31 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

Here’s a discussion topic: why don’t any ant companies make large outworlds? The biggest ones available are only about the size of a shoebox, so they fill up with trash very fast and are impossible to clean as every inch gets covered with crowded workers.
Aquariums could work, but glass limits connectivity with tubing and silicone joints limit escape proofing.

Edited by ANTdrew, March 19 2020 - 7:04 AM.

[Thunder_Birds]

I don't know...well, it's a lot more work for ant companies to make, and ship large outworlds, but I don't know how that would be a problem. If you have a large ant colony, I guess you would just have to buy lots of outworlds, and then just connect them all, because yeah I haven't heard of any extra large outworlds. The biggest ones I know about are the AC outworlds, and THA has a big formicarium/outworld called the Pioneer, that is 15'' by 3.5''

[NickAnter]

A lot of people don't want huge outworlds. They take up a lot of space. I personally do, but many people simply do not have the space, and, as previously mentioned, it is harder to ship larger items. Not to mention more expensive.

[TheMicroPlanet]

maybe someone should make an inflatable outworld

[Ants4fun]

This is actually a big gripe of mine. Many of the major ant formicarium retailers are supplying way too small of out worlds. Ants’ outworld should be a lot larger than than the nesting size. If not, then you get pheromone confusion, circling, overcrowding of outworld, and far more escape attempts. Not to point fingers, but I see many THA setups with a massive nest, and a really tiny outworld. You won’t get any natural behavior from the ants with that small of an outworld, and half of the enjoyment comes from their interacting with the ‘outside’ environment. Really good nests, but I would suggest adding a dedicated outworld to many of THA setups.

[TheMicroPlanet]

Maybe you could use an aquarium

[ANTdrew]

This is actually a big gripe of mine. Many of the major ant formicarium retailers are supplying way too small of out worlds. Ants’ outworld should be a lot larger than than the nesting size. If not, then you get pheromone confusion, circling, overcrowding of outworld, and far more escape attempts. Not to point fingers, but I see many THA setups with a massive nest, and a really tiny outworld. You won’t get any natural behavior from the ants with that small of an outworld, and half of the enjoyment comes from their interacting with the ‘outside’ environment. Really good nests, but I would suggest adding a dedicated outworld to many of THA setups.

This is my point exactly!

[ANTdrew]

Maybe you could use an aquarium

Aquariums can work, but they are mostly vertical space that is wasted on ants. Plus the glass and silicone joints pose problems I mentioned up above.

Edited by ANTdrew, March 19 2020 - 8:22 AM.

[TheMicroPlanet]

Maybe you could just buy some plexiglass and aquarium-safe silicone and make your own outworld (i actually considered this).

[Technomyrmex]

Get some sheets of acrylic/aquarium glue and build some? Would be way cheaper than buying a pre-built product.

[Skwiggledork]

I just wish Aquariums weren't tempered glass. I'd drill a hole in it for tubing and be ok with less climby ants like my Tetramorium.

[TheMicroPlanet]

I guess glass can hold more water and hold up better under pressure than plexiglass or things like it. After all, aquaria are for aquatic environments, not ants  (shocking, I know).

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Apparently, AntsCanada used to sell an outworld many years ago which was sort of like a dish with an inward curving rim for fluon. If someone would start making an outworld like this again, that would solve the whole outworld size problem. It would also be easier to clean and have a much better view.

[RushmoreAnts]

If AC made large outworlds, no one would buy them. They’d be several hundred dollars..........

[ANTdrew]

I shudder to think how much they’d charge for an opaque piece of crap.
The issue with making your own with silicone is that fluon does not work on silicone.

[RushmoreAnts]

I just use clear storage containers from Target. They may not be as clear, but you can buy much more for a fraction of a hundred bucks.

[Serafine]

Antstore does 60x30x30cm glass outworlds (and even bigger ones on demand) but they only ship inside of Germany.

 

The main problem is the antkeeping community itself - there is simply no sufficient demand because barely anyone keeps ants to a point where they actually need those huge setups.

For most people ants are still throw-away pets.

 

 

p.s. Ikea sells a bundle of acrylic boxes with lids under the Godmorgon label (it's one 25x20cm box, one of around 20x10cm and three smaller ones) for 10-15 bucks. They make great outworlds.

Edited by Serafine, March 19 2020 - 1:04 PM.

[Miles]

Antstore does 60x30x30cm glass outworlds (and even bigger ones on demand) but they only ship inside of Germany.

 

The main problem is the antkeeping community itself - there is simply no sufficient demand because barely anyone keeps ants to a point where they actually need those huge setups.

For most people ants are still throw-away pets.

We must work harder to meaningfully expand and support the ant keeping hobby.

[ponerinecat]

It's really quite easy to make a large outworld with a tank, and there are always ways to put the formicarium inside of the tank itself.

[ANTdrew]

Antstore does 60x30x30cm glass outworlds (and even bigger ones on demand) but they only ship inside of Germany.

The main problem is the antkeeping community itself - there is simply no sufficient demand because barely anyone keeps ants to a point where they actually need those huge setups.
For most people ants are still throw-away pets.

I think you nailed it, Serafine.