920 replies to this topic

[Gregory2455]

Pretty cool.

[dspdrew]

 

What's funny is I actually thought about stacking two out worlds to save space, except they would be for two different colonies. I would have both nests in the cabinet, with their out worlds stacked. I think that idea would just make too many problems and be too difficult to maintain though.

 

Thanks for pointing out this issue, Dspdrew. I constructed fomicarium's nest as 3 parts and put 2 stoppers (you can see them in triangles). However I can choose to keep one or two different colonies.

 

İf I choose to keep one colony, I must start in the first part of nest, after that colony becomes larger I can open second and third part.

 

But if I choose to keep two different colonies. I can open the second stopper and than keep a cataglyphis colony in the first part and a messor colony in the second and third part. But I think that keeping two different species in one formicarium can cause disturbing stuation for the ants although they are totally separated from each other.

 

I dont know what I will do. which way do you prefer if you were me?

 

 

Sorry, I had a feeling what I said might have been misunderstood. I was referring to my own design when I said it would be too problematic and hard to maintain. I am going to have vivarium out worlds with real plants that would require special lighting and whatnot. Yours I don't think will be much of an issue.

 

Two colonies would be cool if you have to wait for them to grow into the nest, otherwise it's going to be quite empty for a long time.

[AntsTexas]

my S. invicta colony's new home

 

[Crystals]

I have seen many Solenopsis invicta colonies raised in rubbermaid bins. 

What is that yellow thing?  I assume it has a good reason for being there, but I am having difficulty deciding why.

[AntsTexas]

I have seen many Solenopsis invicta colonies raised in rubbermaid bins. 

What is that yellow thing?  I assume it has a good reason for being there, but I am having difficulty deciding why.

lol the yellow thing is something fun for them to climb all over, like kids in/at a playground.....

 

if they get bored with nothing to do they will try and escape/move

Edited by AntsTexas, April 28 2016 - 6:48 AM.

[AntsTexas]

my formicarium

cool setup, i like it 

[Crystals]

Been awhile since I posted pictures of some of my nests on this thread.  I guess I haven't made too many nests that are worth posting.

 

Nest made out of fired clay and grout:

 

 

Some other grout nests with advanced hydration:

 

 

Horizontal Sand formicarium: (this is an older picture)

Edited by Crystals, December 28 2017 - 3:11 PM.

[Loops117]

Don't have a picture, but i have a video of my Panera Cup Ant Farm with a hallow center shortly after i introduced them.

 

Here's 3 days later. I should have used a different type of substrate. The organic top soil i used is sticking to the walls.

Edited by Loops117, April 28 2016 - 11:04 AM.

[Kwitzats]

My first grout/burrowing substrate, formicarium attempt.

Edited by Kwitzats, May 2 2016 - 8:23 AM.

[Kwitzats]

I tried adding photos but, apparently, failed

[Kwitzats]

Edited by dspdrew, May 2 2016 - 12:35 PM.
Fixed image

[Crystals]

I tried adding photos but, apparently, failed

Tips for Taking and Posting Pictures
http://forum.formicu...sting-pictures/

 

I use photobucket, but there are other sites as well.

[Kwitzats]

Let me try again.

[Cypherf0x]

I was bored this morning and needed to learn Fusion 360 some more for the CNC stuff so I designed this modification of the old hub so you could fit a test tube on it.  It retains it's usefulness even after the colony has outgrown it since it can be used as a hub and a station for water/sugar water

 

 

If anyone would like to test it since I don't have any ants let me know.

 

As usual all the files are located here

Edited by Cypherf0x, May 28 2016 - 5:55 PM.

[Cypherf0x]

The finished prototype

 

 

 

I cut a 2ft x 1ft sheet of acrylic so there's plenty of parts if anyone wants to volunteer as a vict... beta tester.

Edited by Cypherf0x, June 1 2016 - 8:36 AM.

[dspdrew]

I guess I'll add this here. It's nothing elaborate, but a lot better than test tubes laying in a box.

 

[Loops117]

Here's a video of my T.Sessile colony. It's small, they're small, small world.

Outworld is made out of a Samsung Earbud Headphone case.

[JWRay]

I guess I'll add this here. It's nothing elaborate, but a lot better than test tubes laying in a box.

 

 

I very much like the overall look.  Simple, clean, effective.  What kind of boxes is this constructed out of? 

 

And since I have no clue about how this works, what is the purpose of the bottom seemingly empty, clear container?

[dspdrew]

They're called Boxbox containers.

 

http://www.formicult...rchasing-guide/

http://www.formicult...dated-6-6-2016/

[NightsWebs]

The bottom chamber is a water tank that hydrates the hydrostone via sponges unless Drew has changed his design.