Should the first formicarium be large or small?

Show us your formicariums and ant setup, ask formicarium-related questions, or share your experiences with building an ant home. Here you will also find formicarium requirements for specific ant species.

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LoganGamingX

Should the first formicarium be large or small?

Post: # 33893Post LoganGamingX
Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:13 pm

Hello,

I am a new ant keeper and while I am waiting for nuptial flight to begin I am doing as much research as possible. One thing I can not find however is the size of the first formicarium. I plan on using the test tube setup but then when I move it to the formicarium I am not sure what the size will be. I also do not have the money to afford the ant Canada sets unfortunately so I have been needing to look at other companies so for the first formicarium should it be large or smaller. And I am just wondering about the formicarium and not the out world.

Thanks

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Jadeninja9
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Re: Should the first formicarium be large or small?

Post: # 33894Post Jadeninja9
Fri Feb 09, 2018 2:46 am

Small. Move the colony into a formicarium when they have at least 40 workers.
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antnest8
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Re: Should the first formicarium be large or small?

Post: # 33896Post antnest8
Fri Feb 09, 2018 5:08 am

you could put them in a founding Formicarium with even just the queen. they have about one chamber and work well.

though I do recommend the normal test tube set up.
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Delphie
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Re: Should the first formicarium be large or small?

Post: # 34012Post Delphie
Thu Feb 15, 2018 10:00 pm

I found the founding formicaria and inception chambers very difficult to maintain a decent moisture level. It might be better to offer the colony a larger test tube in a relatively inexpensive container until there are sufficient workers to move them into 3-4 chamber formicarium. If it is too large, the little devils fill up the empty spaces with moldy trash.

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