Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)

Questions from those who are just starting or considering getting into the ant keeping hobby. If you’re intimidated or confused by the in-depth posts of the other sections of this forum, feel free to post here, and we'll start from square one!

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Trollzy1234
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2018 12:51 am

Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)

Post: # 52355Post Trollzy1234
Sat Oct 13, 2018 1:17 am

Hi everyone,

Glad to join the community. I just recently bought a colony of Camponotus spp (8-10 workers + 1 queen) a week ago. I've attached my setup in the pictures below. It's basically a sandwich container with a cut out netting overtop to allow for airflow and my deterrent is baby powder and isopropyl alcohol placed on the inside edges. Inside is a bunch of dirt and a bottle cap where honey can be placed for consumption. The test tube setup and water trapped with cotton is also inside the sandwich container but the ants can freely move out of the test tube if needed. The test tube is wrapped with aluminum and a paper cover to keep it as dark as possible.

I was hoping if it was possible to ID these ants because I'm curious as to what species it could be. Is it also ok if I keep this setup? If not, what can I do to make it better? Also, the ants are on a cabinet in my room at the moment and I'm not sure if it's a suitable spot for them due to how often I come in and out, alternating between having lights on and off. The test tube they're in will stay dark thanks to the cover but the rest of the container will be exposed to light. Can I still keep it in my room or should I move the set somewhere else where the ants aren't exposed to light? I've noticed that the ants have taken the dirt and placed it at the opening of the test tube and have barricaded themselves in. Is this normal? Finally, I'm really unsure about what to do for hibernation. Can anyone give me a debrief on what needs to happen so that my ants can hibernate?

Sorry about droning on with the questions and thanks in advance! :P

https://i.imgur.com/Tg92JJM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/A2y1Jwr.jpg

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)

Post: # 52427Post AntsDakota
Sun Oct 14, 2018 8:35 am

Trollzy1234 wrote:
Sat Oct 13, 2018 1:17 am
Hi everyone,

Glad to join the community. I just recently bought a colony of Camponotus spp (8-10 workers + 1 queen) a week ago. I've attached my setup in the pictures below. It's basically a sandwich container with a cut out netting overtop to allow for airflow and my deterrent is baby powder and isopropyl alcohol placed on the inside edges. Inside is a bunch of dirt and a bottle cap where honey can be placed for consumption. The test tube setup and water trapped with cotton is also inside the sandwich container but the ants can freely move out of the test tube if needed. The test tube is wrapped with aluminum and a paper cover to keep it as dark as possible.

I was hoping if it was possible to ID these ants because I'm curious as to what species it could be. Is it also ok if I keep this setup? If not, what can I do to make it better? Also, the ants are on a cabinet in my room at the moment and I'm not sure if it's a suitable spot for them due to how often I come in and out, alternating between having lights on and off. The test tube they're in will stay dark thanks to the cover but the rest of the container will be exposed to light. Can I still keep it in my room or should I move the set somewhere else where the ants aren't exposed to light? I've noticed that the ants have taken the dirt and placed it at the opening of the test tube and have barricaded themselves in. Is this normal? Finally, I'm really unsure about what to do for hibernation. Can anyone give me a debrief on what needs to happen so that my ants can hibernate?

Sorry about droning on with the questions and thanks in advance! :P

https://i.imgur.com/Tg92JJM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/A2y1Jwr.jpg
Put the ants in the fridge, or your garage. Give them some food to live off of and check on them once a month.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

JoeHostile1
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Location: Canada
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Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)

Post: # 52466Post JoeHostile1
Mon Oct 15, 2018 9:21 am

The species is Camponotus novaeboracensis.
Using tinfoil to cover test tubes isn’t a great idea because the tinfoil insulates the testube and because of the water the testube will be colder than if you left it uncovered or covered it with something else like cloth or paper.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA

Trollzy1234
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2018 12:51 am

Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)

Post: # 52469Post Trollzy1234
Mon Oct 15, 2018 11:24 am

Thanks for the advice and for the ID!

Putting them in the fridge would be a huge NOPE thanks to my parents and my house is kind of infested with spiders especially in the garage... I'm a little scared that my ants might get attacked even though the container is sealed and the meshing on the net is too small for spiders to get in but thats probably just me worrying too much. Also, do these ants need any light during hibernation? The garage door is being opened everyday and theres this big noise it always makes when it opens/closes. Wondering if this would disturb the ants along with any exhaust from the car that we park inside the garage? I could place the container in the garage if these issues won't be a problem but would any other unheated area be suitable as well?

Also, thanks for the suggestion on removing the aluminum foil. I'll be getting rid of it and using the paper cover instead.

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)

Post: # 52609Post AntsDakota
Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:37 pm

Spiders tend to stay clear of ants because ants can be very aggressive. If you have an enclosed setup, the chances of a spider getting inside are pretty minimal. Except very small spiders, but they are more likely to be ant food than anything else.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

Trollzy1234
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2018 12:51 am

Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)

Post: # 52753Post Trollzy1234
Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:10 pm

AntsDakota wrote:
Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:37 pm
Spiders tend to stay clear of ants because ants can be very aggressive. If you have an enclosed setup, the chances of a spider getting inside are pretty minimal. Except very small spiders, but they are more likely to be ant food than anything else.
Thanks for clearing that up. As I mentioned before, my garage is pretty loud when it's being opened/closed and we always bring the car inside... Would this disturb the ants?

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)

Post: # 52757Post AntsDakota
Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:56 pm

Trollzy1234 wrote:
Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:10 pm
AntsDakota wrote:
Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:37 pm
Spiders tend to stay clear of ants because ants can be very aggressive. If you have an enclosed setup, the chances of a spider getting inside are pretty minimal. Except very small spiders, but they are more likely to be ant food than anything else.
Thanks for clearing that up. As I mentioned before, my garage is pretty loud when it's being opened/closed and we always bring the car inside... Would this disturb the ants?
Ants can't hear. If the garage absolutely shakes the ground when it opens, that could be a problem. Yet when ants are in deep freeze, they don't feel a thing.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

Kellystall
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2018 4:31 am
Location: USA

Noob Ant Keeper Camponotus spp

Post: # 54442Post Kellystall
Thu Dec 06, 2018 4:13 pm

Im going to brazil tomorrow and I was wondering if the were any antkepers there because I was hoping if allowed I could bring some ant queens back?

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antnest8
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Location: Detroit, MI

Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)

Post: # 54760Post antnest8
Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:48 pm

It's not really Brazil's laws you have to worry about its the U.S's laws. The U.S does not allow importing ant's like that without specific licences.
Some of My Informative Sheets
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
Includes :
  • Ant Care Sheets
    Queen Hunting
    How To Identify Ants
Goal is to become #2 poster on the forum

JoeHostile1
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Re: Noob Ant Keeper (Camponotus spp.)

Post: # 54794Post JoeHostile1
Fri Dec 14, 2018 10:02 am

antnest8 wrote:
Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:48 pm
It's not really Brazil's laws you have to worry about its the U.S's laws. The U.S does not allow importing ant's like that without specific licences.
That is of course if he lives in America otherwise the U.S laws are irrelevant.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA

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