Knowledge base
Ant knowledge base
Use this as a simplified wiki for species care, shipping notes, founder setups, and common keeper guidance.
Article index
Basic ant keeping setup checklist
Hey everyone! Here’s a simple, practical checklist for setting up an ant colony — whether you’re just starting or making sure you’ve got everything covered.
Getting started with queen ant sales
Hey everyone this is a guide focused specifically on ants and other invertebrates, not mammals/reptiles (which follow much stricter licensing systems).
Myrmecia Brevinoda Care Guide
Hey everyone! I put together a proper, fact-based care guide for Myrmecia brevinoda — one of Australia’s most iconic (and intense) ants. This species is very rewarding but NOT beginner-friendly.
Article
Myrmecia Brevinoda Care Guide
Hey everyone! I put together a proper, fact-based care guide for Myrmecia brevinoda — one of Australia’s most iconic (and intense) ants. This species is very rewarding but NOT beginner-friendly.
🌿 Species Overview
Common name: Giant Bull Ant
Location: Australia
Size: Queens ~20–25 mm
Traits: Excellent vision, fast, highly aggressive
Sting: Very painful (can be medically significant)
Unlike most ants, Myrmecia rely heavily on vision and active hunting rather than pheromone trails.
👑 Collecting a Queen
When: Late spring–summer (often after warm rain)
Where: Open woodland, bush edges, sandy soil
Queens are often found walking on the ground searching for nest sites.
⚠️ Do NOT handle directly — use a vial or forceps.
🧪 Founding Stage (IMPORTANT)
Use a standard test tube setup (water + cotton)
Keep dark and stable at 22–26°C
KEY FACT: This species is semi-claustral
→ The queen MUST be fed during founding
Feed every 2–3 days:
Small insects (fruit flies, tiny crickets)
Sugar water or honey
Remove leftovers to prevent mold.
🐣 First Workers (Nanitics)
Timeline: ~6–10 weeks
Care:
Keep disturbance low
Continue protein + sugar feeding
Moderate humidity (not too wet)
🏠 Moving to a Formicarium
Move at around 5–15 workers
Best setups:
Ytong or natural nests
Tub-and-tube setups (recommended early)
Avoid:
Excess humidity
Complex acrylic nests
Myrmecia prefer simple, spacious setups.
🍗 Feeding a Growing Colony
Protein:
Crickets
Mealworms
Roaches
Flies
Carbs:
Sugar water
Honey water
Schedule:
Small colonies: every 2–3 days
Larger colonies: daily or every second day
They respond best to live or freshly killed prey.
🌡️ Conditions
Temperature: 22–28°C
Humidity: Moderate (with gradient)
Light: Tolerant, but prefer dark nests
⚠️ Safety
Always use feeding tools
Use PTFE/fluon barriers
Secure all enclosures
Their sting is serious — treat with respect.
🏗️ Mature Colony Care
Colonies stay relatively small (dozens to low hundreds)
Increased food demand
Larger outworld needed
Maintenance:
Clean regularly
Remove waste/prey remains
Watch for mold
🧠 Behaviour Notes
Strong eyesight
Minimal pheromone trails
Solitary hunting behaviour
Highly reactive to movement
❌ Common Mistakes
Not feeding the founding queen
Too much humidity
Disturbing early stages
Poor escape prevention
Handling without precautions
✅ Final Thoughts
Myrmecia brevinoda are one of the most fascinating ants you can keep, but they require:
✔ Regular feeding
✔ Careful setup
✔ Respect for their aggression
If done right, they’re incredibly rewarding.
Common name: Giant Bull Ant
Location: Australia
Size: Queens ~20–25 mm
Traits: Excellent vision, fast, highly aggressive
Sting: Very painful (can be medically significant)
Unlike most ants, Myrmecia rely heavily on vision and active hunting rather than pheromone trails.
👑 Collecting a Queen
When: Late spring–summer (often after warm rain)
Where: Open woodland, bush edges, sandy soil
Queens are often found walking on the ground searching for nest sites.
⚠️ Do NOT handle directly — use a vial or forceps.
🧪 Founding Stage (IMPORTANT)
Use a standard test tube setup (water + cotton)
Keep dark and stable at 22–26°C
KEY FACT: This species is semi-claustral
→ The queen MUST be fed during founding
Feed every 2–3 days:
Small insects (fruit flies, tiny crickets)
Sugar water or honey
Remove leftovers to prevent mold.
🐣 First Workers (Nanitics)
Timeline: ~6–10 weeks
Care:
Keep disturbance low
Continue protein + sugar feeding
Moderate humidity (not too wet)
🏠 Moving to a Formicarium
Move at around 5–15 workers
Best setups:
Ytong or natural nests
Tub-and-tube setups (recommended early)
Avoid:
Excess humidity
Complex acrylic nests
Myrmecia prefer simple, spacious setups.
🍗 Feeding a Growing Colony
Protein:
Crickets
Mealworms
Roaches
Flies
Carbs:
Sugar water
Honey water
Schedule:
Small colonies: every 2–3 days
Larger colonies: daily or every second day
They respond best to live or freshly killed prey.
🌡️ Conditions
Temperature: 22–28°C
Humidity: Moderate (with gradient)
Light: Tolerant, but prefer dark nests
⚠️ Safety
Always use feeding tools
Use PTFE/fluon barriers
Secure all enclosures
Their sting is serious — treat with respect.
🏗️ Mature Colony Care
Colonies stay relatively small (dozens to low hundreds)
Increased food demand
Larger outworld needed
Maintenance:
Clean regularly
Remove waste/prey remains
Watch for mold
🧠 Behaviour Notes
Strong eyesight
Minimal pheromone trails
Solitary hunting behaviour
Highly reactive to movement
❌ Common Mistakes
Not feeding the founding queen
Too much humidity
Disturbing early stages
Poor escape prevention
Handling without precautions
✅ Final Thoughts
Myrmecia brevinoda are one of the most fascinating ants you can keep, but they require:
✔ Regular feeding
✔ Careful setup
✔ Respect for their aggression
If done right, they’re incredibly rewarding.