12 replies to this topic

[smares]

Hey all! I have made a few founding chambers that fit in 2 oz. deli cups. The water reservior is in the bottom and I was wondering if I should use cotton or fine wire mesh to cover the opening. Which do you prefer and why?

 

?

Thanks!

[nurbs]

Either will work. The water will be on the bottom where your plaster cast sits, right? That looks like an inexpensive creative design Smares

 

I'd go so far to say that you don't even need mesh or cotton. There would be enough water in there to keep the humidity up, especially if the deli cup has a cap and it is closed. Maybe use cotton so the ants can access it as drinking water?

[nurbs]

Be sure the plaster cast sits firmly in the deli cup, and that it won't "sag" lower into the water area. If it does that could drown the ants.

[smares]

Thanks Nurbs!  The latest version of these is cast out of resin and will be siliconed around the edges so the hole in the middle will be the only acess point to water. I don't really trust the plaster ones I've made, still trying to figure out how to seal them.

[T.C.]

If I can find some sort of smaller containers made of solid plastic, I might make some of these. I think containing ants in these would be difficult however and the chance of the plastic on the deli cups breaking or something is quite high.

[Diesel]

live on the edge TC. its not like you can house large colonies in these LOL. great inexpensive little setups that are cheap enough to discard when they are overly dirty or breaking.

[Loops117]

Wow, you're a genius.

Good idea on creating founding chambers in those small cups. I have billions of them and never thought to try this.

[YsTheAnt]

I made something similar out of grout:

https://imgur.com/a/nhjgv

The tube would be plugged with cotton at the ant's side, and filled with water for hydration. The top area is used for foraging. I really like your design! Also, how would you move then out? I tried something similar to yours without the opening but then had to cut a hole in the plastic due to this problem.

Edited by YsTheAnt, January 29 2018 - 7:56 PM.

[smares]

here are some pics of my Beach side revision made of epoxy resin. This one has a wire mesh water portal. It is glued in place along the lower edge. The lid will have a hole with a cotton plug for air flow.

to refill the water reservoir

 

As for getting them out when I need to expand... I thought I would just take the lid off and hope for the best.  If they fail to move out it just means they really like the home I made for them and I will use it to reinforce my ego!

Edited by smares, January 30 2018 - 12:59 PM.

[smares]

So i am testing my nests on worker ants and they seem to do very well in the plaster soaked in wax nests. There are around 10 ants in this one and they are doing very well. There is some mold growth going on near the leaf. I haven't been feeding them so they are either eating the mold or the wax.

 

 

 

Ants placed in the resin/sand nests perished over night. these nests still smell like chemicals so I think the fumes killed them. 

[StayLoki]

Hey smares, I wanted to try to do this as well.. It seems the 'deli cups' you're using are kind of tapered so they won't sag or slip down into the water chamber..but what did u use in the bottom to make the chamber? Did u just put clay down there before u poured? Or did u shave/cut it off??

When I make mine I think I'll probably do the cotton ball route, instead of fitting or fussing with mesh..but either would work. And I want to use sand as the negative making the chambers so they have a textured interior, but that's just me ! lol

They look great smares!! Love them!

[StayLoki]

Just wanted to add I think the cotton is a better route, as it will wick the water up to the chamber for them, where as the mesh needs the water always full or touching it so it can come through...
Hope that makes sense.. lol
And the cotton will nicely plug 'the water pit of death' ..as there may be gaps or what have you installing the mesh and they could get down there, unless you go crazy siliconing it in or something.. imo

Edited by StayLoki, April 23 2018 - 7:52 AM.

[StayLoki]

I plan on filling the water via a syringe/needle .. I was going to just make a small punturce with it below, in the water well, and let the cotton wick it up into the chamber.
Hope this helps with your creating!
Yours are really great! 👍