Rainbow Ant Colony (Part 3)

A captive colony of Iridomyrmex bicknelli, commonly known as "Rainbow Ants". These ants were captured and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
WEBSITE
Linktree - linktr.ee/jord...
VIDEO CREDITS
Written, narrated, filmed and edited by Jordan Dean.

[@5450daniel]

They were like, "screw these boxes, we're outta here." Lol

[@KasumiRose77]

Happy ending to a fulfilling 3 year learning experience. I look forward to more update vids.

[@urielvogt8141]

Beautifull last video for this colony :D

[@lectric_ladyland2485]

i dont know why but this looks like alot of fun

[@yoseldumpling]

"To my surprise, almost immediately the colony started to vacate all the nests" They must have really HATED those old nests. or maybe they just thought it was a security problem. I just got a rainbow ant queen and I wonder if one day I will have a colony that big...

[@fionawalker8184]

Oh that kind of made me sad watching them all wonder off - thanks for sharing!

[@ethantorres4061]

2019 anyone?

[@bovinaric6882]

What type of habitats do you use for your ant colonies?

[@JordanDeanFilms]

Test tubes to begin with and later on brick (ytong) nests, like the ones in this video, and occasionally plaster nests too. My preferred habitat is a more naturalistic one, a terrarium as seen here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6WzdIN4eMuhprc&lc=z12dzx04aoquwfdbn04cfvlokrqycd1rsi0

[@JodBronson]

OMG, now you gonna have bunch in your Back Yard :(((((

[@fishysquash6756]

i guess, in a way, he still has them :)

[@ayy4anthony340]

he released them in his neighbors yard duhh

[@joshualiang3485]

nice man i really enjoy your vids. from sydney and i recently caught a camponotus consubrinus :) is your formicarium diy?

[@JordanDeanFilms]

+josh L Thanks Josh and nice find, I've been on the look out for Camponotus queens recently, haven't had any luck as yet. No, all these formicariums I purchased online from the Tar Heel Ants website. Although, the orange brick ones have been altered a bit, they used to be connected together in the pinnacle nest like this -kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGTXco1njqtonpI

[@gregorpoeth4333]

Consobrinus? Here in Germany you would get 1800-2200€ For One queen! Are Myrmecia Queens rare in Australia?

[@kharnifex]

No you just need to be in their habitat during nuptial flight times, preferably with a large lamp and a big white sheet set up on a humid night. Also, even the male's are aggressive!

[@gregorpoeth4333]

kharnifex, that's awesome!

[@ryuukasai3713]

wow they actually are supper smart !

[@ethantorres4061]

why is it so quiet

[@kellyannets8293]

Show the queen more please

[@nikcod9129]

Hey love your vids. I have a question when are queens going to fly?

[@JordanDeanFilms]

+NIK cod Thanks! Here in Australia ant colonies of many different species tend to have their nuptial flights in Spring, Summer and Early Autumn. Different species will fly at different times of the year, for example in my experience, Iridomyrmex mostly fly in spring, Camponotus in summer and Pheidole in Autumn. Most often ant colonies undergo their nuptial flights in warm, humid weather. I find the day after a heavy rainstorm is the best time to go looking for queens.

[@brendonnguyen568]

If you keep Iridomyrmex species in a terrarium how often should you water it?

[@JordanDeanFilms]

How often you should water depends on a few things. What temp they're kept at, the warmer, the more often you'll have to water due to evaporation. Ventilation is another factor, the more you have, again, the more you'll need to water. I keep mine around room temp next to a window where there's a good amount of ventilation. I generally give them a good water once every 2 weeks or so. You'll just have to use your initiative. If the soil looks like it's almost dry, give it a water. Provide them with a moisture gradient, from damp to dry, and you can't go wrong really.

[@melbourneroblox3448]

Wait isn’t Iridomyrmex bicknellie a trail ant

[@bluewerepyregaming1313]

Recently I've been very interested in ant keeping as a hobby since I also have fish I could set aside maintenance time for both my tank and my ant set up, however im not to sure how to start ive been looking at Ant Depot and have been thinking about getting one of the sets with ants as well, only thing is im not sure about anything on keeping ants

[@bluewerepyregaming1313]

Ive also been interested in catching my own queen but i have no idea how, i live in melbourne down in the south western areas near Dandenong and ive been so interested in buying a fornacarium (idk how to spell that properly yet sorry if i stuffed up) thats medium or large and setting up some breeding nests on the sides (All Ants Australia products btw gotta support dear old Aussie land) the only problem is firstly catching a queen, and telling the difference between workers and queens, another thing is while its not to direct i do have sunlight come through my bedroom window and the only place id be able to put any thing is directly infront of the window is there any way i could work around that so i dont hurt the ants, i dont want to go to all the trouble of catching a queen just to lose her or the colony

[@like2review4u60]

Ok. That's one of the saddest videos I've ever seen. It's like saying goodbye to your family. I do have a question, and you'll probably think I'm an idiot, but I'm going to ask anyway. What are the "habitats you have called? The prebuilt tunnels built within those cases. I feel so stupid for asking this question. But what are they called and where do you prefer to get them? Thanks for reading this!

[@Ciel_Winter]

I agree this was super sad but I enjoyed it none the less

[@JordanDeanFilms]

The technical term is "formicarium", but I often just call them nests or sometimes ant farms. Depend on who I'm talking to I guess. Your average person wouldn't know what a formicarium is, but "ant farm", they'd understand :)

[@JordanDeanFilms]

These ones I got from TarHeelAnts a while ago. Nowadays I prefer to just make them myself, much cheaper!

[@Ciel_Winter]

Well I certainly wouldn't have known what you meant altho just simply saying and farm afterwards would clarify either way

[@like2review4u60]

Ok. Follow up question, and I'm probably annoying you, but I really don't want to kill any ants that weren't meant to be killed, but how would you suggest to make them? Maybe you could make a tutorial? Or suggest videos you've seen? Thanks! You're the best!

[@ZoeHopeZanelli]

i will by sum

[@funnybeagle]

you released them into the wild are you insane now youve just gone and released a beast

[@JourneyToTheCage]

funnybeagle these ants are very common in Australia, it won't cause much of a problem

[@wacolony7443]

ive got a queen of this with some a\eggs