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Ants to Add to Multispecies Vivarium?


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#1 Offline cap_backfire - Posted September 29 2021 - 11:03 AM

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Hey folks! Once again I reach out to the colony-mind for advice.

I'm planning a very large, multi-species vivarium and am going to put an impressive formicarium on the back of the Viv. Thinking about actually connecting the ants to the Viv so they could use it as a massive (truly) outworld (5' tall, 4ft wide, 3ft deep). The project is very much in the early stages of development, currently hoarding supplies needed, and I would like to get the colony fairly mature before putting them in the large formicarium and even more mature before giving them access to the vivarium. So...
The inhabitants of the Viv will be emerald tree skinks, fire belly toads, tropical community fish and probably some other random foolishness. The main goal of the Viv will be making it very exciting to watch. The secondary goal will be to breed the skinks.

SO... Initially I was thinking Pogonomyrmex but I've been advised that idea would SUCK. So... I'd be looking for a fairly non-aggressive, fairly active species of ant that would likely be fairly small so the larger inhabitants wouldn't be very interested in eating them. So small to medium I guess.

I live in Illinois. Any ideas???

#2 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 29 2021 - 12:34 PM

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Hey folks! Once again I reach out to the colony-mind for advice.

I'm planning a very large, multi-species vivarium and am going to put an impressive formicarium on the back of the Viv. Thinking about actually connecting the ants to the Viv so they could use it as a massive (truly) outworld (5' tall, 4ft wide, 3ft deep). The project is very much in the early stages of development, currently hoarding supplies needed, and I would like to get the colony fairly mature before putting them in the large formicarium and even more mature before giving them access to the vivarium. So...
The inhabitants of the Viv will be emerald tree skinks, fire belly toads, tropical community fish and probably some other random foolishness. The main goal of the Viv will be making it very exciting to watch. The secondary goal will be to breed the skinks.

SO... Initially I was thinking Pogonomyrmex but I've been advised that idea would SUCK. So... I'd be looking for a fairly non-aggressive, fairly active species of ant that would likely be fairly small so the larger inhabitants wouldn't be very interested in eating them. So small to medium I guess.

I live in Illinois. Any ideas???

leptothorax, temnothorax or a species of thief ant


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1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

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#3 Offline DaAnt - Posted September 29 2021 - 2:38 PM

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I second this


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#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 29 2021 - 4:54 PM

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Nylanderia or Formica could work. Aphaenogaster as well.
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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.

#5 Offline cap_backfire - Posted September 29 2021 - 4:59 PM

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Thanks guys!!! I worry their ants would escape too easily but I'll check out the rest for sure!

#6 Offline TestSubjectOne - Posted September 29 2021 - 5:01 PM

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My main concern if I were in your shoes would be keeping a large colony of ants contained inside the terrarium. Humidity, splashing water, size of the enclosure and interference from various vertebrates would all cause issues with fluon. As others have said a small temnothorax or solenopsis species would be a good choice. I feel that a larger species would either get hunted to extinction by the vertebrates or completely take over the enclosure.


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TestSubjectOne's Experiences in Antkeeping General Journal

 

Currently Keeping:

- Veromessor pergandei (1 queen, 600 workers)

- Novomessor cockerelli (1 queen, 200 workers)

- Myrmecocystus mexicanus (1 queen, 100 workers)

- Brachymyrmex patagonicus (3 queens?, 2,000 workers? & alates)

- Crematogaster sp. (1 queen, 600 workers)

- Liometopum occidentale (1 queen, 800 workers)

- Camponotus absqualator (1 queen, 130 workers)


#7 Offline antgallery - Posted September 29 2021 - 6:51 PM

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I have a decent sized multi-species vivarium and humidity and fluon rubbing away has never been a big problem for me (again this is just me, if more experienced people think it's a problem I would trust them). Just make sure you tape the corners and cover it with a nice layer of fluon and you should be good I think. As for species to put into the vivarium I have Temnothorax Curvispinosus in mine, two colonies actually and I NEVER see them. They are always just hiding out in their acorn and I'll see a worker pop it's head out now and then but other than that nothing. It could just be the particular species I have or bad luck but yeah. I think maybe Lasius and Thief ants would be cool though, I have a colony of Thief ants in my vivarium and even though they are small I'll see them all the time which is nice.


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#8 Offline cap_backfire - Posted September 29 2021 - 7:55 PM

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My main concern if I were in your shoes would be keeping a large colony of ants contained inside the terrarium. Humidity, splashing water, size of the enclosure and interference from various vertebrates would all cause issues with fluon. As others have said a small temnothorax or solenopsis species would be a good choice. I feel that a larger species would either get hunted to extinction by the vertebrates or completely take over the enclosure.

This is good advice.   What I plan on having is their formicarium attached to the back of the vivarium and they'd have access TO the viv like... as their secondary "outworld."  Unless they totally fail me (ants gonna do what ants gonna do, I know) they HOPEFULLY will stay in their formicarium instead of bailing on me into the actual vivarium.   
The tip for humidity and splashing water vs Fluon is a DEFINITE great bit of advice for consideration.   Plenty to think about and DAMN glad this project is probably 2 years off.  

Thanks for the input so far folks!   This is all good stuff to think of.  


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#9 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted September 30 2021 - 12:50 PM

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I'm going to assume you are familiar with how to care for the skinks and toads? I'm not doubting you, I just feel that this needs to be asked. I would honestly be more worried about meeting their needs than the ants. Both of those animals have high humidity requirements and I know that at least the skinks need a basking spot (I have never kept either of these animals, but I have put some research into their care), so I would try to find a ant species that could survive with high temperature and high humidity. Solenopsis (specifically a thief species as they probably won't harm the other animals) comes to mind. I really hope you succeed with this!


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#10 Offline cap_backfire - Posted September 30 2021 - 6:49 PM

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Oh yeah the 'macro' fauna take precedence.   The ants wouldn't be residents as much as they would be possible visitors, to their own liking.   I love the idea of thief ants in a colony inside the viv, as residents.   Worst case scenario, if I'm not totally sold on the idea of letting the ants take up visiting rights, I'll just leave them secluded in their formicarium on the back of the viv.   Like, if you mounted a large formicarium on the back of your dresser.   I just honestly want something that will be pretty darn interesting at any given moment.   

You guys are so inspiring in your sharing of info and I DO appreciate people checking in on members having basic knowledge.  You don't know me, you don't know how much info I have or have pursued..  It's totally rational.   

I, too, really hope I succeed with this.   HAHAHAHA


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