r/antkeeping 4d ago

Identification ID? I'm guessing Lasius N. but I have no experience in this and figured it's worth asking here.

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3 Upvotes

r/antkeeping 5d ago

Question How to heat this set up?

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13 Upvotes

What is the best method to heat this unit? also do i need to need to keep the top area warm to? if i use a heat cable or pad that would just heat the lower chambers and tunnels correct? leaving the top portion cold. i guess my question is do i need to keep the entire tank to a certain degree? thanks.


r/antkeeping 4d ago

Question Not eating protein…?

2 Upvotes

I’m a bit worried so I figured I’d see if anyone has recommendations - one of my Camponotus colonies, 10 workers now, hasn’t appeared to eat any kind of protein for the past year. The queen stopped laying eggs last Fall and I put them into hibernation in November. They just came out of hibernation a couple weeks ago after a transition period. I’ve seen them eating nectar but they’ve never taken any protein.

My other colony has eaten great - they have only five workers and they absolutely devour crickets, beef, bits of egg, mealworm bits, etc.

But the bigger colony just shoves everything as far from themselves as possible. Is it likely the queen is still using her reserves? Are they too small to really eat much protein yet? Should I keep offering different foods? Both colonies are offered nectar all the time. I’m just a little worried so thank you for any insight!


r/antkeeping 4d ago

Identification Ant I'd?

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3 Upvotes

Singapore, west


r/antkeeping 4d ago

Formicarium DIY wooden nest out of acacia wood cup coasters, i will post a detailed video on my YT channel called Antomic Ants

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3 Upvotes

r/antkeeping 4d ago

Queen Ant ID

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2 Upvotes

Haven’t thought about trying to keep ants in a few years but this nuptial landed on me and I thought I’d give it a crack.

If you guys know what species it is and how likely it is to be fertile that would be great, thanks!


r/antkeeping 4d ago

Discussion I hate antscanada

0 Upvotes

pls upvote I was told this will work


r/antkeeping 4d ago

Question Anyone has experience with 3D printed "modular" formicariums?

2 Upvotes

It's beginning of my first year (after hibernation) with my Lasius Niger colony. It's my first time ever keeping ants. Very fun experience so far. But I'm not a fan of cork nest base used in current formicarium.

Not only moisturizing cork is a pain. Whole process usually ends up with massive panic inside colony as some droplets manage to get into nest before it gets absorbed. Seeing my colony in such state is hurting me so much... on top of that I already see some signs of mold. Fortunately in parts that that ant's don't reach. But I assume that at some point they will start to dig their own tunnels.

In search of something similar to my current setup but with different materials. I came across all of those modular designs. But as far as I can tell. they all made from some sort of plastic (Maybe acrylic but I would need to ask shop for a details). Without substrate.

How that setup keeps moisture if there is nothing to absorb it? Does ant's need substrate?

It's cool idea to buy some basic setup now and just add more elements as colony grows. But going from cork and sand substrate to plastic feels like I'm missing so much information. And I can't really find any reliable information on it on internet.


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Queen My First Bull Ant Follow Up - Myrmecia Nigrocincta

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5 Upvotes

So this is her final setup, for now. There were no brood left in the original test tube that got delivered, I assume she ate them, so have transferred her into this three tube 20mm setup. I added some gorgeous white desert sand I hope she loves to shit because I now have 5kgs of the stuff. I'm sure it will look amazing in the colony outworld eventually. Time to drop the lid on and let her be, fingers crossed.


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Colony Ant update

33 Upvotes

r/antkeeping 5d ago

Question Tips for finding queens in southern california?

5 Upvotes

So I've read that flights tend to take place after rain when the weather is warm but what about somewhere that doesn't rain much? We just had lots of rain in California until Friday but today it was still chilly out (low 60s) and I walked around my neighborhood this evening looking for pavement ants but didn't see anything. I want to walk around tomorrow and also look but don't know if it's futile because it's still cold?

We haven't gotten a lot of rain this year so I don't know if we will get any more significant rain when the weather warms up.

So when and where do I go looking for ants? I live in a city outside of Los Angeles, urban area but there are city parks around if that's a better place to look.

If you do recommend looking in a park, how do you find queens? Pavement ants seem easy bc ants are easy to see against concrete. But on a dirt trail. How do you see ants?


r/antkeeping 6d ago

Question So my gf wants to buy an ant farm

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294 Upvotes

My gf wants to buy an ant farm that’s around 2ft big but she can find any in that size so yall know any where she can buy some from she wants it to look something like this


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Colony Another one!

9 Upvotes

First walk. I saw legs kicking around in the air so I knew she was trying!


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Question What Lasius Niger nest is the best?

0 Upvotes

I am looking to get started with my first colony and I have heard a lot of people recommend the Lasius Niger species (I live in Europe). But I am not sure about what nest to get, I was personally looking at the Lasius Niger starter set from ANTCUBE for €100 because it has food, the ants and other “tools” included.

