9 replies to this topic

[PriorToFormica]

Hi everyone! I am looking for a nest that can withstand a fall and stay sealed. I have two cats that are very playful and I lost my latest colony because they knocked over their small DIY setup and they escaped. I have caught a Camponotus queen and she now has about 20 workers. I’m looking for a starter nest that can be safely kept on my desk or at least stay sealed in a fall. Any input is welcome!

[drtrmiller]

Patient: "Hey Doc, my hand hurts when I hit it with a hammer. Can you give me some pain meds?"
 
Doc: "Don't hit your hand with a hammer. No pain meds for you."

Why research fall-resistant formicaries when you really should be preventing the falls from happening in the first place?

Put the formicarium in a closet or bathroom with the door closed, or in another, larger container like a chest or empty aquarium.

[ANTdrew]

You could also get some cheap shelves to elevate them somewhere your cats can't reach. The added benefit of this is the extra warmth. It's surprising what a difference a few feet can make temperature wise.

[PriorToFormica]

Thanks! I’ll look to see if I have space in my closet.

[drtrmiller]

Also check Wal-Mart and Amazon for clear bins.

 

You could put the entire setup in a large enough bin and your cats couldn't mess with it, unless you have lions.

 

I keep my setups in plastic bins even without cats.  They're easier to move around, and the bin can be lined with Fluon as an extra layer of escape prevention.

Edited by drtrmiller, May 9 2019 - 2:30 PM.

[Martialis]

I hear velcro works wonders for keeping stuff in place

I hear velcro works wonders for keeping stuff in place

[Rstheant]

Lol, lions, Terry, if he had lions, the neighbors would move out.

[Joehostile85]

Gotta train that cat to not jump on things you don’t want it to. I do not believe fall survivability was ever a design criteria for a formicarium ever in the history of earth.

If you want cat training advice; I yell at mine when it jumps on things I don’t want it to. Worked out pretty well for me so far.

Edited by Joehostile85, May 14 2019 - 7:59 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Yeah if you discipline your cat, it will not like it and stop doing whatever it is getting in trouble for. Lucky, (My cat) kept jumping on top my desk, where my ants are, and I yelled at him enough to where he does not do it as often. If you yell at him and he does not get down, give him a tap on the butt.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, May 14 2019 - 8:53 AM.

[ForestDragon]

you could put blu-tac down as well to seal the nest to the surface it is on to deter the cats from knocking it over