9 replies to this topic

[Kalidas]

This thread was one that kind of developed in the thread about sealing nests. And so as to not derail that thread too much I decided to start this here.

So yeah all in ones sound great(even I like the idea) the problem is how do you create something that isn't too large(so they don't dump garbage in their nest) but still allows for future growth and expansion?

I saw one video by Antsaustralia where he created an all in one vivarium with three differently sized nests and sealed two up for future un sealing when need be... I think that's pretty smart... Maybe it will fix the issue?

Also maybe drilling small holes and adding a recepitcal and using water you can drain garbage out? Or using other bugs to eat the garbage?

Another crazy wacky idea I had(but it is pretty crazy and wacky maybe too much so) would be to get an acrylic aquarium, cut like a square hole in one of the sides, and add a formicarium like nest (like you would normally in an all in one) drill the piece you cut out to this nest and unscrew the screws when you need to clean? So like a Formicarium built into an aquarium?

Any other ideas or advice any of you may have?

[CoolColJ]

just have blocked passages that you can open with magnets

 

or fill chambers with coarse non dusty substrate the ants can dig out as needed

Edited by CoolColJ, October 12 2018 - 3:52 AM.

[Kalidas]

I really like that sand idea. It's very natural. I think the ants would appreciate that. My only question is let's say it's built like a normal ytong/firebrick formicarium where you have like glass or acrylic on the side. What stops the sand from pouring out? Sine there will be some gap between the glass and the brick

Or when you maybe have to open it up to clean in there?

Edited by Kalidas, October 12 2018 - 6:40 AM.

[CoolColJ]

Well if sand gets out, so can small ants I would say

 

You should have a layer of hot glue or silicon to create a tight seal anyway, even if you do have magnets to hold the glass on.

So this idea is better suited to horizontal nest or a nest you won't open up for a while.

 

I would section of each area with smaller peices of glass so that you can clean the sections that the ants are already using

[Kalidas]

Yeah it might work better laying down. I wonder how Tar Heel Ants do it? Well I doubt they add sand.

But thanks those are good ideas.

What about you? You got any good all in one formicarium ideas?

[antsandus]

https://rover.ebay.c...tm/263979729070

[CoolColJ]

This guy used the sand filling in his wood and gypsum combo nest 

 

Edited by CoolColJ, October 13 2018 - 2:01 AM.

[Kalidas]

This guy used the sand filling in his wood and gypsum combo nest 
 

Oh that's awesome and I love that idea.

My point about the sand getting out isn't when it's covered with the clear cover. But if you have to remove the cover to clean something out.

Like say I made something similar a large formicarium like this for the ants to build into(like they would naturally) but say in on the Chambers where they currently reside something gross builds up and needs cleaned. Could I clean it without getting sand everywhere. No of course if it's laying down this is easy, but if it stands up... Not so much. For example one of species around where I live are a few different Myrmecocystus species they need their nests to stand up for the repletes so laying it down isn't really an option.

Iean sand isn't the only option of course. Cotton balls or clay could also plug future entrances

[nurbs]

When you say "all in one", do you mean no external connections to an outworld/nest, right? Where the nest and outworld are in one container? Nearly all my nests are "all in ones" then.

 

The first question you want to ask yourself is not what kind of nest you want, but what species do you plan on keeping. Once you understand their requirements, then you can start planning on how you want the nest. 

[Kalidas]

When you say "all in one", do you mean no external connections to an outworld/nest, right? Where the nest and outworld are in one container? Nearly all my nests are "all in ones" then.
 
The first question you want to ask yourself is not what kind of nest you want, but what species do you plan on keeping. Once you understand their requirements, then you can start planning on how you want the nest.

Yeah exactly that.

That's true, plan the nest and setup around the species. Really I just created this thread for brainstorming ideas since the other thread this started in was going on to many tangents but I thought the conversation was still interesting.