912 replies to this topic

[Kaelwizard]

Good job!

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Here is the same nest after painting. I used acrylic paint, which is nontoxic.

[betterForm]

I printed corner modular nest...

 

 

[Barristan]

New ytong (AAC) prototype:

 

Dimensions: 20 cm x 13 cm.
Chamber depth: 7 mm (will be 8 mm or deeper in final design).
3 connection holes 10 mm (can be larger too).

 

You don't have to glue the glass pane to the Ytong, since it lays inside an indentation. So, you can remove the glass pane easily and clean the nest up or remove brood etc...

In the final version there won't be as much space around the glass pane and it won't lay as deep.

 

An improved design will soon be in my store however I'm located in Germany so shipment might be too expensive for American or Canadian ant keepers.

[Barristan]

An now the final version with less space around the glass. The edges are also sanded and the nest comes with a cover made out of card board:

 

 

 

 

A Tetramorium sp. (caespitum/impurum-complex) already moved into one of the nests:

 

 

[Barristan]

I created a new nest design: 


I already made a nest with a previous design:

 

 

I guess you see why I changed it .

[ANTdrew]

I hove it!

[dominatus]

I posted this in my journal, figured some people might like to see the formicarium here. I just copy/pasted. I am pretty dang happy with it so far.

 

/shrug

 

 

The formicarium is made of a 2 foot ish oak (I think?) slab about 3 inches thick. Sealed with ArtResin epoxy with a float of the epoxy on top. Router used to make chambers then wood resealed with epoxy with sand embedded. Plexiglass cover held in place by brass wood inserts and brass machine screws. With the epoxy self leveling I had a perfectly flat surface so the plexiglass leaves no space for the ants to insert themselves between it and the "walls." The fancy cover is not attached yet so I just cover it with a paper bag for now. I'll post another tour with the cover when it is in place. I didn't focus on maximizing chamber space but more on just making it look random or natural chambers. I am fairly happy with the results. The formicarium is water proof so no wood molding or warping. I placed saw dust in the chambers so the ants can clear space as needed and still have a "wood feel" even though the wood they are nesting in is sealed with epoxy. I have 4 ports that either vinyl tubes or test tubes of water/food can be attached too. I can control humidity this way, though this species does just fine with very little humidity. The top half's chambers do not connect to the bottom half's chambers. I did this to perhaps give the two halves a "satellite nest" feel for the ants. They have to leave the nest and enter the other half through a different tube. There is reptile heating pad attached on the back, warming most of the bottom chambers. There is a combo thermometer / hygrometer inserted in the formicarium near the middle. It is under the plexiglass but separate from the ant chambers.

[T.C.]

Love it.

[ponerinecat]

I would buy that.

[Straywolf94]

No doubt the best camponotus formicarium I've ever seen! It's a piece of art.

[TennesseeAnts]

I just put two grout nests out to dry. Should be ready in a day or two. They moulds are made from Pringles cans cut to the last 2 inches of so. The Pringles lids will be glued to the nests as the screen.

[TennesseeAnts]

Ok then. I forgot I used rapid cure grout, so both nests are done. I just need to add the cover now. I have one more nest and an outworld drying right now. Will post pics of entire lot once done.

[ponerinecat]

Ok then. I forgot I used rapid cure grout, so both nests are done. I just need to add the cover now. I have one more nest and an outworld drying right now. Will post pics of entire lot once done.

I used cut Pringle cans for hypoponera. Worked really well, and they even got to larvae, but then they squeezed through the feeding hole.

[TennesseeAnts]

Yeah I've had problems with Hypoponera doing that... So small...

[dominatus]

Pictures with the finally finished cover. It is just held on with four latches. I didn't have the idea fully formed when I started the project so it was a little late in the process when I realized I didn't make a flat spot for a hinge, so simple latches it was. Not as easy to peak at them as the paper bag cover I was using but a heck of a lot nicer display when closed up...

 

 

 

EDIT: Those are not rotated on the hosting site so I don't know why they did that...

Edited by dominatus, August 18 2019 - 5:41 PM.

[Mandelstam]

Made my first real formicarium (if you can call it that) today. I just wanted a small outworld to hook up to a test tube for my L niger colonies that are new from this season.

 

Found some small plastic boxes at the dollar store. They were really thin plastic and I didn't want them to crack when drilling so I used glass drill bits and cooled it down under running water while drilling just to avoid the plastic melting and sticking to the drill bit.

 

After drilling the vent on the lid the lid warped a little bit due to changed tensions in the plastic I think so it's not fitting snuggly anymore, there's a small opening in one corner. But easily fixed with a pair of rubber bands to hold it together. 

 

 

 

 

[betterForm]

I do it  

New design living block (inc valves)...

Watch the video

 

 

 

backside:

[Amazant]

Crematogaster glass terrarium

[AntaholicAnonymous]

This is a nice thread to read at work

I'm busy with open and closed bio active ecosystems. More about this in my journal.

I hope u like it

That looks amazing I'd like to see how that looks by now