920 replies to this topic

[PTAntFan]

I use a white vinegar and rubbing alcohol mixture to clean tubes. It's a home remedy swimmers use to prevent ear infections.
I use a white vinegar and rubbing alcohol mixture to clean tubes. It's a home remedy swimmers use to prevent ear infections.

[ohhhhh]

Pogonomyrmex barbatus formicarium and outworld setup i built for my daughter. 

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[dspdrew]

Looks nice.

[klawfran3]

I just carved out this experimental claustral chamber today. I got the inspiration from the wooden one earlier in this thread. I'm going to test it out on the camponotus species that don't do well in test tubes, as I heard those would like wood better. Now only to find some queens haha.

It has the little cork plug so that I can rehydrate the inner cotton ball when it dries out without disturbing the queen too much. The cork is to prevent water from evaporating too quickly and forces the wood to soak it up and increase humidity.

It's a bit bigger than it looks and the thing is deep so the ant has enough room.

 

Excuse the poor silicone job, I accidentally moved it as it was drying.

I thought it looked nice

Edited by klawfran3, August 20 2015 - 8:56 PM.

[LC3]

 

 

 

I thought it looked nice

 

I think it looks very nice.  

[dspdrew]

That's a cool looking piece of wood. It almost looks petrified.

[klawfran3]

Haha I know, it's really neat looking. I believe it's a piece of redwood someone gave me a while ago. They got it when they were hiking somewhere in California from a dead tree they came across. I just found it again the other day.

Edited by klawfran3, August 21 2015 - 7:16 AM.

[PTAntFan]

I threw together this quick feeder system before heading out of town.  It worked for the weekend, but ultimately the drill bit I used to make the holes for the test tubes did a sloppy job and there are holes the ants exploit to forage. It worked in a pinch though.

 

Question for the community: Do you drill thin acrylic from time to time and if so, what kind of bit do you use? 

 

[Pulliamj]

A stepper bit I believe will work best.

[Crystals]

With acrylic or plastics prone to cracking, a stepper bit is best.

 

I just use my drill bits meant for wood and use only light pressure on the bit.  If it is prove to cracking, I use the drill press and go even more slowly.

[dspdrew]

Question for the community: Do you drill thin acrylic from time to time and if so, what kind of bit do you use? 

 

Thanks, now I have another one to add to the purchasing page.

[Subverted]

With acrylic or plastics prone to cracking, a stepper bit is best.

 

I have found that the majority of problems with cracking that I have had were due either to a lack of support behind the plastic or not holding the piece flat enough...

[PTAntFan]

Cracking hasn't been a problem, just imprecise cuts, rough edges.  I'll give the step bit a try.  Thanks, everyone.

[dspdrew]

 

With acrylic or plastics prone to cracking, a stepper bit is best.

 

I have found that the majority of problems with cracking that I have had were due either to a lack of support behind the plastic or not holding the piece flat enough...

 

 

You're exactly right. It's not a plastic problem, it's a problem with thin, weak material that will get caught in the grooves of the drill bit, and be pulled until it flexes and breaks. Unibits don't have grooves like that, and instead just scrape away material at a 90 degree angle (assuming you don't get one that is spiraled, which you don't want) until you have a hole the size of the step. They also deburr in the process.

[Crystals]

Here is a grout formicarium in a 5.5 gallon aquarium.  Considering ants in my location need hibernation, the nest itself must be removable from the aquarium to fit in the fridge. There are panes of glass over the tunnels, so no one escapes if we plug the 2 entrances.  The plant on the hill is actually the entrance to the watering chamber (protected by mesh).  Link to the Tutorial.

 

Edited by Crystals, December 28 2017 - 3:01 PM.

[Crystals]

A grout and bead container nest that my Aphaenogaster really liked.

 

 

A grout nest that houses my Camponotus novaeboracensis colony

 

 

My Formica podzolica are in a modified omni nest

 

 

My Myrmica are enjoying a grout nest, one of my favorite designs, so I have quite a few like this.

Edited by Crystals, December 28 2017 - 3:04 PM.

[Favi]

Crystals, I love your grout formicarium.

[Crystals]

Crystals, I love your grout formicarium.

Thanks!

[dspdrew]

That big one's pretty cool. Are you going to take the sticker off?

[Crystals]

That big one's pretty cool. Are you going to take the sticker off?

Thanks,

Yes, I just left the sticker on for the picture.