3 replies to this topic

[ctantkeeper]

Hey guys, sorry for my absence on the forum, but since ant-season is back in action, i will be here a lot more. i have recently began raising and conducting my own behavioral research on Monomorium emarginatum, a species of ant that was discovered roughly only 27 years ago and has little to no information recorded about it online (or pretty much anywhere for that matter), prompting me to take matters into my own hands. small scavenging ants such as these have proven fun and easy to keep (when caught as fully grown colony that is) and was wondering about  whether or not i should get a wild-caught colony on Tapinoma sessile to add to my little collection. before embarking on this, i would like to know what their diet is like, are their any unusual or interesting behaviors that make this species worth keeping, how much humidity do they need, what do they need in terms of escape prevention, can the live in acrylic formicaria without croaking or trashing the place and any other pieces of information you guys may know. i am planning on going to my mom's boyfriend's house and need to know whether or not i should collect a colony their. i look forward to your responses.

[ctantkeeper]

please respond before 3:30 (that is when i have to go to my mom's boyfriend's house)

[Vendayn]

Tapinoma sessile are a really hard species to keep. A lot of people have issues with keeping them alive (I did), even when given a large variety of food. One person on here seemed to do good with them, forgot who. But, they tend to not do so well in captivity.

 

If you decide to keep them, they need a different type of food each time as they quickly get "bored" with the same thing. I tried that, and still didn't work too well. So, not sure what the actual trick is.

[ctantkeeper]

Thanks, I am considering raising Aphaenogaster rudis instead, since it would provide of bit of contrast with my Monomorium emarginatum colony (in terms of appearance, habitat and behavior).

Edited by ctantkeeper, May 15 2016 - 4:12 PM.