ANTSTORE World of Ants

[armyoforigin]

Hey all!

This is my second post on this forum and the first new topic I have posted!
I have read through the things that tell you what to do, but still if I do something wrong I am sorry!

Anyway!

Well a friend of mine has told me of a large vivarium that is no longer used, which I can, apparently, have for free!

From what I have been told it has a lid and is rather huge! 1m long MINIMUM!

Of course what I want to put in it is ants!

I am just wondering what ant species you guys (And gals of course!) think would be good in here?

I suppose I should put what I am 'looking for' in said ants!

Well....:
Active
Aggressive
(It would be nice to have some big ants, but not a must as all ants rock)
Large colony
Cheap



I do not exactly have a lot of money =(
But yes apart from that I would love say weaver ants or leaf cutters.... But they are a bit too expensive AND I am sure I could not provide what they need, as the tank has no heater etc...

I was thinking Tetramorium.... As they seem aggressive !

Also I would be after a rather established colony, as though my ants are amazing they have rather tiny colonies!
And besides that I want to make full use of the space in the tank!

Anywhere I could get some ants like these, and general opinions would be greatly appreciated!

P.s. The best thing would be if someone has an ant colony that has outgrown a smaller set up, I would probably be able to scrounge up enough money for an unwanted colony!

Thank you all in advance for any help!

[SteveUK28]

Well big tank.. not much money.. large ant that can be aggressive.. I'd say camponotus ligniperda. or maybe even myrmica rubra... the ligniperda you could make a nest in a log, so they wouldnt have to dog.. could even put some glass on the log so u can still see the nest.. some people have already done that here.

[armyoforigin]

Yes I have looked at Ligniperda, and it would be nice to see the nest!

But then i would feel it was a waste of the tank!

I would want a relatively large colony, as I already have small ones and want something a bit more established!

All the Ligniperda colonies on antstore (And that I have seen) are small, and besides the fact that small colonies have a much smaller survival rate than large ones, I would want a more established, active colony.

But yes, an established Ligniperda colony would be great!
Then again an established colony of any ant would be wonderful, as all ants rock

Myrmica Rubra seem to be a great species, hardy, stingy (hehe), and aggressive....

But again, I would want a rather largish colony!
And antstore I believe have some... However I do not have that much money =(

Thanks for the feedback!

[mzfckr]

messor barbarus- cheap, cool, active, big caste system, they grow fast and big.

[armyoforigin]

Yes they sound wonderful, but I have heard of a lot of failure with small colonies, and that is why I am reluctant to get Messors to be honest

They do sound great, large, active, majors!

But I have no way of getting a larger colony!

=(

I am sure that if I could get on I would certainly try!

=)

[Phasmid]

The trouble is that big ants and big colonys are expensive as 1. they take time to grow=money. And 2. the big ants are harder to find and keep=money.

I would suggest getting Messor barbarus too as they are prob. the fastest growing big ants for beginners. But C. ligniperda are also a good option as they are easy to keep and have huge majors, biggest in Europe, the only down side is that they are a little slow growing. Manica rubida, also a good one, big and very agressive.
If your not bothered about size then Pheidole pallidula is realy good. Very fast growing colony (can reach many thousands in first two years of the queen founding a colony). Very brave and agressive ants. Soldiers with heads that take up about half the body length.

[armyoforigin]

Yes I know. =(

I suppose the big colony will have to wait, I suppose that I will have to try my luck in raising my own colony. =(

But yes I definitely think that Messor or Ligneperda would be good.
And now that you mention it, Manica look very nice too!

I shall go have a look around for Manica stuff!

Thanks!

[ratgreen]

messor barbarus are easy in my eyes, i raised a colony from a queen no problem, and they do grow pretty quick too.

[armyoforigin]

Well then I suppose I shall get some Messors. Though I do not know wether I shall put them in the tank....

I suppose the Messors vary a lot!

Thanks!

[ashhad1]

well u can make the messors move into a ytong and put the ytong in the tank. then u can see the colony and queen, brood etc and the space used was worth it as the ants would go out and forage.

Id love to try what i mentioned above but im seriosly broke too mate lol
;D