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How long have you been keeping ants?

Started By Ants_Dakota , Feb 16 2020 11:26 AM
antkeeping ant history

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52 replies to this topic

#21 Offline AntHUB - Posted February 18 2020 - 3:42 PM

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Except a veteran that refused to go out of the ant keeping army so cleverly disguised himself and did even more in his new career and then became the head of the whole army 

what? please elaborate... especially the disguised part.


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#22 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted February 18 2020 - 3:49 PM

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It's simple, most ant keepers (even antdude) have to balance their social life and their ant life, but you've almost made it so you can have an extremely large and diverse ant life while not having any major effects on your social life (that's the disguising part). The rest is based on the fact you have over 400 colonies and sunk over a thousand dollars into ant keeping thus, giving you the veteran title and making a new career (because if you like something you typically can't 'reach' it unless you have to overcome a major hurdle. At least from my experience). While most of my quotes seem 'childish' or sometimes 'stupid' or 'illogical', there is always a truth and reason behind it, it just takes some digging.   


There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike

#23 Offline ponerinecat - Posted February 18 2020 - 5:14 PM

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Hehe... what social life?


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#24 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted February 18 2020 - 5:57 PM

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:lol:


There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike

#25 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted February 18 2020 - 8:03 PM

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wow, you're like a veteran at antkeeping


I've kept around 900 colonies of 79 species.
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#26 Offline AntHUB - Posted February 18 2020 - 9:05 PM

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Hehe... what social life?

I started an entomology club that has done fairly well. And a bunch of my freinds love to hang out and look for ants with me. (I know this was a joke I just wanted to answer anyways)


 

wow, you're like a veteran at antkeeping


I've kept around 900 colonies of 79 species.

 

You made a massive tank for atta right? Or was that someone else named ant dude


Edited by AntHUB, February 18 2020 - 9:06 PM.

President & founder of LHS Entomology Club, (available on discord) Check out my photography website! https://www.armyofinsects.com/ Email me with questions

at jk@uglyorangetruck.com (funny email, I know)

 

#27 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted February 18 2020 - 9:27 PM

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Hehe... what social life?

I started an entomology club that has done fairly well. And a bunch of my freinds love to hang out and look for ants with me. (I know this was a joke I just wanted to answer anyways)

wow, you're like a veteran at antkeeping


I've kept around 900 colonies of 79 species.
You made a massive tank for atta right? Or was that someone else named ant dude
Never even seen Atta before... :( I do have Trachymyrmex septentrionalis though.

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#28 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted February 19 2020 - 2:11 PM

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woah, we have some awesome antkeepers! Thanks for helping me, it's great getting taught by the best :D


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There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike

#29 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 19 2020 - 2:28 PM

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woah, we have some awesome antkeepers! Thanks for helping me, it's great getting taught by the best :D

I totally agree!


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#30 Offline Thunder_Birds - Posted February 22 2020 - 12:57 PM

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I have been keeping them for around...3 years, ever since I got my Camponotus Modoc colony.


#Ants4Life

#31 Offline AntsDakota - Posted February 22 2020 - 1:00 PM

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Definitely make a journal. You can use my journal as an example, if you like.
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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

#32 Offline AntaholicAnonymous - Posted March 9 2020 - 3:24 AM

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Its been 4 years since I started to properly keep ants if you don't count collecting them as a kid.

#33 Offline LaTun - Posted March 9 2020 - 3:37 AM

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My Antkeeping career started 5 years ago with a Lasius niger queen.
I sadly don´t have this colony anymore since we had to move. But I still am in contact with the person who is keeping them and they are doing great.
I raised them until they had 2000-3000 workers (Year 3) and currently they are 15k +, last year they had their first alates and I bet this year there are going to be even more.


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#34 Offline AntaholicAnonymous - Posted March 9 2020 - 5:55 AM

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I started off with a lasius 4 years ago and had to move as well.

I dumped them on a freshly deforested grassland with tons of insects but very little ants. Legend has it they still pruge these fields to this day.

I'd guess I had around 2000 to 3000 as I released them
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#35 Offline Thunder_Birds - Posted March 9 2020 - 12:59 PM

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I have been keeping ants for almost 3 years. I have really only kept a Camponotus Pennsylivanicus colony since I started, which I still have. I have kept a couple others, but just put them outside. :D


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#Ants4Life

#36 Offline AntsDakota - Posted March 9 2020 - 1:02 PM

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Although in the future, you probably shouldn’t release captive colonies.

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

#37 Offline Thunder_Birds - Posted March 9 2020 - 1:07 PM

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Ok...what do you mean?


#Ants4Life

#38 Offline AntsDakota - Posted March 9 2020 - 1:09 PM

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Don’t release colonies you’ve been caring for into the environment. There’s a small chance they could be harmful.
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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

#39 Offline AntaholicAnonymous - Posted March 9 2020 - 1:13 PM

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Although in the future, you probably shouldn’t release captive colonies.


What me?
I live in an area that is absolutely dominated by lasius the nuptial flights are crazy you open your mouth and you catch 10 queens. lol

If I add a mid sized colony to the mix instead of killing them I don't change a thing they are everywhere. Of course I want the ants I had for 3 years next to my bed to succeed even tho I'm not able to house them anymore

#40 Offline AntaholicAnonymous - Posted March 9 2020 - 1:16 PM

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I have one manica rubida colony now and I'll get a Messor Barbarus queen in a couple weeks.
I have 2 massive natural tanks for them I'll keep them as long as the queens survive
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