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Post by sahdmike on Jun 13, 2013 12:49:40 GMT
Hi, I'm very much a novice, though I have read a few of the websites and forums and tried to pick up as much information as I can. I do have a quick question though. I hope to keep Lasius niger, they seem to be a good starter ant, and I was going to buy a pre made nest then attach it to an outfield. The formicarium that I am most keen on at the minute is this one here - www.queenantshop.co.uk/#/rm-xl-ytong-nest-enclosed/4569894618 Will this be too big for a new colony? Thanks in advance, Mike |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 13, 2013 12:59:54 GMT
Hi Mike and welcome to the Ant Hill. I would say that this set up is fine for a very large ant colony, or a bigger species than L. niger; but this ant is likely to live in a corner of the nest and not make use of the whole thing for many years. Perhaps buying a smaller set up and saving money, or getting a bigger species such as Messor barbs or a Formica species might prove to be an option here.  Ytong type nests are okay for many ants, but I have found that members say the bigger species do better in them; and I have always preferred to keep small ants in a soil nest. |
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Post by sahdmike on Jun 13, 2013 13:30:47 GMT
Ah, ok. That puts my plans back on the drawing board a bit. I am keen to go with the L.niger as they seem to be the easiest, and I like the idea of catching my own queen and starting from there.
Would I be able to boost the size of my colony by adding extra eggs I find in the wild next year, therefore filling the space?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 13, 2013 13:44:13 GMT
Ah, ok. That puts my plans back on the drawing board a bit. I am keen to go with the L.niger as they seem to be the easiest, and I like the idea of catching my own queen and starting from there. Would I be able to boost the size of my colony by adding extra eggs I find in the wild next year, therefore filling the space? As mating flights will be starting from mid July, finding mated queens of many native British ants is not difficult. Which country are you in Mike? As this may have a bearing on your local ant species. The best way to boost a colony is to obtain some cocooned pupae or mature larvae, as long as they have gone beyond the egg stage. Pupae are best as they will take less time to become adult worker ants and don't require feeding. Taking a few from several wild nests doesn't harm the colony, only when you remove a lot are you placing the wild colony at risk. Who gave you idea Lasius niger are the easiest? I have found this is not always the case when kept in captivity and prefer Formica on the whole from my 50 years of ant keeping, and long term studies of British ants. |
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Post by Zarbi on Jun 13, 2013 16:46:19 GMT
Hello Mike and welcome. You will find all the help you need here to keep ants correctly and gain both knowledge and have fun, as we're always glad to help.  |
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Post by sahdmike on Jun 13, 2013 17:47:41 GMT
I'm in the UK.
My thinking was that they are the easiest to catch, I have several colonies within a few steps of my house. Also they would be easiest to find larvae/pupae to boost the colony. As they are native they should be Ok for temp, so heat mats etc would be unnecessary.
Why pupae or larvae rather than eggs to boost?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 13, 2013 17:57:20 GMT
I gathered you live in the UK, but which county would give me better info as to which ant species are close by you? Ant eggs are so delicate that picking them up would damage far more than you collect, and as they need to hatch into larvae, get plenty of food in order to make them grow and pupate, they are not a viable option for collecting from any ant nest. As already stated, pupae are ready to become adult ants and do not require any further food from what may be a colony which simply cannot raise them from the egg stage. |
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Post by sahdmike on Jun 13, 2013 18:24:10 GMT
I'm in Bristol.
Just been looking into your Messor barbarus suggestion. Would you recommend them to a beginner?
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Post by sahdmike on Jun 13, 2013 18:24:38 GMT
And thank you for your replies.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 13, 2013 18:28:13 GMT
I'm in Bristol. Just been looking into your Messor barbarus suggestion. Would you recommend them to a beginner? As I have kept them for several years now, Messor barbs are very easy to keep and I would recommend them for a beginner, as they don't need any special treatment or care regarding high temperatures. Being a Harvester Ant from southern Europe they can happily live on a diet of seeds and just the odd insect. |
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