Short answer: carpenter ants (Camponotus) are some of the best pet ants for beginners. They're large (up to about 2 cm), easy to watch, and grow major workers (soldiers) as the colony matures. They grow slowly in the first year, and native species need about 4 months of hibernation. Kept properly, they won't damage your house.
Why keep carpenter ants?
- Big ants: among the largest ants in Canada, so you can see what they're doing.
- Soldiers: colonies are polymorphic, so they produce small workers, large major workers, and everything in between.
- Hardy: forgiving of beginner mistakes.
- Lots of choice: many species, including native Canadian ones.
Carpenter ant species we keep
- Eastern black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)
- New York carpenter ant (Camponotus novaeboracensis)
- Hercules carpenter ant (Camponotus herculeanus)
- Smaller carpenter ant (Camponotus nearcticus)
- American carpenter ant (Camponotus americanus)
- Bumblebee carpenter ant (Camponotus subbarbatus)
- Neighbouring carpenter ant (Camponotus vicinus "Black")
- Chestnut carpenter ant (Camponotus castaneus): active year-round, and one of our top beginner picks.
Several of these can ship by Lettermail as small colonies. See all colonies for what's in stock.
Care basics
- Housing: start in a test tube. Choose nests carpenter ants can't chew through, such as acrylic: they can tunnel through softer materials like Ytong or plaster over time.
- Food: sugar water (1 part sugar to 4 parts water) or ant nectar, plus insect protein. Carpenter ants need urea from their diet for their gut bacteria, and colonies can collapse after a few years without it. Feeding termites, roaches and possibly fruit flies helps.
- Heat: a heat mat under part of the nest speeds up their slow first-year growth.
- Hibernation: native species need about 4 months at 5–10 °C. Chestnut carpenter ants are active year-round.
- Patience: the first year is slow. Leave founding queens undisturbed.
Will carpenter ants damage my house?
Not when they're kept in a proper setup. Most ants die in a home if they escape. Even carpenter ants generally can't establish unless the house already has rotting, damp wood. A Fluon barrier keeps them in the outworld, and escaped workers can't start a colony without a queen.
Frequently asked questions
How fast do carpenter ants grow?
Slowly at first. Expect a small colony in the first year, then faster growth once it's established.
Do carpenter ants bite?
Large workers can give a pinch, but they don't sting.
Can I keep a carpenter ant queen I found?
Yes. See How to care for a founding queen ant. Remember that northern queens usually need a hibernation before they lay.
Related: How long do ants hibernate? · What do pet ants eat?