Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

3D Printed Formicarium?

Started By Antennal_Scrobe , Jul 24 2019 10:09 AM
3d printing formicarium nest

  • Please log in to reply
8 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted July 24 2019 - 10:09 AM

Antennal_Scrobe

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 933 posts
  • LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin

Are 3D printed nests generally good for keeping ants? If so, what are some good tips I could use if I were to design one? Has anyone had any experience keeping ants in such a nest?


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis

#2 Offline AntPhycho - Posted July 24 2019 - 10:17 AM

AntPhycho

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 399 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Are 3D printed nests generally good for keeping ants? If so, what are some good tips I could use if I were to design one? Has anyone had any experience keeping ants in such a nest?

 I find that 3D printed (and bare acrylic) formicariums work great with small species like Solenopsis or Tetramorium. You can get many free formicarium templates on https://www.thingive...675d38a07048d88


Founding (for myself):                                                                                       My Shop

Solenopsis invicta experiments...                                                                     California

                                                                                                                     Ants & Formicaria

                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                       

                                              

                                                  

 

 

 

#3 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted July 24 2019 - 10:35 AM

Antennal_Scrobe

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 933 posts
  • LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin

I imagine 3D printed designs are even better than acrylic though, because they do have a texture of sorts that ants can cling to. Not to mention cheaper and easier to make.


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis

#4 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted July 24 2019 - 10:38 AM

Antennal_Scrobe

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 933 posts
  • LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin

I think I will go for a Hybrid Nest style water tray under the nest, with a portion of the floor being a mesh that water vapor can go through. I'm not sure, however, if I need to put cotton in the tray. I would much rather do without, and because Tarheel Ants nests work fine without any cotton at all, I think I could do this without any problems.


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis

#5 Offline AntPhycho - Posted July 24 2019 - 10:39 AM

AntPhycho

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 399 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

I imagine 3D printed designs are even better than acrylic though, because they do have a texture of sorts that ants can cling to. Not to mention cheaper and easier to make.

When it comes down to it, they are both bare plastic. 


  • Antennal_Scrobe likes this

Founding (for myself):                                                                                       My Shop

Solenopsis invicta experiments...                                                                     California

                                                                                                                     Ants & Formicaria

                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                       

                                              

                                                  

 

 

 

#6 Offline betterForm - Posted July 24 2019 - 11:55 AM

betterForm

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 10 posts
  • LocationGeorgia / Tbilisi

Are 3D printed nests generally good for keeping ants? If so, what are some good tips I could use if I were to design one? Has anyone had any experience keeping ants in such a nest?

 

See my 3d printed modular formicarium...

Messor's...

7zhf7WU.jpg

 

 

XJl9oZt.jpg

 

Camponotus ...

acYDFkk.jpg

 

my development blog >>


  • dermy, AntPhycho, rbarreto and 2 others like this

My Instagram

ant keeping stuff in my Etsy shop

 

#7 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted July 24 2019 - 1:04 PM

Antennal_Scrobe

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 933 posts
  • LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin

Cooool!


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis

#8 Offline Silq - Posted July 24 2019 - 1:21 PM

Silq

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 132 posts
  • LocationAnaheim, CA

 

Are 3D printed nests generally good for keeping ants? If so, what are some good tips I could use if I were to design one? Has anyone had any experience keeping ants in such a nest?

 

See my 3d printed modular formicarium...
 

my development blog >>

 

crazy how I was trying to browse this forum yesterday during work then it went down. I was getting back into 3D printing and searched Thingiverse then they crashed. I checked this morning and I actually ran into your 3D model on thingiverse and downloaded it. That is so cool that you are a poster there and here. I have camponotus too and was worried if these would work with them but now I know. I will try to print it this week. My only concern is that I am using a MP mini so my print bed size is limited to 120x120 but it looks like most of everything are smaller parts. I'll check it out in a bit after I finish my other prints.


  • betterForm likes this

Ant Journal: http://www.formicult...-journal/<br> My colonies: C. Semitestaceus, P. Californicus, V. Pergandei, S. Xyloni.

#9 Offline betterForm - Posted July 25 2019 - 1:12 AM

betterForm

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 10 posts
  • LocationGeorgia / Tbilisi

...
my print bed size is limited to 120x120....

 

 

maximum block size: 102 mm.
AcKTbA4.jpg


  • Silq likes this

My Instagram

ant keeping stuff in my Etsy shop

 

Back to General Ant Keeping · Next Unread Topic →



Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: 3d printing, formicarium, nest

1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users