ANTSTORE World of Ants

[ashhad1]

Hi everyone
I am thinking of buying the Camponotus ligniperda species but wanted to know before hand of what are there special features, e.g. how big are they, do they eat alot, are they easy to keep and other stuff.
Please help me if you know about these ants.
And also another question, are the Camponotus ligniperda same like the Camponotus herculea in behaviour and if not what is different?
I am pretty much a beginner and want to if these Camponotus ligniperda are suitable for me as i do want big ants
I hope someone can help me

[JimmyVe]

Hi ashhad1 and welcome.

Camponotus ligniperda are really nice ants and big to. But they are a little bit difficult to keep, easier would be a Lasius niger are something like that, to start of with and build up some experience. I now they are not that big but you better of starting small.

The different between this two i'm not sure. I only keep Camponotus ligniperda for now.

[ashhad1]

I do have some lasius niger and they are pretty cool and ty for your suggestion but I might try them out as they look very interesting.
By the way since you have these ants, can they live in british Weather as i am from England? The weather there is sometimes warm but mostly damp and rainy...
Also do these ants have any other un ordinary behaviours?
Id appreciate any help

[Stilton]

Hi ashhad

I have just started a colony of these and they are very nice ants indeed. Even the first workers are quite large so it is easy to see their anatomy and what they are doing. I am a beginner myself but from what I have read they are not as easy to keep as Lasius Niger or Myrmica Rubra for example. The colony also grows slowly so it is one for the patient.

Jimmy, I would be very interested (as would others, I'm sure) in hearing what special care this species needs and what problems can come up. Also, may I ask how long you have had your colony and what size it is now?

One think I'm a little concerned about for my new colony is the cool weather (20C). I am considering getting a radiant heater to warm a rock in the farm to bring it up to about 25C.

[JimmyVe]

Wel i'm guessing they can survive in England, with a bit of help.

In nature they most of the time live under big trees, they don't like getting wet so they search for dry places. they like it a bit hot, about 20-30°c in summer, maybe that can be a problem, but that you can fix with a heating device.

Ordinary behaviors... as a matter a fact, yes they have, mine are having one now. They carry some of the brood outside and leave it there without workers staying with it. Why i'm still trying to find out.

[ashhad1]

hehe funny behavoir but maybe they just trust your surrounding and judge is as safe maybe? They might put it at the top to warm them up for faster growing

[JimmyVe]

i wish it was true.

No if they put there larva outside to warm up (like much species do) they do not leave them by themselves, there are always workers nearby.

I have put the heating a but higher now and for now (these last 3 days) they left there larva inside.

[SteveUK28]

jimmy whats the best temp to hibernate camp. ligniperda??

[JimmyVe]

For hibernation, they are central Europe ants (common) so somewhere between 0-10°c, if you keep it at 7-8°c that would be perfect for them. But 10°c will also do the trick.

[SteveUK28]

the lower end of scale would be ok too??? as long as it dont go below say 2°c?

[ant dude]

For hibernation, they are central Europe ants (common) so somewhere between 0-10°c, if you keep it at 7-8°c that would be perfect for them. But 10°c will also do the trick.

steve read this again mate

btw i'm probaly gonna order some more c.lignerperda soon, so lets hope the queen is ok this time

[SteveUK28]

yeh i read it.. but mine are prob below that.. thats why i wanna know if its ok littledude...

[JimmyVe]

Well lets say if they are at 2°c it wont hurt them but it is better they don't stay at it for about 2 weeks, in nature temperature are also not always the same, one day it is 2°c another day 6°c. If you want to keep them on a steady temperature it would better be more up the scale. (let say between 6-10°c)

[SteveUK28]

thats ok then no never gonan be that low for that long

[ashhad1]

IM Hibernating my C Ligniperda now but inside next to a wall adjacent to our garden. There is a ventilation there which lets cold air form outside come in and thats were my ant basin is right next to. Unfortunatly the coldest temp it reaches is 16C with heating off in that area. But now I place them outside in morning and put them back in at 8ish or so. the temp during day 5C-12C and at night its 5C to -2C. not letting them outside at nite cuz i dont want them dead lol...

Il get a pictures of how i do it really soon