The numbers
Enclosure
Test-tube founding; small nest + outworld (tiny ants - fine barrier)
Diet
Sugar water + insect protein + seeds · Sugar always; protein 2-3x/week
Temperature
26-30C
Humidity
50-70%
Identity
Order / Family
Hymenoptera
Origin
Pantropical; many native TH species
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated; not CITES
Difficulty
Beginner
Commonality
Extremely common wild; easy to found
Adult size
Minor ~2mm, soldier ~4-5mm big-headed; queen ~6-8mm
Lifespan
Queen ~3-6 yrs; colony perennial, fast-growing
Growth rate
Fast
Activity & niche
Ground forager, day/night; seed + scavenging
Temperament
Bold, fast; harmless
Venom / defense
Minor bite; no meaningful sting; harmless
Price (THB)
indicative ~150-500
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
26-30C
Humidity
50-70%
Min. enclosure
Test-tube founding; small nest + outworld (tiny ants - fine barrier)
Substrate
Plaster/ytong nest; sand-soil outworld
Hides / decor / water
Water reservoir; small hides
Diet
Staple food
Sugar water + insect protein + seeds
Feeding frequency
Sugar always; protein 2-3x/week
Supplements
Small seeds
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Not handled
Communal
Single colony; some polygyne
Defense / stress signs
Soldiers mass at breaches, rapid recruitment
Reproduction
Reproduction
Fully-claustral founding; dimorphic workers (minors + big-headed soldiers)
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsMite/mold from overfeeding; escapes
Red flags / quarantine
SignsTiny - escape via any gap; strong barrier; never release non-natives
Good to know
- Soldiers use oversized heads as nutcrackers and colony defenders
Others in this group
Asian weaver ant (green tree ant)Oecophylla smaragdinaNicobar carpenter antCamponotus nicobarensisAsian spiny/golden weaver antPolyrhachis divesAsian marauder/power antCarebara diversa (formerly Pheidologeton)Asian jumping antHarpegnathos venatorBlack garden antLasius nigerMediterranean harvester antMessor barbarusFellah carpenter antCamponotus fellah