Care Guide - Natal Droptail Ants

Cost to keep

Distribution -

Rating - (Ease of care) - Intermediate - ★★☆☆☆☆

Setup Requirements:

To get started, I recommend using a Wakooshi set that includes nests and outworlds. For the first few years, the Large Saturn Nest is an excellent choice. Wakooshi offers this as part of their Extra Large Complete Set, which is priced at approximately £100. Make sure to select the Gypsum version, as it’s perfect for medium to large ants (4-20mm). This starter nest provides plenty of space for your colony’s growth, and the queen will quickly settle in. When I began, I only had 15 ants, and within a year, my colony expanded to an impressive 250-300 ants. This setup has been incredibly reliable for me.

I also recommend investing in additional tubing and a connection hub. These will allow you to easily expand your setup by adding more nests as your colony grows. It’s a smart idea to pick up some spare sealing caps as well, so you’re prepared for future adjustments or expansions.

Substrate Options and Décor:

When it comes to choosing substrate and décor, you have the flexibility to keep things minimal or go all out with a desert-inspired sand mix and rugged rocky outcrops. The decision is entirely up to you! From my experience, both styles work well, but I tend to favor adding sand—it not only enhances the natural texture but also creates a visually stunning outworld.

Heating and Lighting:

Creating the right environment is crucial for your ants to thrive. Maintaining proper temperatures is especially important. If your room temperature drops below 20°C during winter, consider using a heat mat with a thermostat or a heat wire to regulate their habitat. Position the heat source beneath one side of the ant chambers to create a gradient, keeping the nest temperature between 22°C and 26°C. The outworld can follow natural room temperatures at night, but during summer days, aim for a range of 25°C to 29°C. Always ensure that nighttime temperatures do not fall below 16°C.

From November to March, during winter, it’s okay to let the nest temperatures drop to room temperature naturally, provided they remain above 16°C. If the nest area falls below 20°C, use a heat mat to maintain a steady range of 21°C to 23°C. Consistent and appropriate temperature control is essential for your ants’ health and overall well-being.

Diet and Nutrition

Feeding a colony of Natal Droptail ants requires thoughtful preparation and vigilance. Preventing escapes is essential, so I recommend using a handheld, battery-powered vacuum along with precision ant tweezers for safe and efficient feeding. You can find links to these tools below for your convenience.

Natal Droptail ants thrive on a high-protein diet, which is crucial for supporting their colony's growth. Based on my experience, the following insects provide an excellent source of protein:

• Large black crickets
• Large crickets
• Large locusts
• Morio worms
• Wax worms
• Any other high-protein insects

To ensure the safety of your ants and their queen, always chop the insects into smaller, manageable pieces before feeding. Additionally, maintain a consistent supply of fresh water and honey using 2-5ml ant feeders (links provided below). Be sure to refill or replace them as soon as they run low to keep the colony hydrated and energized.

If you wish to slow down your colony's reproduction rate, simply reduce their protein intake while maintaining their sugar supply. This natural adjustment will result in slower reproduction, making it an effective strategy for keeping your colony smaller over time. I've successfully used this method and currently manage a colony of around 250-300 ants. However, this year, I plan to increase their protein intake to observe the effects of accelerated growth.

Behaviors -

Keeping a colony of ants in captivity is, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating ways to observe nature up close in your own home. Watching the intricate operations and teamwork within an established colony is nothing short of incredible.

Ants take on a variety of roles within their colony. At the heart of it all is the queen, who rarely ventures far from the nest chambers. She is typically surrounded by worker ants and focuses on laying eggs and caring for the brood. During the colony's founding stages, the queen lays a large batch of eggs and waits for the first generation of workers to hatch. Once they emerge, the remaining eggs are often eaten to sustain the queen until the workers begin scavenging for food.

As the colony grows and reaches around 50 ants, you’ll start to notice specialized roles becoming more apparent. Larger worker ants frequently venture out into the "outworld" to scavenge, using their strong jaws to handle larger prey. Smaller worker ants take on a variety of responsibilities, including caring for the young, gathering smaller food items, guarding the nest chambers, distributing resources, and managing waste. Dead or decaying materials are usually carried to a designated "trash pile" in a corner of the outworld to keep the nest clean and organized.

One particularly interesting behavior is how ants locate and distribute food. When food is nearby, scouts are sent out to investigate. Once the food source is confirmed, the activity escalates, and a chain of ants forms, efficiently transporting the food back to the nest. Inside the tunnels, the ants ensure that resources are evenly distributed throughout the colony.

Day and night Cycle -

The day and night cycle of Droptail ants is quite unique. They tend to be active at random times throughout the day and are unaffected by external light. However, the only light that matters to them is within their nest. If you're purchasing a nest,

Using a red screen for observation is highly recommended, as it blocks wavelengths of light visible to ants. This creates the illusion of complete darkness for them, ensuring they remain undisturbed.

This prevents disturbance and keeps the ants comfortable. Smaller colonies, in particular, are much more sensitive and can become stressed if the case is lifted frequently.

Common Health Issues

Disturbance During Early Stages of the Colony - During the first few weeks, it’s crucial to keep the colony in a dark and undisturbed environment. Once the colony has laid eggs, hatched new members, and become more established, the risk of disturbances having a negative impact reduces significantly. When observing the colony, handle everything gently and quietly, and minimize bright light exposure around the nest area. A low-stress queen is a healthy and happy queen.

Dehydration - Dehydration is easy to prevent. Maintain the nest’s gypsum humidity at approximately 70%, and ensure the ant feeder is consistently filled with water. This will help keep the colony hydrated. Since these ants originate from arid regions in South Africa, they can survive for a while without water, but it’s always best to provide adequate hydration.

Mites - Mites are often an issue associated with wild-caught colonies, which many of these colonies initially are. It’s important to monitor your colony closely during the first six months, as mites can wipe out an entire colony within weeks if left unchecked. For well-established, long-term captive colonies, mite infestations are less likely to occur. However, staying vigilant is key to ensuring the health of your colony.

Cleaning - Regularly remove dead ants and leftover food using ant tweezers to maintain a clean environment. Dispose of the discard pile as it accumulates to promote healthy colony growth. While cleaning, use cotton wool to block off tunnels and prevent unnecessary escapes.

Hibernation

During the winter months, typically from November to March, they enter a period of dormancy known as hibernation. During this time, their activity slows down significantly. To support them, maintain their environment at room temperature, ensuring it stays above 16°C.

Avalability - 

This species is quite unique and not very common in the ant-keeping hobby. I've noticed they are only sporadically available from ant vendors across the UK a few times a year, which is a shame because I believe they are highly underrated. They possess many traits that make them an excellent choice for beginners looking to start a colony. Hopefully, we'll see them become more readily available in the future. If you're interested, I highly recommend getting a starter colony from AntsDavey when they’re in stock. The service is excellent, and the seller is incredibly knowledgeable about proper care.

References-

Gallery -

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