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My experience with Tarheel Ants


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12 replies to this topic

#1 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 19 2021 - 7:27 AM

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Yesterday, I made some negative comments about THA that I really regret now. Looking back, I was in a negative state of mind, and I really shouldn't have been posting. I want to set things straight with this post.

 

First off, THA is hands-down the best formicarium company around. There is honestly no competition. I have used numerous mini-hearths, a Nucleus type 3, Fallen Fortress, and an Inception Chamber. The various species I've kept in these formicaria have thrived as you can see in my many journals.

 

I've only had two issues in the years I've used THA. The first has to do with keeping Tetramorium immigrans in mini-hearths. For some reason I can't explain, these ants seem able to slip between the magnetic glass. It is such a relentless, frenetic species, that can be a real pain to contain once they reach huge colony sizes. This is an issue with the species and not really THA's fault. Ironically, I've had no issues containing far smaller ants like Pheidole or Nylanderia.

 

The other issue I had was actually my fault. I ordered a ready to ship Nucleus for my Crematogaster that was designed for large species. There was a slight gap between the glass that was big enough for my escape artist ants to get out of. I sealed the gap with silicone. In hindsight, I should have ordered one designed for tiny species because THA takes extra steps to check for gaps and such.

 

Bottom line is that THA is the best even if some issues arise with certain species. Always take the size of your species in account when ordering a formicarium from them.


Edited by ANTdrew, January 19 2021 - 7:28 AM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#2 Offline Devi - Posted January 19 2021 - 7:34 AM

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Agreed.  I actually have never got formicaria from any other seller because I've had so many good experiences.  Mack is also super helpful.  He might have even saved my Pogonomyrmex colony, maybe I'll remember to update that journal sometime.  I've got three mini hearths and a labyrinth and none of them have had problems so far.  


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#3 Offline KitsAntVa - Posted January 19 2021 - 7:40 AM

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It is quite alright to make mistakes, anyways I didn't see your comments so in turn, they don't even exist.


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We don’t talk about that

#4 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted January 19 2021 - 7:41 AM

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I did purchase a Pogonomyrmex colony that died only a couple weeks after I got them, but this probably had nothing to do with Mack. I still don't know the cause of death, but it almost seemed like disease, but I know that that is incredibly unlikely and it was probably something else entirely.

 

As far as formicaria, I have had no big issues. I've recently bought an inception chamber, which I plan on keeping Temnothorax in, and a fortress which I got for Christmas, which I will most likely house an Aphaenogaster colony in. I also own a mini hearth, which I had no way to hydrate since I was not provided a syringe. When I asked for one, he gave me one with no blunt tip adapter. This syringe is also unable to have an adapter attached anyway, so it's basically useless. However, I now have three syringes with blunt tip adapters that came with my new formicaria (the  third on because I asked my parents to get an adapter separately from the fortress in case the same thing happened with the mini hearth).


Edited by Kaelwizard, January 19 2021 - 8:02 AM.

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#5 Offline Chickalo - Posted January 19 2021 - 10:09 AM

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I did purchase a Pogonomyrmex colony that died only a couple weeks after I got them, but this probably had nothing to do with Mack. I still don't know the cause of death, but it almost seemed like disease, but I know that that is incredibly unlikely and it was probably something else entirely.

 

As far as formicaria, I have had no big issues. I've recently bought an inception chamber, which I plan on keeping Temnothorax in, and a fortress which I got for Christmas, which I will most likely house an Aphaenogaster colony in. I also own a mini hearth, which I had no way to hydrate since I was not provided a syringe. When I asked for one, he gave me one with no blunt tip adapter. This syringe is also unable to have an adapter attached anyway, so it's basically useless. However, I now have three syringes with blunt tip adapters that came with my new formicaria (the  third on because I asked my parents to get an adapter separately from the fortress in case the same thing happened with the mini hearth).

same, they were doing fine eating seeds then one day i checked up on them and the queen was dead, a week later she was in their outworld.  I'm still not sure, but it mightve been too much humidity (which i doubt considering there was a fair amount of droplets on the ceiling in which the workers could drink from), or over heating


シグナチャーです。예.

