r/antkeeping

Week 16 for the Vanguard Legion doesnt look like much growth since last week. My tarheel ants outworld has finally arrived Ill leave a time-lapse of it in the comments.

I bought these ants (Camponotus Bellus) yesterday and I couldn't really identify the queen. Anyway they don't get out of their outdoor world, worried they might be thirsty or what.

Was hyperfixating on ant farms and queens research for 2 days. Figured I was past the time to find out outdoors and was wanting to buy a founding colony asap. Want to the park and I found this in the parking lot, I was ecstatic. Except now I’m hoping it’s not a fire ant. Austin, Tx, was recently rainy. Had wings on capture and now they’re shed in the tube. Can anyone help ID 😁

These and MANY more, right now in Madrid massive flights messor barbarous and crematogaster auberti.

1 year old campo castaneus colony. What’s this big headed pale dudes deal?

Spotted after heavy rainfall casting off their wings, any help IDing these guys please?

Edit: Thanks guys! Was pretty sure but wanted some confirmation

Trying to add a heat cable to my ant test tube as my room gets pretty cold, is this a decent set up for the heat cable and thermometer? These are t immigrants and the thermometer has them seeing at about t 24-25c right now. Is this level of activity good they keep moving back and forth to the heat cable I’m just concerned it’s overheating them without the cable it drops to about 19c. The corks are just to keep the tube from rolling

Poneracantha triangularis

Video recorded with Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

I live in Pennsylvania. I have no experience except watching tons of videos on insects & arachnids. I don’t need all these traits, but I would like a somewhat beginner ant, larger, no hibernation, polymorphic.

Do most people find larger ants more enjoyable? It seems to me it would be. I’m obviously looking for an ant that is fun to watch, that moves a lot and does a lot of stuff too.

https://www.statesideants.com/product-page/camponotus-castaneus?variantId=e694bc0b-cca1-43d5-8419-51567a78ff3c

Leaning towards chestnut carpenter ants from statesideants.com . It says they are from Florida so they may only need a few weeks of diapause or none at all(any comment on that?) They seem to be one of the only larger ants I can get in PA that doesn’t have a long hibernation (like black carpenter ants). Can you guys share your thoughts or pros and cons on this species, or suggest other ones that fit my criteria somewhat well?

They are selling an option 60 ML of sunburst for 20$. Should i get that or is there something pretty much as good, like a honey mix, that is more affordable?

Is it ok for me to buy the ants and get the formicarium a little later (bc you need to wait for them to populate before moving in)? They come in a test tube, aside from food is there anything else I will need right away?

Any more tips on a formicarium for chestnut carpenter ants(or a suggested ant), buying from statesideants, or anything on ant keeping please let me know. Thanks a lot.