12 replies to this topic

[BillPisechko]

Hello all…I'm Bill and I'm about to enter the fascinating world of Ant keeping. I am looking for a little advice and any other tidbits you care to offer to a new guy with zero experience and way too much research stuck in his brain.
I am about to take ownership of a Camponotus us-ca02 queen. I am very excited. I've watched all the YouTube stuff I can and read way too much. My "breeder" seems knowledgeable and is providing me the queen, nectar, seeds and a dried protein source.
Here is my "schedule" as I've been instructed by my "breeder".

1. Dark, warm place with minimal observation for the queen in her tube until the second set of workers hatch. That might put me at queen plus 4-8 workers.

2. At this point I can start feeding a little nectar and a little protein as consumed by my budding colony. At this point I should also be providing some grains as it helps to harden the exo of the young workers?

3. Once my colony reaches 20 or so workers and/or they start pulling at the cotton, I can move them to a first nest and out world. I've selected a product by Aus Ants, and am buying the small size (next size up from starter nest) due to my Camponotus variety being a little larger than average.

4. At this point not sure how full to let the starter nest get before I move them to a larger nest? Can I run multiple nests?

That's my plan so far and I'm hoping lots of you "experts" respond with tips, tricks, hints and advice. I want to grow a large and thriving colony of what appears to be a magnificent species. So with that, welcome to my first outing and fire away. Thank you.

[ColAnt735]

Hello all…I'm Bill and I'm about to enter the fascinating world of Ant keeping. I am looking for a little advice and any other tidbits you care to offer to a new guy with zero experience and way too much research stuck in his brain.
I am about to take ownership of a Camponotus us-ca02 queen. I am very excited. I've watched all the YouTube stuff I can and read way too much. My "breeder" seems knowledgeable and is providing me the queen, nectar, seeds and a dried protein source.
Here is my "schedule" as I've been instructed by my "breeder".

1. Dark, warm place with minimal observation for the queen in her tube until the second set of workers hatch. That might put me at queen plus 4-8 workers.

2. At this point I can start feeding a little nectar and a little protein as consumed by my budding colony. At this point I should also be providing some grains as it helps to harden the exo of the young workers?

3. Once my colony reaches 20 or so workers and/or they start pulling at the cotton, I can move them to a first nest and out world. I've selected a product by Aus Ants, and am buying the small size (next size up from starter nest) due to my Camponotus variety being a little larger than average.

4. At this point not sure how full to let the starter nest get before I move them to a larger nest? Can I run multiple nests?

That's my plan so far and I'm hoping lots of you "experts" respond with tips, tricks, hints and advice. I want to grow a large and thriving colony of what appears to be a magnificent species. So with that, welcome to my first outing and fire away. Thank you.

Welcome to the forum! I'd introduce the colony into an outworld much sooner than twenty workers. I think five workers would be a good size to introduce them to a outworld. Also you can never do to much research!

Edited by ColAnt735, April 27 2022 - 7:36 PM.

[lazyant]

Welcome! you may find some strange characters, but hopefully find it hospitable! Also yes, you can expand the ants territory as they grow. Hope you can find many great advice!

[DDD101DDD]

You probably already know this, but dry foods aren't very useful for ants such as Camponotus.

[ZTYguy]

Hello there and welcome to the Forum. I have a Camponotus general guide up on my YouTube channel which I will link right here: https://youtu.be/9CYWPZpKjSg

It has all the info you need on founding a colony and growing out a nice colony. Now I will add that if you were to wait for a second generation of workers you’d be waiting several months and the best way is to start feeding them right after the first gen has arrived. I suggest getting a testube feeder which will be sold by many anter here. Have fun with the new colony and good luck!

[BillPisechko]

Thanks to everyone so far. So far...
1. A small space is preferred over a space that's too large. Will encourage garbage, etc.
2. I'll decline the dried protein ( i assumed it needed to be rehydrated anyway. I'll buy some feeder bugs local from a pet store. ***** ARE CATCHING MY OWN GRASSHOPPERS, ETC A CONCERN??? ****

thanks a ton to all who have contribute so far. It's been a great help already!

Edited by BillPisechko, April 28 2022 - 2:27 PM.

[ANTdrew]

You can gather wild insects, but make sure you collect from somewhere far from any farms or Chemlawn/ Truegreen fanatics. The prettier the lawn, the more toxic. Flash boil any wild gathered insects for at least three seconds.

[BillPisechko]

Let's get some votes!!!

Aus Ants Ytong Founding Nest (approx. 3"x4" 2" deep)

Or

Aus Ants Ytong Nest Small (approx. 4"x5" 2" deep)

I know this may be a stupid question but I want to get [censored] right... Make sense?

Edited by BillPisechko, April 28 2022 - 4:59 PM.

[Zeiss]

Welcome to the forum!

 

I do have to say, Camponotus spp. do not eat seeds.  I would only give them fresh insects and sugar water as additional sources of nutrients besides water.

[T.C.]

Welcome to the forum!

 

I do have to say, Camponotus spp. do not eat seeds.  I would only give them fresh insects and sugar water as additional sources of nutrients besides water.

 

Like he^^ said. Never seen Camponotus spp. go after seeds or grains. And the term you are looking for instead of "breeder" could be seller or keeper since nobody breeds ants. We catch them after nuptial flights.

[NicholasP]

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

I do have to say, Camponotus spp. do not eat seeds.  I would only give them fresh insects and sugar water as additional sources of nutrients besides water.

 

Like he^^ said. Never seen Camponotus spp. go after seeds or grains. And the term you are looking for instead of "breeder" could be seller or keeper since nobody breeds ants. We catch them after nuptial flights.

 

What I'm about to say isn't really on topic but there are actually people in the antkeeping community that actually breed their ant colonys. Some Australians breed their Myrmecia colonys and I plan on having a breeding process for my temnothorax.

[Aquaexploder]

Welcome to the forum!
 
I do have to say, Camponotus spp. do not eat seeds.  I would only give them fresh insects and sugar water as additional sources of nutrients besides water.

 
Like he^^ said. Never seen Camponotus spp. go after seeds or grains. And the term you are looking for instead of "breeder" could be seller or keeper since nobody breeds ants. We catch them after nuptial flights.

What I'm about to say isn't really on topic but there are actually people in the antkeeping community that actually breed their ant colonys. Some Australians breed their Myrmecia colonys and I plan on having a breeding process for my temnothorax.

Very very interesting in seeing and learning about this temnothorax venture your going to pursue, please keep us updated!

[NicholasP]

 

 

 

Welcome to the forum!
 
I do have to say, Camponotus spp. do not eat seeds.  I would only give them fresh insects and sugar water as additional sources of nutrients besides water.

 
Like he^^ said. Never seen Camponotus spp. go after seeds or grains. And the term you are looking for instead of "breeder" could be seller or keeper since nobody breeds ants. We catch them after nuptial flights.

What I'm about to say isn't really on topic but there are actually people in the antkeeping community that actually breed their ant colonys. Some Australians breed their Myrmecia colonys and I plan on having a breeding process for my temnothorax.

Very very interesting in seeing and learning about this temnothorax venture your going to pursue, please keep us updated!

 

Will do! In fact I'm going to make a wooden nest for them today and then make a journal for them.