First year Camponotus formicarium

[Whitelotus]

So I have seen that it is best to place a Camponotus colony into a formicarium until the colony reaches about 20-50 workers, which does not occur until the second year.
To those who have more experience with Camponotus ants, what do you guys do as far as an outworld or a nest before that point?

[CabboAntsGuy]

Hello Whitelotus, My plan for my camponotus pennsylvanicus colony is to take a plastic container, and attach the container to it and make a mini outworld. or you could get the AC test tube portal and use a few test tubes for the whole thing. whatever works for you.

[Hawkeye]

So I have seen that it is best to place a Camponotus colony into a formicarium until the colony reaches about 20-50 workers, which does not occur until the second year.
To those who have more experience with Camponotus ants, what do you guys do as far as an outworld or a nest before that point?

I used an ice cream bucket with a tiny layer of soil at the bottom. I just placed the tube in there without the outer cotton ball, and used the soil to secure the tube to prevent it from rolling around.

[Leiflen]

my first outworld for a fledgling colony is an AC test tube portal. the outworld doesn't need to be big at that stage and i find the removable plugs make putting in food items a breeze while keeping the ants inside