{"title":"Advanced Ant Colonies","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eROYAL.\u003c\/strong\u003e For seasoned keepers only. These demand respect — potent stings, fast escape-artist colonies, and showpiece species for keepers who already know their way around a formicarium. Read the care guide before you buy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFrom their chamber to your door.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"solenopsis-xyloni","title":"Solenopsis xyloni (Southern Fire Ant)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSolenopsis xyloni\u003c\/strong\u003e — the Southern Fire Ant, a fast-paced, fiery native of the southern U.S. and one of the most exciting species you can keep. Bicolored rusty-red workers, explosive growth, and big polymorphic majors make this a colony that never stops surprising you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYou'll receive:\u003c\/strong\u003e a fresh-caught, mated queen with brood.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFounding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully claustral — the queen raises her first workers on her own. Some populations are polygynous, accepting multiple cooperating queens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Generalist and hungry — they take protein, liquid sugars, and seeds. The more you feed, the faster they grow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very fast with heat — colonies develop majors quickly and scale rapidly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Loves it hot — 85–95°F with a gradient. They won't thrive without a heat source.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo diapause:\u003c\/strong\u003e A warm-climate species — do not cold-diapause it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandle with respect:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, they sting — secure your setup and keep an outworld ready as the colony grows.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNew to this species?\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/care-solenopsis-xyloni\"\u003eRead our full Southern Fire Ant care guide →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom their chamber to your door — shipped with care by Royal Chamber Ants.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Royal Chamber Ants","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54599052493105,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0869\/0375\/0961\/files\/IMG-20260614_015019.jpg?v=1781429884"},{"product_id":"pheidole-rhea","title":"Pheidole rhea (Desert Big-Headed Ant)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePheidole rhea\u003c\/strong\u003e — a desert big-headed ant and one of the largest \u003cem\u003ePheidole\u003c\/em\u003e in the U.S. A dimorphic species: tiny, busy minor workers alongside dramatic big-headed majors (soldiers) that crack seeds with oversized jaws. Fast-growing and fascinating to watch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYou'll receive:\u003c\/strong\u003e a fresh, fully claustral queen with brood.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFounding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully claustral.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seeds plus insect protein — a granivore with a taste for protein.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRange:\u003c\/strong\u003e Southwestern U.S. deserts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/strong\u003e Intermediate — fast growth, loves heat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eNew here? Read our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/care-pheidole-rhea\"\u003ePheidole rhea care guide →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom their chamber to your door — shipped with care by Royal Chamber Ants.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Royal Chamber Ants","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54670288585009,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"myrmecocystus-wheeleri-honeypot-colony","title":"Myrmecocystus wheeleri — Honeypot Colony","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMyrmecocystus wheeleri\u003c\/strong\u003e — a western honeypot, offered as an established colony. One of the genus's most coveted members, famous for its living larders: specialized workers called \u003cem\u003erepletes\u003c\/em\u003e that swell with golden nectar and hang from the nest ceiling as a living food store.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYou'll receive:\u003c\/strong\u003e an established colony with queen, workers, and brood.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFounding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully claustral — and with an established colony, the hardest founding stage is already behind you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sugars and nectar (stored in repletes) plus insect protein.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRange:\u003c\/strong\u003e Southwestern U.S. deserts and chaparral.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/strong\u003e Advanced. Wheeleri is rewarding but demanding — colonies are notoriously tricky to carry through their 3rd and 4th generations, and they require a proper winter \u003cstrong\u003ediapause\u003c\/strong\u003e (a cool dormant period) each year to stay healthy long-term. This is not a starter colony.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBefore you buy:\u003c\/strong\u003e plan for temperature control and an annual diapause period.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNew here? Read our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/care-myrmecocystus-wheeleri\"\u003eOrange Honeypot care guide →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFrom their chamber to your door — shipped with care by Royal Chamber Ants.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Royal Chamber Ants","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54838890594609,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}]}],"url":"https:\/\/rcants.com\/collections\/advanced-ant-colonies.oembed","provider":"Royal Chamber Ants","version":"1.0","type":"link"}