Tetramorium andrei

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Eastern and northern Madagascar rainforests and montane rainforests, from Andohahela in the southeast to Montagne Francais in the north, with isolated populations in Ambohijanahary, Manongarivo, and Ampasindava ^[1][2]. Lives in leaf litter at elevations 10-1625 m ^[1].
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed. Based on typical Tetramorium patterns, likely monogyne (single queen). No specific studies on colony structure.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: size data unavailable
  • Worker: ~3-4 mm (inferred from Tetramorium genus)
  • Colony: Unknown, but similar Tetramorium species reach several hundred workers (estimated)
  • Growth: Moderate
  • Development: 6-8 weeks (estimated based on typical Tetramorium development, no species-specific data) (Specific timing undocumented, but typical for genus.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Aim for 22-26°C. Specific optimum unknown, but as a tropical rainforest species from Madagascar, warm stable temperatures are essential ^[1]. Avoid prolonged temperatures below 20°C or above 30°C, inferred from habitat.
  • Humidity: High humidity required, keep nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged. They inhabit leaf litter in humid rainforests ^[1]. Balance moisture with ventilation to prevent mold.
  • Diapause: No, tropical species from Madagascar, no hibernation required ^[1].
  • Nesting: Y-tong (AAC) or plaster nests work well. Prefer tight chambers scaled to small worker size. A naturalistic setup with moist soil and decaying leaves can also work, mimicking leaf litter habitat ^[1].
• Behavior: These ants are generally calm and not aggressive. Their primary defense is smearing venom with a modified stinger (typical of tribe Crematogastrini). They flee or hide rather than fight. Their small size means high escape risk, use fine mesh and tight barriers.
• Common Issues: high humidity needs can promote mold if ventilation is poor, small size (around 3 mm) makes escapes likely without proper barriers, tropical species will not tolerate cool temperatures, keep above 20°C, wild-caught colonies may carry parasites or suffer from transit stress, founding details are unstudied, patience required

Housing and Nest Setup

30 workers or when tube becomes cramped). A naturalistic setup with moist soil and decaying leaves mimics their habitat ^[1]. Avoid dry setups, moisture retention is key.

Feeding and Diet

Like other Tetramorium, they are likely omnivorous. Offer small live prey (fruit flies, springtails, tiny crickets) 2-3 times a week and keep a constant source of sugar water or honey water. Remove uneaten protein after 24-48 hours to prevent mold. Prey should be no larger than the workers themselves.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

As a tropical species from Madagascar, keep temperatures warm and stable between 22-26°C ^[1]. They inhabit rainforests where temperatures stay relatively constant year-round. Rooms within this range are fine, avoid spots near windows or vents that cause fluctuations. If your space drops below 20°C, use a heating cable on one side of the nest. No hibernation is needed, maintain consistent warmth all year.

Humidity Management

High humidity is essential because these ants live in leaf litter in humid rainforests ^[1]. Keep the nest substrate damp to the touch, like a forest floor after rain. Avoid standing water or waterlogging, the substrate should be moist but not soggy. Rehydrate by adding water to the nest's reservoir or misting when it starts to dry. Good ventilation prevents mold, which can be deadly.

Behavior and Colony Dynamics

Workers forage actively through leaf litter ^[1]. They are not aggressive and will flee or hide rather than fight. Their defense mechanism (typical of tribe Crematogastrini) is to smear venom with a modified stinger, not to sting deeply. Colonies grow moderately, expect a year or more to reach a few hundred workers. Morphological variation is high across their range, so your colony's appearance may differ from others ^[1].

Escape Prevention

Workers are small (around 3 mm), so escape prevention requires care. Use tightly packed cotton in test tubes, apply fluon (PTFE) to outworld rims, and cover ventilation with mesh smaller than 0.5 mm. Check all joints and seams regularly, these ants can squeeze through tiny gaps. A sealed outworld is as important as a secure nest. ^[1]

Frequently Asked Questions

Report an Issue

The current care sheet is based fully on literature. See inconsistencies, or something that's incorrect? Please report here, it will be resolved after review from an admin. Contributing to the blogs tab also helps providing information, to make us be able to further improve the caresheets. Thank you for your support!

References