ANTSTORE World of Ants

[sithmaster676]

how hard is this species of ant to keep as im looking for a more exotic species to keep compared to what i have crrently
Sithmaster676

[Skippy]

This blandus is not hard to keep ,he need only food (insects) and honeywater ... temperature about 24-27´C and humidity in normal ... it is very good and nice specie

[sithmaster676]

so maybe a heat lamp is needed and placed on a certain part of the nest ?
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

in deed Skippy, this colony is a bit bigger than yours. I'm going to move them soon (if i find the time)

They are not so hard to keep (like Skippy said) but they need constant heating and they do not keep hibernation so they need care the hole year long.

[sithmaster676]

i really would like a colony that doesn't hibernate as it keeps me interested throughout the year, so if i were to buy this species how would i arrange heating e.g heat mat or heat lamp because I'm quite interested in this species.
also how big does these species get and would an aerated concrete block be suitable home.
Also where can you buy this species as antstore don't sell them.
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

You could use a heat mat ore a heating lamp that is up to you, i use heat lamps but i'm switching to heat maps now. They are a bit smaller than Camponotus vagus size in mm i don't know. You could keep them in a aerated concrete block.

In deed antstore do not sell this species. I have them from a friend and Skippy has them from me.

[Skippy]

In deed ... I never bought something from shops ... all ants are from nature and from my friends

...Camponotus vagus is more bigger like blandus Jimmy !
Queen of blandus: 14mm
Worker blandus : 6-11mm

Skippy

[sithmaster676]

ok thanks for all your help guys, i have another question when using a heat mat would i place it on part of the nest or the arena as i know the colony has to have a bit where they can cool off ??
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

@ Skippy: That is why i said, they are a bit smaller.

The best way is to put the heat mat on the nest, half the nest, so if it gets to hot they can go to a colder place. It would be nice to heat up the out world also, but the imported thing is the nest because the brood needs the heating to hatch.

[sithmaster676]

ok throughout the summer the arena will be warm because of the heat but throughout the winter i may have to use a lid to keep in some heat or use another mat. do you know whether these mats can be placed into water? and if not i will use a fish tank heater to heat the moat around my arena
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

hmm. i don't know any mats that can be placed in water, but maybe there are such mats (don't know).
You could place a mat on the nest and use for the arena a heat lamp.

[sithmaster676]

ok thanks jimmy, i where would i place the heat mat? on top of the aerated block glass, and if so would this increase the humidity in the nest, also if i were to get one if these mats i would buy myself a control thermometer so that the mats stops after the block has reached the desired temp.
Sithmaster676

[Purifier]

I belive you could put the heat mat into water because its fully seald. But i wouldn´t put it completely into the water

[Skippy]

I have some system like that in my terarium for Acromyrmex. There is water tank and inside is aqua water heater. It making hot ,and also humidity. It is like radiator. You also can put part of ytong nest into tank with this heater... wet ytong and not cold

[sithmaster676]

yeah that might be a good idea to add a small fish tank heater into the water around my ytong so that the water entering is warm instead of having a heat mat but then you cant have a cold patch for the ants to retreat to
Sithmaster676