|
|
Post by antaholic on Feb 28, 2014 9:12:08 GMT
I think Leaf Cutter ants may be a bridge too far for me at the present time, so what other types of tropical ants could I keep that are not too costly and fairly easy?
Thanks for any replies.
|
|
|
|
Post by Black Ant on Feb 28, 2014 15:02:18 GMT
Most all tropical ants are rather pricey to buy, but European ants are cheaper and easy to get.
|
|
Stapleburger
Callow Ant 
Posts: 53 
Country: England
Pets: Chickens, Quails and Ants
Likes: 15
|
Post by Stapleburger on Feb 28, 2014 15:02:48 GMT
Hello antaholic. Do you mean tropical, or just exotic (I.e. not natural to the UK?). If you would like a non-uk species I think the advice from here would probably be to go for Messor Barbarus. These are a relatively commonly available southen-european harvester ant that eats seeds and insects.
A search for them on this forum should bring up some good advice.
I'm sure other people will have some other good suggestions. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by deansie on Feb 28, 2014 16:11:49 GMT
I'd like to hear people's suggestions on this question too. By tropical do you mean non hibernating?
|
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 28, 2014 17:40:17 GMT
I think when tropical ant species are mentioned it usually means ants from jungles, deserts or rain forests. This could include ants such as Weaver Ants, Leaf Cutters, Bull Dog Ants or Army Ants.
There are both small ant species and large ones from Asia, Australia or America, plus a few found in Africa; but unless you have the money to buy a very good heated set up then most European ant species are suitable.
It depends on how much you can afford and how much time and space you can devote to keeping some ants, as some need high humidity and extra warmth.
|
|
|
|
Post by deansie on Feb 28, 2014 18:53:49 GMT
Great response woodant, have you kept tropical ants wood ant? Could you recommend any that the colony stays small? Sting etc doesn't concern me more colony size as won't have a great deal of space after the leaf cutters. I don't mind the set ups, I find that but enjoyable. Don't mean to hijack your thread antaholic, just interested in this also  |
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 28, 2014 22:35:56 GMT
Great response woodant, have you kept tropical ants wood ant? Could you recommend any that the colony stays small? Sting etc doesn't concern me more colony size as won't have a great deal of space after the leaf cutters. I don't mind the set ups, I find that but enjoyable. Don't mean to hijack your thread antaholic, just interested in this also So far I have only kept a few ants from Thailand, and the species that did well for me was Camponotus nicobarensis. |
|
|
|
Post by antaholic on Mar 1, 2014 11:12:53 GMT
Thanks for the replies guys. I was thinking maybe trap jaw ants or similar, but as they are a bit expensive to buy my wife would have a duck fit if they got out in the house. Perhaps I may have to rethink what species to get and keep an eye on the purse strings. No problem with anyone hijacking this topic as long as it isn't off topic and is about tropical ants.  |
|
