New Ant Keeper - Black Cocktail Ants

[MaeganWink]

Hello everyone!

I'm a high school Ecology/Marine Science/Biology teacher and a new ant keeper!

I recently got my first queen and workers from a GAN farmer yesterday. He says they are a type of Crematogaster. They are all black, so I'm assuming they are Black Cocktail Ants (Crematogaster peringueyi) but I'm not 100% sure.

I've ordered an Ant Tower from AC for them. I was told by the GAN farmer that they need heat, so I have a heating pad wrapped in a towel on one side of the current test-tube setup.

Does anyone have any tips for these guys, especially when it comes to heat? I don't want to overheat them, but obviously I want to keep them warm enough. If it is the species I think it is, they're from a warmer climate so the heat would mate sense.

Overall suggestions?

[antperson24]

Hello everyone!

I'm a high school Ecology/Marine Science/Biology teacher and a new ant keeper!

I recently got my first queen and workers from a GAN farmer yesterday. He says they are a type of Crematogaster. They are all black, so I'm assuming they are Black Cocktail Ants (Crematogaster peringueyi) but I'm not 100% sure.

I've ordered an Ant Tower from AC for them. I was told by the GAN farmer that they need heat, so I have a heating pad wrapped in a towel on one side of the current test-tube setup.

Does anyone have any tips for these guys, especially when it comes to heat? I don't want to overheat them, but obviously I want to keep them warm enough. If it is the species I think it is, they're from a warmer climate so the heat would mate sense.

Overall suggestions?

A heating cable from AC would work best, as they are made for ants.

[SolenopsisKeeper]

Hello everyone!

I'm a high school Ecology/Marine Science/Biology teacher and a new ant keeper!

I recently got my first queen and workers from a GAN farmer yesterday. He says they are a type of Crematogaster. They are all black, so I'm assuming they are Black Cocktail Ants (Crematogaster peringueyi) but I'm not 100% sure.

I've ordered an Ant Tower from AC for them. I was told by the GAN farmer that they need heat, so I have a heating pad wrapped in a towel on one side of the current test-tube setup.

Does anyone have any tips for these guys, especially when it comes to heat? I don't want to overheat them, but obviously I want to keep them warm enough. If it is the species I think it is, they're from a warmer climate so the heat would mate sense.

Overall suggestions?

Zoomed heating cable plus a good humidity gradient

They should prefer wood nests so….