Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know where I could purchase small food items, like termites or a small ant species. I work with Phrynosoma modestum, and they just don't seem to like Pogonomermyx ants that much. They love termites and Phidole spp. ants, but I can't seem to get enough to keep them happy. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I don't have an answer on the other, but, do you know what subspecies of pogomyrmex you've been trying? that may be a factor as some horned lizards have different preferences within the different subspecies of pogo's. I have heard the modestum can be finicky.

Mick
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"When tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign foe."

James Madison

The Complete Works of Goerge Savile, First Marquess of Halifax, 1912.

It would be species not subspecies, there are no recognized subspecies for Pogonomyrmex any more.

I believe they are californicus. They come from Lifestudies.com in St. George, Utah. I also used to use rugosus. The only smaller species I have ever come across was P. subnitidus. They also ate these, but they are no longer available. I know that modestum eat primarily Myrmecocystus in the wild. They also eat Phidole, but to a lesser extent. Any ideas? I live in northern CA if anyone has ideas about types of ants to collect in the wild and how to go about doing so...

Thanks!

Depending on where in Northern Cal you are you may be able to come up with at least one species of Messor, P. subdentatus may be around as well as Pheidole. The key is to get away from developed areas

Cable has demostrated a good method for catching them. rugosus anyway. I will be seeing this week how well it works for texanus or possibly barbatus.
www.phrynosoma.com/Cable/CableSolaremovies.htm

scroll to bottom and select c's misc videos.

Mick
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"When tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign foe."

James Madison

ok..."species" then. the result is the same. you may have better success with a different pogo.
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"When tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign foe."

James Madison

The Complete Works of Goerge Savile, First Marquess of Halifax, 1912.

I live in Santa Cruz, CA. I would like to look for another species of ant if possible. I have seen the ant-collecting method outlined on Phrynosoma.com, but the ants that I have found do not appear to form defined lines like rugosus. Any other hunting methods??

Thanks!

many of the pogos I have observed in Texas also do not use the pheremone trail either. in those cases I use a cheap dollar store sifter, with a handle; to lift, sift, and dump the ants into a large plastic butter container.

works best if the ground underneath them is a fine enough grade of dirt or sand to pass easily through the sifter before they crawl up the handle.

worst case scenario, I just use a stick at the entrance to get them aggrevated. then when a few crawl up the stick, I slap it against the side of the container to un-a$$ them from the stick.

Mick
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"When tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign foe."

James Madison

Thanks for the help! I will try to find some more ants here in the near future. Are there any species of Myrmecocystus in northern CA? I know depilis come up into the Fresno area, but I am not sure how much further North they come. Thanks!

sorry, I'm just not the one for the answer on the specific range of those. I'm sure I could find something but there are plenty of knowledgeable people here either from Cali. or live there who could answer.

Mick
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"When tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign foe."

James Madison