26 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

So I have a really large aquarium sitting in my room, and I'm planning on turning it into a vivarium. I want to try to make it one of those two species vivariums. I heard that it works best if one species is large and the other is small. I'm going to use Camponotus as my large ones, but I don't know what species to use as the small ones. What would be a good small species for this terrarium that's also easy to find? Thanks.

[FeedTheAnts]

I'd recommend Lasius, especially since they are flying this time of year.

[T.C.]

I'd recommend Lasius, especially since they are flying this time of year.

I second lasius.

[AntsMaryland]

I third-ary... whatever.... Lasius

[lucas3431]

So I have a really large aquarium sitting in my room, and I'm planning on turning it into a vivarium. I want to try to make it one of those two species vivariums. I heard that it works best if one species is large and the other is small. I'm going to use Camponotus as my large ones, but I don't know what species to use as the small ones. What would be a good small species for this terrarium that's also easy to find? Thanks.

How many gallons can it hold?

[Mettcollsuss]

 

So I have a really large aquarium sitting in my room, and I'm planning on turning it into a vivarium. I want to try to make it one of those two species vivariums. I heard that it works best if one species is large and the other is small. I'm going to use Camponotus as my large ones, but I don't know what species to use as the small ones. What would be a good small species for this terrarium that's also easy to find? Thanks.

How many gallons can it hold?

 

 

It's an 18 gallon tank.

[LC3]

I do not second Lasius, at least ones that forage above ground. For one they are quite aggressive and territorial, not to mention fast growing. Might not be a problem at first but probably will eventually. I'd imagine subterranean species would do so long you provide them with enough substrate, sap sucking insects and keep the main Camponotus nest not touching the ground.

[RhodyAnts]

Temnothorax. They might be small enought to not get noticed, especially if you provide alot of cover.

I've though about this myself, for a future set up, when i'm more experienced. I was thinking P. Imparis and a temnothorax sp. Because they are both fairly non agressive. Alternatively I also liked the idea of a Crematogaster, sturmagenys, and springtail set up, to replicate the symbiosis found in nature.

Edited by RhodyAnts, September 10 2017 - 8:37 PM.

[T.C.]

I do not second Lasius, at least ones that forage above ground. For one they are quite aggressive and territorial, not to mention fast growing. Might not be a problem at first but probably will eventually. I'd imagine subterranean species would do so long you provide them with enough substrate, sap sucking insects and keep the main Camponotus nest not touching the ground.

Formica sp. and Lasius neoniger seem to get along quite well. Their nests can be as close as a 1/2 of an inch together. Never have observed fighting between the two species. Although agression of lasius towards myrmica is quite common.

[Mettcollsuss]

I do not second Lasius, at least ones that forage above ground. For one they are quite aggressive and territorial, not to mention fast growing. Might not be a problem at first but probably will eventually. I'd imagine subterranean species would do so long you provide them with enough substrate, sap sucking insects and keep the main Camponotus nest not touching the ground.

 So Tetramorium probably wouldn't be a good choice either, then?

[FeedTheAnts]

Temnothorax. They might be small enought to not get noticed, especially if you provide alot of cover.

I've though about this myself, for a future set up, when i'm more experienced. I was thinking P. Imparis and a temnothorax sp. Because they are both fairly non agressive. Alternatively I also liked the idea of a Crematogaster, sturmagenys, and springtail set up, to replicate the symbiosis found in nature.

Temnothorax is a good idea.

[XZero38]

 

I do not second Lasius, at least ones that forage above ground. For one they are quite aggressive and territorial, not to mention fast growing. Might not be a problem at first but probably will eventually. I'd imagine subterranean species would do so long you provide them with enough substrate, sap sucking insects and keep the main Camponotus nest not touching the ground.

 So Tetramorium probably wouldn't be a good choice either, then?

 

That is a huge negative on tetramorium, they are an aggressive and territorial species. Lets just say that my backyard has a very large tetramorium colony and they control roughly half of my backyard and won't let any other species found nests in their half of the yard. Roughly a month ago i had a Pogonomyrmex nuptial flight land in my back yard and there were queens everywhere and all the ones that landed on the Tetramorium side were killed. I found lots of the founding chambers and a week or so later those chambers never had larger mounds and they were always open and i would see tetramorium workers going in and out of those chambers.