 


#6 Offline KitsAntVa - Posted January 19 2021 - 10:17 AM

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I don't think it was neither of those issues I'm almost 100% sure it wasn't those, if you think you had to much humidity and heat they probably loved it, if it wasn't for her dying I think she would have tons of workers today. 

Also that sounds like a stress thing.


Edited by KitsAntVa, January 19 2021 - 10:17 AM.

We don’t talk about that

#7 Offline Spazmops - Posted January 19 2021 - 10:24 AM

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Could be a hydration issue.


Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 


#8 Offline Chickalo - Posted January 19 2021 - 10:28 AM

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I don't think it was neither of those issues I'm almost 100% sure it wasn't those, if you think you had to much humidity and heat they probably loved it, if it wasn't for her dying I think she would have tons of workers today. 

Also that sounds like a stress thing.

ah okay id make sense since there was alot of moving around when i moved them, so all of that rattling must of made her stressed (also my current desk has a shaky top and i had to put them there until i could find a place somewhere else)


シグナチャーです。예.

 


#9 Offline Vendayn - Posted January 19 2021 - 10:45 AM

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I think the thing is as seems to be found out from other thread, that just buying one without communication probably isn't very effective. I don't think this is like buy something on amazon without contacting anyone about it, its more like adopting a pet at a petstore and making sure they have the right setup. Like two species of lizard could have vastly different requirements and need two completely different types of aquariums or cages. I think people would have more success if they made sure they were getting the right formicarium, but also if it is the right formicarium, that its designed in a way that works for that species of ant. To be fair, I think that was my mistake with the first two formicariums I got is I didn't really communicate with him, plus probably got the wrong formicarium to begin with. 

 

As for Pogonomyrmex dying, that's probably nothing really. Ants die randomly for no reason sometimes lol. They can be doing great, one minute later and the queen decides to commit sudoku lol. That's part of the risk of buying ants from anyone, tarheel or sellers in california or wherever. I've bought ants from drew and mostly been my mistake of them dying, but also sometimes they just die for some reason (or no reason at all).


Edited by Vendayn, January 19 2021 - 10:46 AM.

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#10 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 19 2021 - 11:02 AM

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Well said, Vendayn. That's exactly it: do your research and communicate what you need.


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#11 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted January 19 2021 - 1:43 PM

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I pretty much only buy THA at this point. I mean I do have some non-THA but that's why now I pretty much would only get THA.  :lol: (I still use tubs and tubes, too. And for digging set ups obviously I do something else.)

Personally I suggest rinsing them thoroughly once before use. One reason is my ants seem to like prying off loose sand and using it to cover over windows.  :lol: But the good news is the THA can take thorough rinsing/cleaning.

Back when I first (re)started antkeeping, I got a mini-hearth ripoff from somewhere else and after using it and rinsing and such, it now smells horribly like mold and I don't dare use it.

My authentic mini-hearths have never had that problem.

 

I also recommend the museum glass. It really makes a huge difference for photography!

Anyway if I had my way I'd have a whole room full of THA on turntables on shelves, a dedicated ant fridge, a dedicated ant wine cooler, and ... I better reel myself back in, here.  :lol:


Edited by OhNoNotAgain, January 19 2021 - 1:50 PM.

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Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus, vicinus, quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and previously californicus

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.


#12 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 19 2021 - 2:23 PM

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I mean... who wouldn’t want a room like that??
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#13 Offline Miles - Posted January 19 2021 - 9:54 PM

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I'm glad that cooler heads prevailed here. Tar Heel Ants is an incredible asset to this community, and has always been the case, it's best to contact them directly before posting. Mack has an excellent reputation for making things right.


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Founder & Director of The Ant Network. Ant keeper since 2009. Insect ecologist and science communicator. He/Him.





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