5 replies to this topic

[Enderz]

I'm new to anting and was thinking of maybe buying them from drew, but i don't know if it would be good for me to start off fresh with these ants. Do you think i should? 

 

Species is: Pogonomyrmex rugosus 

Edited by EnderzATwar411, September 22 2016 - 8:02 PM.

[Foogoo]

YMMV but IMO no. Crematogaster was one of the first species I started off, the original colony I still have and enjoy. 

 

Edit: Your mileage may vary but in my opinion, no.

Edited by Foogoo, September 22 2016 - 8:52 PM.

[Canadian anter]

YMMV but IMO no. Crematogaster was one of the first species I started off, the original colony I still have and enjoy.

what does that mean?

[Enderz]

 

YMMV but IMO no. Crematogaster was one of the first species I started off, the original colony I still have and enjoy.

what does that mean?

 

He's saying that in his opinion that Crematogaster ant is better than what i said but Pogonomyrmex rugosus ant is still a good choice

[Foogoo]

Edited for clarity. I actually meant I wouldn't recommend Pogonomyrmex as a first species. It was actually my first species as well, didn't go very far.

[Vendayn]

My first successful colony was Solenopsis invicta. But, they grew too fast and I had no idea what to do as a kid keeping a massive colony.

 

My second successful colony was Pogonomyrmex californicus (the bi-color ones from out in the desert), but I used too much sand and they did so good, they crushed themselves in a massive collapse of sand.

 

Both super easy, just needed more learning and experience.

 

I personally NEVER do good with Crematogaster or Camponotus. Every single Crematogaster queen I've ever had dies, gets 1-2 workers and dies (and getting workers is super rare for me for this genus). And Camponotus always die on me too, but I usually get to 1-3 workers with them. Except, Camponotus modoc I did really well with and those are the single only Camponotus I've had that did good. Overall, Crematogaster and Camponotus are incredibly challenging for me.

 

Personally, I find desert and other harsh climate ants to be vastly easier. They are a lot hardier and survive a lot better. The Pogonomyrmex found on the coast I never do good with, but the ones out in the desert are really easy. I have a Pogonomyrmex rugosus colony and they are doing great, but I boosted them with Pogonomyrmex californicus brood. Which, Pogonomyrmex do way better if you boost them I noticed.

 

I also have huge success with Forelius mccooki/pruinosus (which are the only ants active in 120 degree weather), those are super easy. 

 

Guess everyone is different, since Foogoo finds Crematogaster easy. I just find them too hard, so I barely bother even picking up queens of that genus. This year I got a bunch of Crematogaster queens and they all died. Next year, I'm probably going to just completely ignore them. Camponotus slightly easier, but outside of Camponotus modoc, they always die after they get the first workers.

Edited by Vendayn, September 22 2016 - 9:06 PM.