I got much of experience with it. And it is really true ,exotic ants needs your experience and colonies growing fast ,I received 3 months ago one camponotus 1 queen and ca 100 workers ,now? ,1 queen and maybe 400 workers ,AFTER 3 MONTHS ! ,and it is Camponotus ,and they growing slower like other species. And in my experience ,Atta colonies growing fast ,so if is Camponotus slowly ,what is Atta ? ,500 workers per month or what? ... I think and we can also see ,leaf cutter ants are for professionals ,which has experience with exotic and local ants ,also with exotic animal (spiders ,geckons) . So ... wait with it ,,, I ordering only now my first Acromyrmex for example ... I think is better if will dead some local ant or some cheaper ant ,no atta or acro.
I think you´ll understand this text

Thanks for your reading

Skippy

[JimmyVe]

I must stick with the last tree post one this. There are always people who can not wait to buy exotic ants, it up to you to decide, but i also think you need a bit off experience to keep them. How much is up to you, if you think you can handle them it fine by me, but like Necturus said, look in to the future.