14 replies to this topic

[AntEnthused]

I'm wanting to start a easy going ant farm for my 5 year olds education and I always wanted one... I need ants that if they get loose aren't going to bite...

I'd love it if someone had a source for monomorium minimum or some other appropriate species. Limited budget

[ANTdrew]

You should put your location in your profile. You will need to find someone selling ants in your state.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Yes, please put your location. There are tons of Monomorium minimum colonies in my area, and I could collect some queens and workers from one of the local colonies if you're from South Carolina.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I don't know if Monomorium minimum is right for you. I haven't seen many successful colonies of this species; I don't think they are long lived or even easy to keep. I would recommend Lasius neoniger, a small, common, nondescript and harmless species. Tetramorium immigrans, another small, brown ant, often found living between the cracks of the pavement, would be even better, as they grow faster and are much more active, swarming around food as soon as it is dropped in to their setup. The workers can bite, though it isn't that bad - they don't sting like fire ants do, just bite. Formica subsericea is larger and would probably have more appeal to a 5 year old than Lasius or Tetramorium. They are common and easy to care for as long as they are not disturbed too much, as they spray formic acid as a defense (Not harmful to humans.), and can poison themselves accidentally when in a closed space, such as a formicarium (Ant farm).

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, September 23 2019 - 2:36 PM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

As for a source, after adding your accurate location (Down to state.), you should peruse the market place on Formiculture for suitable colonies in your state. Alternatively, you can order a queen or small colony of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, or the Western Harvester Ant, from the vendor Tarheel Ants. This particular species is, unlike most ants, legal to ship anywhere in the contiguous United States. Make sure to include the "Mini Hearth addon" to the order - this is their "ant farm", or formicarium. Harvester ants are very big, red, seed eating ants which I guarantee would be more interesting to your 5 year old than the other options. While they have a painful sting, they cannot climb smooth surfaces and are too big to fit through small gaps, making them extremely unlikely to ever escape or sting any children, as long as there is adult supervision and common sense being applied. Additionally, because they live almost exclusively off seeds (Must be organic - mine like chia and to a lesser extent flax.), you will not need to kill or chop up insects, as is the case for almost all other ants. They are also easy to care for, though they will need a heat source, which can be purchased from the same vendor, and, while pricey, are simpler to obtain than the ones you would buy off this forum.

[ponerinecat]

I don't know if Monomorium minimum is right for you. I haven't seen many successful colonies of this species; I don't think they are long lived or even easy to keep. I would recommend Lasius neoniger. Tetramorium immigrans would be even better, but the workers can bite. (Though it isn't that bad - they don't sting like fire ants do, just bite.)

They are very easy but near impossible to get started if from a single queen.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

If you live in North Carolina, you can go to Raleigh and get all sorts of ants directly from Tarheel Ants himself.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Just don't get your sights set on M. minimum, they probably won't be offered by anyone selling ants, and aren't really that interesting. They could escape very easily too.

[AntEnthused]

I live in southern Oklahoma. How do I find the market place?

[ANTdrew]

General Market Place is one of the sub-forums on here. Just scroll down to the bottom of the list. You could also just search in the archives for Oklahoma queens for sale or something along those lines.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I live in southern Oklahoma. How do I find the market place?

Oklahoma? You've got quite the ant diversity there. You could probably just catch your own Pogonomyrmex.

[AntPhycho]

Oklahoma? You've got quite the ant diversity there. You could probably just catch your own Pogonomyrmex.

Pogonomyrmex aren't a great beginner species. They are very sensitive & difficult to found.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I've heard that, but the small colonies from THA are much easier to raise than individual queens. I don't think I've seen anyone's THA Pogonomyrmex colony fail. As opposed to single queens, who are less easy. But as I was saying, in Oklahoma, he does not have to settle for Monomorium minimum.

[Kaelwizard]

I've heard that, but the small colonies from THA are much easier to raise than individual queens. I don't think I've seen anyone's THA Pogonomyrmex colony fail. As opposed to single queens, who are less easy. But as I was saying, in Oklahoma, he does not have to settle for Monomorium minimum.

THA keeps Monomorium minimum. He says they are very easy to keep. Also, Pogonomyrmex are NOT easy. Mine died for no apparent reason.

[AntsDakota]

I've heard that, but the small colonies from THA are much easier to raise than individual queens. I don't think I've seen anyone's THA Pogonomyrmex colony fail. As opposed to single queens, who are less easy. But as I was saying, in Oklahoma, he does not have to settle for Monomorium minimum.

I don't even HAVE Monomorium minimum.