Camponotus tonkinus

Camponotus tonkinus is a medium intermediate Camponotus from Southeast Asia (Vietnam, southern China, Laos). Dark brown body with reddish legs and a faint silvery sheen on the gaster. Colonies are monogyne, claustral founding, mature colonies a few thousand workers and diurnal forager in subtropical montane forest. A great pick for keepers who appreciate classic carpenter-ant biology — slow steady growth, intelligent foragers and visible polymorphism between minor and major workers.

Start the founded queen in a sealed glass test tube setup until the colony reaches 15–20 workers. Then move to a small-to-medium formicarium of acrylic, ytong or plaster with a connected outworld for foraging. A footprint of around 15 × 10 cm works well for the first 1–2 years. Add red filter film or a dark cover to give the colony a sense of nest darkness — Camponotus are calmer when the chambers stay shaded.

Keep the nest at 22–28 °C during the active season. Humidity in the nest chambers should sit around 50–65 %, with one wetter zone the colony can choose. Avoid direct sun and avoid heating from a single hot spot — gentle ambient warmth from a low-wattage heat mat on one wall is ideal.

• Sugar source: honey water, sugar water (1:3) or commercial ant jelly — 2–3 times per week. Camponotus love sugars.
• Protein: fresh frozen and thawed insects — crickets, mealworms, fruit flies, cockroaches — 1–2 times per week. Increase frequency when brood is present.
• Variety helps: rotate prey species so the colony gets a balanced amino-acid profile; never feed only mealworms.
• Hydration: always offer plain water on a separate cotton, never let the test tube reservoir run dry.
• Hygiene: remove leftover insects after 24 hours to prevent mould and mites.

This species does not require a winter hibernation. Keep it at room temperature year-round. Activity may slow naturally during shorter winter days — that is normal and you can simply feed a little less during low-activity weeks.

• Apply PTFE escape barrier on the top inner edge of the outworld — reapply every few months.
• Use a tight lid with fine mesh; check it after every cleaning.
• Inspect the formicarium silicone joints and tubing connectors monthly.
• Keep the outworld dry on the inside edge where PTFE is applied — wet PTFE loses grip.

• Never disturb the queen during founding. Keep her in the dark, in a test tube, with minimal vibration.
• Move the colony to a formicarium only when there are 15–20 workers and the test tube is genuinely full.
• Always offer water on a separate cotton outside the food.
• Quarantine any new insect feed for 24 hours before offering it to the colony.
• Avoid synthetic fragrances, smoke and aerosols in the room with the colony — Camponotus are very sensitive.

This species is best suited to keepers who have already kept at least one ant colony successfully. You take full responsibility for housing, temperature, humidity, feeding and wintering once the colony reaches you. If you are unsure whether your setup or experience is enough, please contact us before ordering — we would rather help you choose a better-matched species than see a colony struggle.

Your colony ships in a sealed glass test tube with a cotton water reservoir and a cotton plug — the same setup we use ourselves. It is packed in an insulated, padded shipping box. We hand-pick every colony, count workers and inspect the queen on the day of dispatch.

• Described by Felix Santschi in 1925 from Tonkin in northern Vietnam — the species name references the type region.
• Ranges through northern Vietnam, Laos, and into southern China at mid elevations.
• Native to subtropical montane and submontane broadleaf forest — uncommon in lowland habitats.
• Workers are mid-sized, calm to moderate in temperament, and reliably diurnal in their activity.
• Nests in rotting wood and soil cavities in shaded forest understorey.

How big can the colony grow?
Monogyne, claustral founding, mature colonies a few thousand workers. Growth is steady but not explosive — give the colony 1–2 years to reach a few hundred workers.

Is this species safe around children and pets?
Workers do not sting and rarely bite if the formicarium is intact. As with any live insect, supervise children around the setup and keep it out of reach of curious pets.

Will the colony arrive alive?
Yes. We use insulated, padded boxes and ship only on weekdays when forecasted weather along the route is safe. If anything goes wrong in transit, contact us within 24 hours of delivery with an unboxing video.

Will it slow down in winter even without hibernation?
Yes — many tropical and subtropical Camponotus naturally reduce activity in winter even at room temperature. This is normal; feed a little less during quiet weeks.

Can I see this species in your video shorts?
We post regular video shorts of feeding sessions, brood close-ups and worker behaviour on our social channels — search “ANTonTOP” on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.