157 replies to this topic

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I always strive to please

[Rozema]

What is the best nest for Camponotus?
I see a lot of colonies thrive in ytong nest.
But This French guy is keeping them in some sort of lab set up and they seem te be doing very well.

[ANTdrew]

In my experience, the very best nests for most ants are Tar Heel Ants nests. A mini-hearth is ideal for a young Camponotus colony.

[Rozema]

How do you manage the humidity in that nest?

[ANTdrew]

How do you manage the humidity in that nest?

There is a tiny hole in the back that allows you to fill up a screen covered water resevoir using a syringe.

[Acutus]

I have my 2 C.chromiaodes colonies in Ants Canada Camponotus Hybrid Nests. They seem to work very well. My C. castaneus are in a Tar Heels Mini Hearth XL and a Mini Hearth connected. Soon will connect another Mini Hearth. This colony has absolutely thrived!!

 

I just talked to Mack from THA today about a custom setup as a display for the Nature Center where I work. It will house one of my C. chromiaodes colonies.

 

Humidity is controlled a number of ways in THA Formicarium. One way is the Water Tower as described by ANTdrew. There is a screen covered reservoir that is filled with a syringe. There are also smaller tubes called Nest Mates. these can be used as a drinking water source of as ventilation. As colonies grow just the presence of ant bodies can up humidity levels and then venting can be important.

I have tried a number of different setups and I like THA systems the best. they are literally so easy to maintain.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

sounds about right

[Thunder_Birds]

Hey guys, I'm from South Dakota. I have a Camponotus colony (I have had them for about 3 years), and I moved them into a Mini Hearth. 

[Rozema]

I have my 2 C.chromiaodes colonies in Ants Canada Camponotus Hybrid Nests. They seem to work very well. My C. castaneus are in a Tar Heels Mini Hearth XL and a Mini Hearth connected. Soon will connect another Mini Hearth. This colony has absolutely thrived!!

I just talked to Mack from THA today about a custom setup as a display for the Nature Center where I work. It will house one of my C. chromiaodes colonies.

Humidity is controlled a number of ways in THA Formicarium. One way is the Water Tower as described by ANTdrew. There is a screen covered reservoir that is filled with a syringe. There are also smaller tubes called Nest Mates. these can be used as a drinking water source of as ventilation. As colonies grow just the presence of ant bodies can up humidity levels and then venting can be important.
I have tried a number of different setups and I like THA systems the best. they are literally so easy to maintain.

Thanks very interesting systems. Pretty high in price though and don’t know about the shipping. I live in Holland. So I assume it will not be cheap.

[Rozema]

In my experience, the very best nests for most ants are Tar Heel Ants nests. A mini-hearth is ideal for a young Camponotus colony.

In the Q &A on the website they say it is good for a queen with brood. Isn’t that a little too soon to move them in?

[ANTdrew]

They are expensive, but you asked for the best nest, and THA is it, without a doubt.
People successfully start new queens in mini-hearths, too.

[AntsDakota]

TarHeelAnts nests also make nice decorations, in my opinion.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

yes, I adore my Phalnax outworld :3 

[Acutus]

I'd also like to pass on some advice that Mack, the owner of Tar Heels Ants, gave me as we were talking about a custom formicarium for my C. chromiaodes colony.

Mack said to make sure and feed any of my Camponotus wingless fruit-flies!! He explained that if I wanted "Long Term" success that this was essential!

Now Mack has a TON of experience with Camponotus as many here know. 

The real interesting thing is that when I asked why he thought it so important, he explained that Nitrogen was an important part of their wild diet and that the cultures fruit-flies are raised on are high in nitrogen making the fruit-flies themselves high in nitrogen.

The EXACT same element in our discussion about making Urine or bird mutes part of the diet as well!!

Edited by Acutus, February 22 2020 - 9:19 PM.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Interesting, did you tell him about the bird mute idea?

[Acutus]

Interesting, did you tell him about the bird mute idea?

 

I told him that for the same reason I was supplying powdered bird mutes to the diet, yes.

Feeding wingless fruit-flies to your ant has another appeal though. It's a BLAST to watch!! You put a bunch of the fruit-flies in and watch the ants hunt them down it's awesome!

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

yeah, and less stomach racking than watching them eat bird mutes lol

[Serafine]

Roaches can also store nitrogen in the form of uric acid - similar to Camponotus ants they have a bacterial endosymbiont that can make proteins and other stuff from this uric acid.

It might explain why my Camponotus like them so much.

[MegaMyrmex]

What type of formicarium/setup would you all recommend for a chromaiodes colony of about 50-75 workers? Also I find that camponotus adore red runner roaches and spiders the most.

[ANTdrew]

Good to see you back on here. I’d say a mini-hearth XL would be just about ideal. I really hope I can find more of this species this April.