The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

I thought I would journal one of my Monomorium minimum colonies. These ants are quite small (2mm in length), so I designed a Hybrid nest just for them with narrow and shallow passages and chambers. The shallowness of the passages and chambers allow for better viewing of these smaller ants as it puts them right up next to the viewing glass.

This colony is about 1 year old with one queen and at last count (2 weeks ago) had a little over 200 workers. I suspect the colony size is approaching 300 now as the colony has a huge number of brood. I have been feeding them crushed dry cat food, crickets, and cookie crumbs. Due to their small size, they have been a little problematic to keep contained. I think I have plugged all the holes now though.

I kept them in a test tube until they had 50 workers or so and a large brood then connected them to the new Hybrid nest. The outworld (damaged) is from an Omni Nest Large and has worked out perfectly for them. A few pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Looks like they are doing really well! Thanks for sharing the info and pics!

Thank you for sharing pics. I'm already learning a lot in this forum...getting some great ideas for my formicarium set-ups to come. Now if I can just get the ball rolling by finding a queen!

August 19, 2016
Video of my Monomorium minimum colony. They have expanded into a second Hybrid Nest. There must be several hundred workers now.

ooper01 wrote:August 19, 2016
Video of my Monomorium minimum colony. They have expanded into a second Hybrid Nest. There must be several hundred workers now

I don't think I have to be too experienced to say that they probably need a bigger or another attached outworld soon. There is probably 5-7 ants per square inch choked up in that outworld. Hope you have plans for that.

Austheboss wrote:

ooper01 wrote:August 19, 2016
Video of my Monomorium minimum colony. They have expanded into a second Hybrid Nest. There must be several hundred workers now

I don't think I have to be too experienced to say that they probably need a bigger or another attached outworld soon. There is probably 5-7 ants per square inch choked up in that outworld. Hope you have plans for that.

Very observant you are! Yes, I have already upgraded the outworld and have also provided some additional nesting space. They are loving it! I will include some pictures with my next update.

Thanks! You have a great colony! I love the pictures, it's always cool to see the inside of the ant colonies (even my mini colonies I have, my dad is still amazed I got queens that can lay eggs and get workers!).

U sure that's not tetramorium

Canadiananter wrote:U sure that's not tetramorium

Not 100% sure. Why do you ask? In the research I did, I could not find any pics of Tetramorium that looked like these and that were also as small as these.

Discovered today, with the help and input of Canadiananter and Batspiderfish, that this colony is in fact Tetramorium sp. E rather than Monomorium minimum. Thanks guys!