920 replies to this topic

[UtahAnts]

Out of curiosity, would anyone know how to go about making a formicarium along the same principles as the "Mini Hearth" design that TarHeelAnts has? I love the design(s) but I've had bad experience when ordering from him. Not to mention when he messed up my order and a friends order, he had no intentions on making it right...id rather try and make them myself. I get the concept but the sand texture on the inside of them...how? Wet sand shaped instead of using clay for the chamber(s)? Fantastic design as said before but again, I'd love to make these myself...or something along the same principle.

I have seen images of someone using sand to mold the chambers before putting plaster/grout in. I don't know how it would hold during the pouring process, but it might work. I will try doing this and share images soon.

[UtahAnts]

Here are some smaller wood nests for wood loving species, such as Camponotus, temnothorax, and crematogaster. They were built out of a very hard type of wood, almost impossible to Dremel into. In one of the images you can probably see that I have built a THA style water tower. Now I know you are all probably thinking that water/moisture in the nest will make the wood warp and maybe rot. I will test this prototype nest to see how long it will last, so I can see for myself if wood is affected by moisture over the course of this month.

 

For more designs from me, see my formicarium journal: https://www.formicul...-and-outworlds/

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Edited by UtahAnts, July 18 2022 - 6:41 PM.

[Devi]

Ok, that's pretty amazing.  Never seen anything like it.  Are those for sale?

[madbiologist]

Foranto makes similar stuff, I believe.

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[UtahAnts]

Ok, that's pretty amazing.  Never seen anything like it.  Are those for sale?

Maybe, I sell them locally, but shipping might be an issue for out of state sales. Currently I sell them for 10$ for the ones above plus shipping. I also have some larger ones in branches that I should post here too. Just need to get around to it... 

And yes I should give credit to foranto because he makes absolutely stunning nests. I have always wanted one but have no idea how to lay my hands on one, so I settled for building some of my own. Does anyone know what type of saw he uses to cut the chambers? I have settled for a drill press but it leaves unsightly indents in the wood.

[betterForm]

looks great! what is the inside of the nest made of, though?

 

gypsum...

 

 

down side,

before

 

after:

Edited by betterForm, December 9 2020 - 12:34 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

 

looks great! what is the inside of the nest made of, though?

 

gypsum...

 

 

down side,

before

 

after:

 

that is pretty cool!

[UtahAnts]

Here's a nest I recently made for someone. Somewhat similar to a THA phalanx, has 2 water towers as well, and fine sand coated chambers. I am going to try to make some smaller versions of these like mini hearths. Update soon. 

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Edited by AntsUtah, December 29 2020 - 2:52 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

looks awesome! what material is it made of? plaster?

[AleeGuy]

looks more like a stronghold, awesome!

[UtahAnts]

looks more like a stronghold, awesome!

 

 

looks awesome! what material is it made of? plaster?

Thanks, and yes it is made of Plaster of Paris.

This has probably been asked already, but does anyone know where to find small amounts of grout or hydrostone for cheap? I figured hobby lobby probably has some so I will check there.

[Kaelwizard]

looks more like a stronghold, awesome!

The stronghold has completely a completely different chamber design.

[ANTdrew]

Hobby Lobby Perfect Cast is almost identical to hydrostone. If you read reviews, people claim it is superior. It cost me $8.99 for a five lb bag, which is about half of what hydrostone costs.

[ANTdrew]

I spent the weekend working on this 5"x5" inch nest made out of Hobby Lobby Perfect Cast. It has a 47cc water tower that allows lighting from below like THA's designs. I'm not crazy about the rounded shape of the mold because I couldn't find glass that fit well.

 

Original chambers:

 

Sand coated with glass and frame glued on with silicone:

 

Bottom of the water tower exposed for lighting purposes:

 

 

 

[Ants_Dakota]

how would ants get in and out then? other than that, it looks great!

[ANTdrew]

That light spot right above the water tower is an entrance hole for tubing.

[UtahAnts]

I made a formicarium using the wet-sand-as-a-mold method, and I can tell you the results looked pretty bad. The problem when you make formicarium's using sand to make the chambers is that it us very difficult control the shape and size at all. Not to mention how hard it is to get enough sand stacked on top of itself, then hope it stays while you pour the plaster/grout. I think I'll just stick to the good old clay method.

[ANTdrew]

I used clay coated with oil for my mold. I scrubbed out the residue with a tootbrush and Bon Ami powder.

[steelplant]

Looks great Antdrew! Who's the lucky colony moving in?

[UtahAnts]

 

I spent the weekend working on this 5"x5" inch nest made out of Hobby Lobby Perfect Cast. It has a 47cc water tower that allows lighting from below like THA's designs. I'm not crazy about the rounded shape of the mold because I couldn't find glass that fit well.

 

Original chambers:

 

 

Sand coated with glass and frame glued on with silicone:

 

 

Bottom of the water tower exposed for lighting purposes:

 

 

 

How do you coat the chamber with sand? Do you use epoxy?