16 replies to this topic

[AntsTopia]

Hello everyone I am making decisions on a lot of things but one of them is to keep all the ants I have always wanted as an ant-keeper but was limited to Florida ants and New York ants. I have decided to go back and forth between New York and Nicaragua. Now I can order ants from other countries freely without breaking the law in Nicaragua. However this may seem like a problem to some of you so I am going to try to order the non invasive ants for you guys and my own self dignity. So if I pop up with a Carebara Diversa journal or a Polyrachis Dives journal don’t be surprised as I will use all the ants and websites to my aid on trying to add exotic ants to my collection. You may be wondering, while I’m in Nicaragua who will be caring for my New York ants and who will be caring for my ants in Nicaragua while I’m in New York? Well I will have one of my friends caring for them in New York and one of my family members in Nicaragua will tend to the ants there. So far it sounds like a plan and I have already bought a house in Nicaragua. I can update my journals while I’m in the other place because the care takers will be taking pictures and sending them to me. I want to hear you guys thoughts and whether you guys think I should move to another country for ants lol.

Edited by AntsTopia, August 11 2023 - 9:27 PM.

[bmb1bee]

This sounds like a decent plan. Good luck on keeping ants in both regions!

[ANTdrew]

I don’t know, man. Have you even visited the house you bought? Much of Central America is not a good place to be right now, which is why thousands are flooding our border everyday. Do you have decent job prospects down there? Keep in mind that there is basically no functioning mail system to order your ants, feeders, or gear. Not to mention that Nicaragua is controlled by an oppressive dictator at the moment.

[Ottercl]

I agree with ANTdrew, Nicaragua is one of the most turbulent and dangerous countries in North America. If you really want to move to the tropics, so where like neighboring Costa Rica would likely be much better. I’ve been a couple times and it is very safe and beautiful. Plus, last time I was there I saw dozens of leaf cutter ant queens just walking around!

[AntsTopia]

Well here is the thing I’m pretty sure one of my grandparents long ago was a dictator and now my family has like 20 houses and they have sent me pics of one of their best and I bought for cheap. I have an online job that pays well in New York so I feel kind of ready to go down there. I don’t have any family in Costa Rica so I would prefer where I do. One of my family members there runs a ant shop with lots of cool species and sells them in Central America. I am still making out the plans but I think I should be there by next week hopefully. It will be really ironic if I have a leaf cutter colony in New York and can’t find one in Nicaragua. 

[100lols]

Although dangerous, having family there is a big plus. They will likely be able to teach you “street smarts.” A bold and courageous move for the sake of ants. Kind of love it! But honestly, I’d NEVER do something similar, because my situation is very different than yours.

If you have failsafe plans in effect, keeping and documenting species from Nicaragua could be beneficial to science.

[ANTdrew]

DO NOT bring in any Asian species that could actually survive and potentially destroy Nicaragua’s ecosystem. It would actually be infinitely better for you to smuggle these tropical species into New York without risking being the cause of ecological destruction, not to mention getting shot by gang bangers, drug dealers, or dictator’s henchmen.

[JustabirdfromFlorida]

DO NOT bring in any Asian species that could actually survive and potentially destroy Nicaragua’s ecosystem. It would actually be infinitely better for you to smuggle these tropical species into New York without risking being the cause of ecological destruction, not to mention getting shot by gang bangers, drug dealers, or dictator’s henchmen.

Why are we talking about smuggling tropical ants into New York??  

[AntsTopia]

DO NOT bring in any Asian species that could actually survive and potentially destroy Nicaragua’s ecosystem. It would actually be infinitely better for you to smuggle these tropical species into New York without risking being the cause of ecological destruction, not to mention getting shot by gang bangers, drug dealers, or dictator’s henchmen.

I would much rather destroy an ecosystem that people hardly ever visit because of its poverty and possibility to get killed than break several US laws. Second of all the only Asian ant species I would order would be Carebara Diversa and that’s pretty much it. Carebara Diversa could not survive the local ants such as Tropical fire ants and African Big headed ants. Second of all Diversa would need a second colony to produce more colonies. If I do order from Asia or other countries I will order only colonies that are native or I know could not survive the existing ecosystem.

Edited by AntsTopia, August 12 2023 - 2:44 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Laws come and go. Ecosystems take millions of years to create. You have absolutely no idea what species could or could not invade Nicaragua. You need to stop.

[AntsTopia]

Laws come and go. Ecosystems take millions of years to create. You have absolutely no idea what species could or could not invade Nicaragua. You need to stop.

Alright. I will only order ants that are native to Nicaragua. If I do order ants that are not native, who says that I will let them free or that they will escape? I did not buy a house that has dirt floors and cracks in the walls, the house is decent and the ants would have to be extremely small and elusive to escape my house. 

Edited by AntsTopia, August 12 2023 - 3:43 PM.

[ANTdrew]

According to antweb, Nicaragua has 507 species of amazing ants. Why would you honestly feel the need to smuggle in Asian species?
https://www.antweb.o...yName=Nicaragua

[AntsTopia]

According to antweb, Nicaragua has 507 species of amazing ants. Why would you honestly feel the need to smuggle in Asian species?
https://www.antweb.o...yName=Nicaragua

I do not need to smuggle the Nicaraguan government does not care about ants. Plus I’m not physically going to Asia, I would order them from a laptop. 

Edited by AntsTopia, August 12 2023 - 3:45 PM.

[DevinTheAntKeeper]

 

According to antweb, Nicaragua has 507 species of amazing ants. Why would you honestly feel the need to smuggle in Asian species?
https://www.antweb.o...yName=Nicaragua

I do not need to smuggle the Nicaraguan government does not care about ants. Plus I’m not physically going to Asia, I would order them from a laptop. 

Your not getting the point. As antdrew said, its better to get native ants then non native ants. And you never know when those ants can escape. Because some are escape artist.

[gcsnelling]

Ooh boy another one.

[AntsTopia]

This will get no one nowhere and this will turn into a full out argument. I do not wish to proceeded any longer with this thread. I will do what I think is right and that is legal in the country I am in. With this I would like for someone to delete or lock this topic.

Edited by AntsTopia, August 13 2023 - 7:33 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Done. Good riddance.