14 replies to this topic

[RazzCicle767]

I am looking for a queen/small colony of pheidole rhea but no website ships to my state and they are one of my dream colonies. If anyone knows a solution to this please answer.
Thanks.

[Zhuge]

You need to have your location in your profile to buy or sell ants here.

[RazzCicle767]

How do I put my location on display? Also I live in Texas

[kiedeerk]

Pheidole Rhea is not native to Texas. You would have to have a permit. If not it’s not legal to ship

[ANTdrew]

Learn how to appreciate and successfully keep your local ants before looking all over for exotic species.

[kiedeerk]

Texas is like one of the best states to be in for ant keeping. you have so many cool species that are native.

[RazzCicle767]

I am quite experienced with keeping many native species, in fact I caught 2 camponotus queens and an odd red ant today. How do I get a permit?

[ANTdrew]

I said *successfully* keeping local species.

[Zhuge]

Texas local sp are sooo cool. You have atta and stuff. 

[RazzCicle767]

I

[RushmoreAnts]

How do I get a permit?

In order to get a permit, you must:

 

1. Be 18.

2. Navigate the extremely confusing and unnecessarily complicated USDA website and apply for the import permit (export permit is different).

3. Once you apply, wait for several weeks to several months to get a response from the underfunded and understaffed department that just got its budget cut.

4. Build a 'secure containment facility' exactly to USDA government standards. Whether you have the money, time, or expertise to build such a facility is your discretion. 

5. USDA agents will potentially inspect your property to ensure your containment facility is up to government standards.

6. Once the permit is secured, find a reputable, active vendor selling the species (there are none currently).

7. Shell out around $200.00 at least (this is what Statesideants sold them for; I've seen vendors go higher).

 

Or... acknowledge that there are many species in Texas that are far cooler than Pheidole rhea that you wouldn't need a permit for...

[AntsTx]

Pheidole obtusospinosa are basically rhea, but native. The only problem is there are like no vendors that sell them. I've been trying to get my hands on a colony of them since I started antkeeping.

Edited by AntsTx, June 9 2025 - 8:57 PM.

[Mettcollsuss]

Pheidole obtusospinosa are basically rhea, but native. The only problem is there are like no vendors that sell them. I've been trying to get my hands on a colony of them since I started antkeeping.

I would argue that the only real similarity between obtusospinosa and rhea is that they are both trimorphic. P. obtusospinosa is more akin to a regular Pheidole that has an additional supermajor caste, it doesn't really approach the sheer scale of rhea's physical size and massive colonies. That being said, it is definitely a cool species; I greatly enjoy even regular Pheidole so the supermajor caste is a cool bonus.

[AntsTx]

I meant that they were the closest thing that you were gonna get if you lived in Texas to P. rhea. 

[RazzCicle767]

Ok thank you all for your responses