Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

How to create a formicarium DIY


  • Please log in to reply
6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline TylrsAnts - Posted November 5 2019 - 8:32 PM

TylrsAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 31 posts
  • LocationCerritos, California
So, hello and I’m going to be starting a thread for people who are on a budget and don’t have enough money to buy formicariums. This will pretty much be a guide.

#2 Offline TylrsAnts - Posted November 5 2019 - 8:36 PM

TylrsAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 31 posts
  • LocationCerritos, California
Formicarium Styles That I Know Of

1. Ytong/Firebrick
2. Upright dirt (think uncle Milton)
3. Naturalistic (stuff antscanda does)
4. Cork/Wood
5. Plaster
6. “Dirt Box”
7. Acrylic
8. Test tube/Tubs and tubes/Cubes and tubes

Formicarium Styles You Should Avoid (For every species)
1. Gel

Feel free to add on

#3 Offline TylrsAnts - Posted November 5 2019 - 8:41 PM

TylrsAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 31 posts
  • LocationCerritos, California
Ytong/Fire brick (The principle in this video is the same for both): https://m.youtube.co...h?v=RtS9BO2PRLM
Test tube: https://m.youtube.co...h?v=8edRYbn65Oo
Plaster: https://m.youtube.co...h?v=C8Ij8Bhr8FI
Naturalistic: https://m.youtube.co...h?v=8S8NGb1Kyu8
Ytong (Again): https://m.youtube.co...h?v=Agp8E1w-6Vo
  • rbarreto and treehunned like this

#4 Offline TylrsAnts - Posted November 5 2019 - 8:42 PM

TylrsAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 31 posts
  • LocationCerritos, California
Fire Brick (If you won’t take my word that the process is same): https://m.youtube.co...h?v=L0nOTuZ6ZaY

#5 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted November 6 2019 - 1:24 PM

Antennal_Scrobe

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 933 posts
  • LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin

I know some styles:

 

Grout (Tutorial on Formiculture.)

 

3D printed

 

Bead container (Tutorial on Formiculture.)

 

Hydrostone (Same as grout but is generally better.)

 

Petri dish (Mostly for cryptic ants.)


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis


#6 Offline TylrsAnts - Posted November 6 2019 - 4:39 PM

TylrsAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 31 posts
  • LocationCerritos, California
How to make Petri dish setup: https://m.youtube.co...h?v=iceahERV8DU

#7 Offline BugFinder - Posted May 2 2020 - 5:42 PM

BugFinder

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 872 posts
  • LocationSunnyvale, CA

Here is a pretty cool video on using plaster...    Have any of you tried this method with plaster?  I'm thinking about giving it a go, just like in this video:  any feedback would be helpful.   


“If an ant carries an object a hundred times its weight, you can carry burdens many times your size.”  ― Matshona Dhliwayo

 

My Journals:

Pogonomyrmex subdentatus

Camponotus Vicinus

Camponotus sansabeanus

Tetramorium (sp)

Pogonomyrmex Californicus

My Ant Goals!





1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users