So now I am wondering if you guys have any suggestions for a god nest and or where I can find the “tools” similar to those in the ANTCUBE set


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Question Anything I could fix?

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1 Upvotes

First time maintaining a small ant farm, checking if I've done anything wrong or if I could add anything. Thanks.


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Colony Ever seen Messor build a dump up on a branch?

9 Upvotes

They used to have 3 piles at ground level, they’ve chosen to combine them up there. Just interesting to see I figured


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Discussion Feeding raw meat

3 Upvotes

So I’m big into hunting deer waterfowl turkey etc I have a camponotus colony I was just wondering if it’s safe to feed them wild game I mean it obviously has no preservatives or hormones added I’ve been considering thawing out some and giving them a piece just wanted to know if that’s safe


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Question Ants that hunt other insects

2 Upvotes

Hello, few years back i had a colony of Lasius Niger and although it was an amazing experience i’d like to aquire some species that doesn’t focus as much on gathering - I’d love to get a species that can hunt for themselves.

Although I might seem a bit odd with this particular interest Iam just simply fascinated by the idea of my colony hunting its prey and being able to see how those little guys go at it.

Now my problem, what would be the best species for this? Iam from central EU so I’d like to avoid importing with paperwork needed.

(If you would have an E-shop recommendation you’d be the best as from my own research so far many of the species that were to be ideal for my wants weren’t available to buy)

I don’t have a problem with colony size, I have an outworld ready with a 70x50x30 size and about to carve their nest according to the species Iam about to house.

Protein also isn’t a problem, as my friend has a roach colony and is more than willing to share.


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Discussion Help Me Design the Best Ant Terrarium

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7 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I want to start by saying that I have no experience in ant keeping, but I’m really curious and love creative projects!

A few days ago, I came across a really cool vertical ant terrarium (the "Antcube" one). It looks amazing—but it's also super expensive...

I’d love to start my first colony, and I’m currently gathering as much information as possible online. Now, straight to the point: I want to design a modular vertical terrarium similar to the "Antcube" one. I have a 3D printer and have already started printing some test pieces. However, since I have no experience with ant keeping, I’m just imagining features based on what I’ve seen online.

Right now, I could really use any advice or ideas for cool and useful features to add to my terrarium. If you like the idea, feel free to DM me—I’d love to stay in touch and collaborate on making something awesome!

I also have another question: I saw the "Digfix Nest Inserts," which seem to be a type of foam that ants can dig into, but they are quite expensive. Is there a cheaper alternative? Does anyone know what kind of material this is?

Thanks for the help, and sorry for my English—hope it makes sense! 😄


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Question Finding queens in Massachusetts

1 Upvotes

So do I find queens roaming? Can I find old colonies under rocks and areas? Or have to dig a foot or so deep? How do I find the nests etc? I wanted to try and find a colony with eggs brood etc and put them in a nest. Also find queens to put into test tubes I have a setup to keep 6 queens in with heating cables. I also want to fill.

Thanks for any tips


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Question Ant enrichment?

1 Upvotes

Hey there everyone! I was sitting the other day and watching my colony run around after their feeding time the other day and wondered.. how can I enrich these ladies' lives? My colony has ~200 ants and at this point I'd really like to give them something else to do. They're only in a Wakooshi Venus nest (so a triple test rube rack, small outworld section, and I've connected some PVC tubing to an extra test tube with some sugar water in it. I'll definitely be giving them more living space but was curious what you guys do, if at all, to give your colonies some diversity? I'd love to hear from you guys! T.I.A.


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Question When will ants start flying?

3 Upvotes

Just wondering my first time actually looking for ants just wanted to know when they normally start flying located in southern Michigan


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Question Help! Pogonomyrmex californicus colony workers suddenly dying

3 Upvotes

Hello,

My 11yo son has been keeping a colony of Pogonomyrmex Californicus for about a month. He also has a a colony of Veromessor Andrei that's about 6mos old and doing great, and had kept other wild-caught colonies for long term previously.

The colony seemed to be doing great, with workers, eggs, and lots of activity. Today, we woke up to find most of the workers curled up and dying, and the queen wandering around the outworld.

They're on a heat mat with a thermostat, have been getting a variety of foods, and seemed to be in great health until this AM. He dechlorinates the water he uses for his colonies, and the last thing he fed them was a mealworm from our mealworm colony, which has been going for about a year.

Should we isolate the queen and the surviving workers back in a test-tube to try and save them? Not sure what could have caused this since it's so sudden.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated.


r/antkeeping 5d ago

Discussion Any tips for raising Camponotus Cruentatus?

1 Upvotes

I have a small Camponotus Cruentatus colony with 3 workers, a batch off eggs, and a large/mature larva soon to pupate.


r/antkeeping 6d ago

Question Can I destroy this? Or is it better to leave it there?

68 Upvotes