I have 5 Camponotus decipiens queens starting to have their first nanitics emerge. They're all in test tubes at the moment, but at what point should I move them to Tarheel Mini Hearth? Also, how long can I reasonably expect something like a Mini Hearth to be adequate for them? Should I plan to get a larger formicarium before the end of the year? Would a series of test tubes connected to each other work in lieu of a Mini Hearth? sorry for all the questions, but this is the first time I've kept ants.
Putting them in a mini-hearth once they kinda fill out the tube is fine but after that generally you'll need a larger outworld before you'll need a bigger nest.
Most Camponotus are happy to create satellite colonies when the nest gets too small, so you can just put a water tube into the outworld (a water tube should be present anyway, just as an emergency backup nest if something bad happens to the nest) and later stuff like shrimp tubes made from clay. They're also one of the genera where dying individuals often really try to get away from the colony and having ants running around in the outworld until they drop dead can kinda disrupt the other ants in what they're doing.
If this should happen to you just attach another smaller outworld (something like a small plastic box with a small water tube is enough) with like half a meter of tubing and the behavior should mostly stop as the older individuals will gather in that second outworld or in the water tube there (this will also likely result in most of the dead accumulating there so you don't have to grab them out of the main outworld where most of the ants are).
A mini hearth will sustain them for quite some time. You can probably move them in once they have between 10-20 workers. I’d suggest to just wait until they are almost overflowing and then order a new formicarium.
Thank you. I have another question, can ants become accustomed to light? Like, once a colony is established in a formicarium, can they be kept in a lit room without a red filter over the glass? I assume that tolerance varies from species to species, right?
This really depends on the species. There are ants that have no issue nesting in bright light (Lasius niger can get used to it, most of the invasive Nylanderia species really don't care to begin with), many Camponotus though tend to be mostly nocturnal so it's a bit more tricky with them. Some ants will also react with sticking dirt (my Myrmica did this) or their feeces (Messor love to do that) to the glass, completely blocking off sight. Generally keeping them in the dark is the more natural approach.
Edited by Serafine, August 12 2022 - 4:38 AM.
