9 replies to this topic

[MacGruoch]

Crystals and I started a short discussion but since that was in the introduction section I thought it might be better to open a new topic in the 'General' section if that exchange was to proceed..

Moreover, thank you very much, Crystals, for your YouTube videos.

 

My choice right after my beloved Myrmecocystus would be the Camponotus americanus.

Hopefully they are as non-aggressive as I read about their relatives, C. castaneus. Maybe one of the members here has some experience with C. americanus?

 

Another question I would like to ask is:

How did you start? What was your very first setup when you became antkeepers?

 

 

[Crystals]

Do you know which province you will be moving to?

 

Camponotus, Formica, and Myrmica are the most common up here, although there are quite a few other species around if you look for them.

 

I have a Camponotus herculeanus colony, they are very common up here.  Easy going and calm, but Camponotus are a slower growing species.

There are at least 7 Camponotus species that I know of in Canada.  I have encountered Camponotus herculeanus, C. modoc, and C. vicinus in my short hikes last year.

 

Most queens are started in the test tube setups.  Once they have 8 workers or so, I tend to move them into a small 3-4 chamber nest as I find nanitics to not be the brightest of ants. 

I started with grout nests, which worked very well until my colonies outgrew them.  I really enjoy using firebrick now.  I have both videos and photo how-to's for both types somewhere on this forum for people who like to try their hand at building. 

 

There is a pinned post on pictures of formicariums and outworlds: http://forum.formicu...-and-outworlds/

I love looking through it for ideas.

[MacGruoch]

I am aiming for BC, either Van or Vic. Preferably Van or the close proximity.

When you told me that it is not allowed to transport non endemic ant species across the border, did you mean every province or the Canadian border?

 

I am not exactly that much of a tinkerer (I envy you for that gift  ) which is why I was thinking about a setup from AntsCanada or Antstore.

[Tspivey16]

You can check out Tar Heel Ants too for formacariums.

[Crystals]

To simplify the shipping regulations in Canada - no queens are allowed to pass over the Canadian border whether or not they are native.  Species not native are a definite no-no (unless you get a permit - which is far harder to get in Canada than in the US, or if you work at a zoo with special permissions or something).

 

You could ship ants from BC to PEI if you wanted, there are no regulations about shipping ants between provinces.  You just can't cross the Canadian border.

 

BC is a good location, especially along the coast as you have a lot of species due to warmer weather.  Prenolepis imparis (false honey ant) has been spotted along the southern BC coast.

BC ants: http://www.antweb.or...nts&images=true

 

www.tarheelants.com and www.antscanada.com both have interesting formicariums.  I sell some formicariums as well.

[Lieutenant Redundant]

I find that if your parents are ok with her, then she's the one.

[Mercutia]

^ Lololololol!

[WeatherAnt]

I started by finding the Yuku ant forum, realized ant-keeping was a thing (always liked ants but it never occurred to me to actually keep them), bought test tubes ... walked out my door a day later and within 15 steps from my door I found a Tetramorium queen.

[Michaelofvancouver]

I started by finding the Yuku ant forum, realized ant-keeping was a thing (always liked ants but it never occurred to me to actually keep them), bought test tubes ... walked out my door a day later and within 15 steps from my door I found a Tetramorium queen.

 LOL! You're a lot luckier than me. 

[WeatherAnt]

 LOL! You're a lot luckier than me. 

 

I wouldn't consider it luck ... I can find queens like it's my job.