Which ant should you keep?
Answer 6 quick questions about your experience, your space and what you'd love to watch, and I'll match you with the perfect species from my care guides.
- Messor barbarus
- Lasius niger
- Lasius emarginatus
- Tetramorium caespitum
- Formica cinerea
- Crematogaster scutellaris
- Pheidole pallidula
How much ant keeping experience do you have?
All 7 species at a glance
Every species from my care guides, side by side. Tap a column title to sort the table.
| Species | Diet | Best nests | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Messor barbarusHarvester ant | Beginner · 1/7 | 3–8 mmmajors up to 14 mm | Very fast | 21–26 °CHumidity: 50–60 % | 12–16 °COct – Mar | Sep – Nov | SugarInsectsSeeds | Low | 1. Ytong nest2. Acrylic nest3. Naturalistic setup |
 Lasius nigerBlack garden ant | Beginner · 2/7 | 3–5 mm | Moderate | 23–25 °CHumidity: 40–60 % | 8–12 °COct – Mar | Jul – Aug | SugarInsects | Medium | 1. Sandwich nest2. Ytong nest3. Acrylic nest |
 Lasius emarginatus | Beginner · 3/7 | 3–5 mm | Fast | 21–27 °CHumidity: 50–60 % | 5–8 °COct – Mar | Jun – Sep | SugarInsects | Medium | 1. Ytong nest2. Sandwich nest3. Acrylic nest |
 Tetramorium caespitumPavement ant | Beginner · 4/7 | 2–4 mm | Fast | 21–27 °CHumidity: 50–60 % | 5–8 °COct – Mar | Jun – Aug | SugarInsects | High | 1. Acrylic nest2. Test tube setup3. Naturalistic setup |
 Formica cinerea | Intermediate · 5/7 | 4–8 mm | Very fast | 21–27 °CHumidity: 50–60 % | 5–8 °COct – Mar | Jun – Aug | SugarInsects | High | 1. Ytong nest2. Sandwich nest3. Acrylic nest |
 Crematogaster scutellarisAcrobat ant | Intermediate · 6/7 | 3–4 mm | Very fast | 21–25 °CHumidity: 50–60 % | 8–12 °COct – Mar | Aug – Oct | SugarInsects | Medium | 1. Wooden nest2. Ytong nest3. Acrylic nest |
 Pheidole pallidulaBig-headed ant | Advanced · 7/7 | 2–4 mmmajors up to 6 mm | Very fast | 21–28 °CHumidity: 60–70 % | 12–16 °CNov – Mar | May – Aug | SugarInsectsSeeds | High | 1. Acrylic nest2. Naturalistic setup |
FAQs
4Messor barbarus and Lasius niger are the easiest species in my care guides. Messor barbarus is calm, a poor climber and stores its own seeds, while Lasius niger is undemanding and adapts to almost any setup.
Yes. All seven species hibernate in winter, usually from October or November until March. Formica cinerea, Lasius emarginatus and Tetramorium caespitum like it cold (5–8 °C), Lasius niger and Crematogaster scutellaris prefer 8–12 °C, and Messor barbarus and Pheidole pallidula a mild 12–16 °C.
Pheidole pallidula, Tetramorium caespitum and Formica cinerea. The first two have tiny workers that slip through small gaps, and Formica cinerea moves fast and irregularly. An escape-proof acrylic nest makes life much easier.
Each answer gives points to the species that fit it best, based on the data from my care guides: difficulty, worker size, growth speed, hibernation temperature and escape risk. The species with the most points is your match.
