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Photo

Pictures of Formicariums and Outworlds

Started By Crystals , Sep 26 2013 9:06 AM
photo pictures formicarium outworld

912 replies to this topic

#641 Offline Devi - Posted January 6 2021 - 7:27 AM

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I really like that nest!  I especially like the little island in the middle.  I think you did a great job of varying the tunnel sizes and depths.  I see formica doing really well in there.  


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#642 Offline antsandmore - Posted January 6 2021 - 8:28 AM

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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.

this is my absolute favorite yet, I need to try making my own formicariums.


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Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year

#643 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted January 7 2021 - 6:07 AM

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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.

this is my absolute favorite yet, I need to try making my own formicariums.

 

challenging, but rewarding! you will need a bit of start up money, though, for raw materials.


  • Devi and Antkeeper01 like this

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal

#644 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 7 2021 - 7:01 AM

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Here's a barebones list:

Hobby Lobby Perfect Cast: $8.99

Cheap clay: $6.99

Any oil from your kitchen

Any sand cleaned and sterilized

100 micron mesh= $8.99

Containers for casting= $1.99- $10.99 ( you can make frames free from Legos or wood pieces)

Glass from cheap picture frames= $5.99

Loctite brand 100% Silicone= $4.99

Reuse small plastic containers for water towers - free

 

Cheapest total= ~$36.00 for multiple builds


Edited by ANTdrew, January 7 2021 - 7:06 AM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#645 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted January 7 2021 - 7:03 AM

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Here's a barebones list:

Hobby Lobby Perfect Cast: $8.99

Cheap clay: $6.99

Any oil from your kitchen

Any sand cleaned and sterilized

100 micron mesh= $8.99

Containers for casting= $1.99- $10.99 ( you can make frames free from Legos or wood pieces)

Glass from cheap picture frames= $5.99

Loctite brand 100% Silicone= $4.99

i got lots of clay off of amazon for 4 dollars.(i know, i love looking for the most 

 

Here's a barebones list:

Hobby Lobby Perfect Cast: $8.99

Cheap clay: $6.99

Any oil from your kitchen

Any sand cleaned and sterilized

100 micron mesh= $8.99

Containers for casting= $1.99- $10.99 ( you can make frames free from Legos or wood pieces)

Glass from cheap picture frames= $5.99

Loctite brand 100% Silicone= $4.99

i got clay off of amazon for 4 dollars. i know, i look for the cheapest deal.


  • ANTdrew likes this

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal

#646 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 7 2021 - 7:09 AM

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Yeah, there are always cheaper options if you search around. Don't forget about shipping when you're ordering online, though. I estimate the average cost of the individual builds I've posted recently was around $12- $15.00.


  • Ants_Dakota, Swirlysnowflake and Devi like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#647 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted January 7 2021 - 9:22 AM

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Everyone's builds here look great.


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 My YouTube channel :)

 

 

#648 Offline UtahAnts - Posted January 7 2021 - 7:33 PM

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I already posted this but here's some THA mini hearth style nests using Hobby Lobby Perfect Cast that ANT drew recommended, so far seems to be stronger and more durable than Plaster, although one of the nests did crack as I was drilling along a fault line.   :ugone2far:

 

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

Attached Images

  • IMG-0021 (1).jpg

Edited by UtahAnts, July 18 2022 - 6:35 PM.

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Leave the Road, take the Trails - Pythagoras

 

Utah Ant Keeping --- Here

DIY Formicariums and Outworlds --- Here

Honeypot Ant Journal --- Here

Photo Album --- Here

Videos --- Here

#649 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 8 2021 - 3:20 AM

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Looks like they would work great, AU. Do you have an outworld to put on top?
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#650 Offline AleeGuy - Posted January 8 2021 - 5:13 AM

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Looks like they would work great, AU. Do you have an outworld to put on top?

I think yes because he used small containers that are sold in packs of 6, and there is a tube sticking out of the plaster.

Edited by AleeGuy, January 8 2021 - 5:15 AM.

#651 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 8 2021 - 5:28 AM

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I like how much lower that cave is than a THA because many species would feel more comfortable.


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#652 Offline UtahAnts - Posted January 8 2021 - 6:27 AM

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I like how much lower that cave is than a THA because many species would feel more comfortable.

Yeah I feel like the only problem with mini hearths is that they are very spacious, which is fine for honeypots, but not so much for other species. I made them about 50% smaller than a normal Mini hearth.

 

Looks like they would work great, AU. Do you have an outworld to put on top?

I think yes because he used small containers that are sold in packs of 6, and there is a tube sticking out of the plaster.

 

The tube is the hydration tube, it looks huge but it fits a syringe nicely. I'm going to make outworld for these when I actually start using them, because I still need those containers for molds. I'm going to make another batch soon and I'll update.


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Leave the Road, take the Trails - Pythagoras

 

Utah Ant Keeping --- Here

DIY Formicariums and Outworlds --- Here

Honeypot Ant Journal --- Here

Photo Album --- Here

Videos --- Here

#653 Offline Spazmops - Posted January 9 2021 - 4:18 PM

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I have some plastic bits from a dust mask I modded for Halloween, so I decided to design a nest around them. It's 3d printed with a hydrostone floor and a large water reservoir in the middle, which will hydrate the entire floor. Let me know what you think.

 
Edit: For reference, the hole is 1/2 an inch in diameter.
 
21780000 54D7 49C0 A97F 095CB29CB436
EA9E85BC A10A 4790 8E29 B3048A2B74A2

Edited by Spazmops, January 9 2021 - 5:14 PM.

  • Kaelwizard, Boog, CANant and 2 others like this

Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#654 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 18 2021 - 7:07 AM

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I'm working on these for a customer. It is a Pogonomyrmex friendly design with stair step chambers for easier climbing and a 45cc water tower. I still need to finish drilling access holes and attaching tubing to an outworld. I think a lot of ants should fit in here, and it should have a good humidity gradient.

 


Edited by ANTdrew, January 18 2021 - 7:08 AM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#655 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted January 18 2021 - 8:21 AM

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Nice!


#656 Offline Spazmops - Posted January 18 2021 - 8:54 AM

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That's one lucky customer  :D


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Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#657 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 18 2021 - 9:32 AM

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That's one lucky customer :D

Haha, I’ll say.
Now accepting new customers.
  • Devi likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#658 Offline Richj - Posted January 21 2021 - 1:20 PM

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Thought I'd pitch in with my highly over engineered take on a wooden formicarium. I liked the look of the foranto offerings so thought I'd give a wooden one a go.

Attached Images

  • IMG_20210121_210027.jpg
  • IMG_20210121_210209.jpg
  • IMG_20210121_210153.jpg

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#659 Offline UtahAnts - Posted January 21 2021 - 1:22 PM

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Thought I'd pitch in with my highly over engineered take on a wooden formicarium. I liked the look of the foranto offerings so thought I'd give a wooden one a go.

Nice, what did you use to carve the chambers? I like the high tech plus natural look of it.


  • Ants_Dakota likes this

Leave the Road, take the Trails - Pythagoras

 

Utah Ant Keeping --- Here

DIY Formicariums and Outworlds --- Here

Honeypot Ant Journal --- Here

Photo Album --- Here

Videos --- Here

#660 Offline Richj - Posted January 21 2021 - 1:28 PM

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Thanks, I used a handheld router.
I'm not happy with the heating though. It's currently set up with a motorcycle hand warming mini heat mat (12v) but it gets really, really hot! Although randomly the heat generated by the thermostat alone keeps it at a steady temperature 😂
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