Hello everyone! I've been lurking around here for some time and now feel that I should contribute to the forum. I have been keeping ants as pets on and off for over 15 years. Currently, I have about 30 colonies under my care. All of which were started from a single queen. Not many people know that queen ants can live to be upwards of 20 years old! In their lifetime, they lay thousands if not hundreds of thousands of eggs, depending on the species.
This is a complete species list of those I am currently keeping.
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Camponotus nearcticus
Camponotus novaeboracensis
Formica pallidefulva
Formica subsericea
Formica integra
Pheidole bicarinata
Tetramorium caespitum
Lasius neoniger
Lasius flavus
Aphaenogaster fulva
Aphaenogaster rudis
Stigmatomma pallipes
Myrmica sp. (unidentified at the species level)
Myrmica sp. (unidentified at the species level)
Dorymyrmex bicolor
Crematogaster lineolata
I would love to share more photos and videos if people have interest in seeing them. Ants are somewhat of a passion of mine.
To feed them, I raise meal worms as a feeder insect. I'd like to start a colony of Dubia roaches as well. Additionally, I use a protein/sugar mix which I buy from a company out of North Carolina.
All of my formicaria (ant farms) are professional grade manufactured by Tar Heel Ants. None of which allow the ants to dig, which is very important when raising ants. Most ant farms people are used to will kill the occupants with mold. Gel farms and other Uncle Milton farms are absolutely horrible for raising ants. I would compare it to raising fish in a water glass filled with mud water.
Without further ado, here are a few photos! Until next time, enjoy!
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk227...5cb27f.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk227...3910699844
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk227...3910758108
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk227...3910824073
The last photo is a Formica pallidefulva queen helping her newest daughter out of her cacoon.
| 
›
My Ant Farms (Large photo warning!)