[Mettcollsuss]

 

I do not second Lasius, at least ones that forage above ground. For one they are quite aggressive and territorial, not to mention fast growing. Might not be a problem at first but probably will eventually. I'd imagine subterranean species would do so long you provide them with enough substrate, sap sucking insects and keep the main Camponotus nest not touching the ground.

Formica sp. and Lasius neoniger seem to get along quite well. Their nests can be as close as a 1/2 of an inch together. Never have observed fighting between the two species. Although agression of lasius towards myrmica is quite common.

 

 

Would Lasius niger work?

[Mettcollsuss]

My current colonies that I could move in:

• Lasius niger
• Formica subsericea x2
• Aphaenogaster sp.
• Tapinoma sessile
• Camponotus nearcticus

[BMM]

I think the suggestion of Temnothorax sounds like one of the best.

 

Of the colonies you listed, Tapinoma sessile might not be a bad choice. There's a colony of them in my backyard and they seem to peacefully coexist with their neighbors, mostly Tetromorium and Temnothorax. I also have a colony myself and they seem quite meek and unaggressive. That combined with their small size might make them a viable option.

[FeedTheAnts]

I think the suggestion of Temnothorax sounds like one of the best.

 

Of the colonies you listed, Tapinoma sessile might not be a bad choice. There's a colony of them in my backyard and they seem to peacefully coexist with their neighbors, mostly Tetromorium and Temnothorax. I also have a colony myself and they seem quite meek and unaggressive. That combined with their small size might make them a viable option.

Whoa buddy, I don't know what T.sessile live in your area but they are very invasive. Trust me, they will take over, not a good idea. 

[Zeiss]

 

I think the suggestion of Temnothorax sounds like one of the best.

 

Of the colonies you listed, Tapinoma sessile might not be a bad choice. There's a colony of them in my backyard and they seem to peacefully coexist with their neighbors, mostly Tetromorium and Temnothorax. I also have a colony myself and they seem quite meek and unaggressive. That combined with their small size might make them a viable option.

Whoa buddy, I don't know what T.sessile live in your area but they are very invasive. Trust me, they will take over, not a good idea. 

 

Tapinoma sessile is not an invasive species, but they can be pests to a household.  

[BMM]

 

I think the suggestion of Temnothorax sounds like one of the best.

 

Of the colonies you listed, Tapinoma sessile might not be a bad choice. There's a colony of them in my backyard and they seem to peacefully coexist with their neighbors, mostly Tetromorium and Temnothorax. I also have a colony myself and they seem quite meek and unaggressive. That combined with their small size might make them a viable option.

Whoa buddy, I don't know what T.sessile live in your area but they are very invasive. Trust me, they will take over, not a good idea. 

 

Maybe. The certainly seem opportunistic, but I've never seen them get aggressive with any other species in the wild.

[FeedTheAnts]

 

 

I think the suggestion of Temnothorax sounds like one of the best.

 

Of the colonies you listed, Tapinoma sessile might not be a bad choice. There's a colony of them in my backyard and they seem to peacefully coexist with their neighbors, mostly Tetromorium and Temnothorax. I also have a colony myself and they seem quite meek and unaggressive. That combined with their small size might make them a viable option.

Whoa buddy, I don't know what T.sessile live in your area but they are very invasive. Trust me, they will take over, not a good idea. 

 

Tapinoma sessile is not an invasive species, but they can be pests to a household.  

 

From what I've heard and seen they do wipe out other colonies in their area, and are territorial. It would also highly depend on how many queens your T.seeile colony has.

[Zeiss]

 

 

 

I think the suggestion of Temnothorax sounds like one of the best.

 

Of the colonies you listed, Tapinoma sessile might not be a bad choice. There's a colony of them in my backyard and they seem to peacefully coexist with their neighbors, mostly Tetromorium and Temnothorax. I also have a colony myself and they seem quite meek and unaggressive. That combined with their small size might make them a viable option.

Whoa buddy, I don't know what T.sessile live in your area but they are very invasive. Trust me, they will take over, not a good idea. 

 

Tapinoma sessile is not an invasive species, but they can be pests to a household.  

 

From what I've heard and seen they do wipe out other colonies in their area, and are territorial. It would also highly depend on how many queens your T.seeile colony has.

 

That would make them aggressive then.  An invasive species would be Solenopsis invicta or Linepithema humile.