Camponotus singularis

This is one of the more imposing Camponotus you can keep, and its size is the reason to choose it: the majors are huge, and even a modest colony reads as a centrepiece rather than just another nest. It comes from Borneo and forages in daylight, so there is plenty of activity to watch without staying up late. It is rated Intermediate partly for that scale and partly for its need of steady tropical warmth with no hibernation to break the routine. Because mature colonies settle at a manageable size, it stays a showpiece without ever overwhelming the setup.

This large tropical carpenter ant takes sugary liquids to keep the workers fed and sizeable insect prey to grow its brood. The big-bodied workers manage larger feeders comfortably once the colony finds its feet.

★★★ readily · ★★ moderately · ★ occasionally · ✗ not eaten

Found this striking large-bodied ant in a test tube and move it once the colony passes roughly thirty to fifty workers. Its big workers and balanced humidity call for a roomy Ytong or acrylic nest with a damp zone and dry chambers, scaled so the majors have headroom, joined to a spacious outworld. Growth is slow, so do not over-house it early. Secure the rim with fluon (PTFE), mineral oil, or talc and water, as these ants climb. ANTonTOP starter kits pair a suitable nest, arena, and barrier for this big species.

A tropical ant with no winter rest. Hold the nest at 24-28 °C and the arena at 24-30 °C, with nest and arena humidity both at 50-70%. Heat one side only to form a gradient the colony can move along. Keep warmth and feeding constant through the year rather than cooling the setup.

Growth is slow to moderate, with eggs taking around 4-6 weeks to develop, so patience pays off early before the colony settles toward 1,000-2,000 workers. The size of the ants makes that a centrepiece rather than an overwhelming crowd. You receive the queen with her workers and brood.

• It is one of the most recognisable Camponotus, with a deep red head and thorax set against a black gaster.
• The big, striking workers make it a favourite display species among keepers of Southeast Asian ants.
• Carpenter ants tunnel through wood and soft material to nest but do not eat it; they only excavate.
• The genus has no sting and defends the colony with sprayed formic acid, as all Formicinae do.

Is Camponotus singularis good for beginners?

It is rated Intermediate, best once you can give steady tropical warmth.

Does the red-headed Bornean carpenter ant need a winter rest?

No, it is tropical and stays active year-round.

Does Camponotus singularis sting or bite?

No, workers have no sting and give only a mild bite.

How big can the colony get?

Around 1,000-2,000 workers.

How large is the queen?

The queen is 22-24 mm, with workers 9-13 mm and majors 14-22 mm.

How fast does it grow?

Slow to moderate, with eggs taking about 4-6 weeks to develop.

What does it eat?

Sugar water or jelly plus insects such as crickets and flies.

Will it arrive alive?

Yes, shipped as a queen with workers and brood, with a heat or cool pack, dispatched within 24 h with tracking.

Escape prevention. Coat the inner rim of every open arena with fluon (PTFE), or use talc-and-water or an oil barrier as a backup, and keep a tight, fine-mesh lid on top. Check the barrier regularly, since dust, condensation and feeding debris break a fluon line over time. Keep tubing connectors tight and seal any gaps in the nest.

Keeping reminders. Always offer fresh water and never let the nest dry out completely. Give carbohydrates continuously and protein a few times a week, and remove uneaten insect prey within 24 hours before it moulds. Keep the formicarium out of direct sunlight and away from constant vibration, which stresses a young colony. A water-filled test tube plugged with cotton makes an ideal spare incubator whenever you need one.

Before you buy – do not rehouse too early. Have a test-tube setup or a small formicarium with an outworld and a working barrier ready before your colony arrives. A founding colony grows slowly at first, which is normal. Moving a small colony into a large nest too soon invites mould, mites and stress, and the workers die off one by one. Keep the colony in its open test tube on the arena, plug the nest entrance with cotton, and open up the next chambers only once the colony fills roughly 10-15% of the space.

What we ship. Every colony ships with a live-arrival guarantee, backed by our 24h unboxing-video guarantee: if the queen does not arrive alive, we reship free. Parcels travel with DHL, InPost (PL) or EMS, with a heat or cold pack to suit the season, packed discreetly and securely. We ship across the EU and worldwide, with free shipping over the Europe threshold.