13 replies to this topic

[Jonny8040]

Hey guys,
I have never made a journal before but I now have over 13 queens of various species haha. Yesterday, I had 3 queens that had their first nanitics of the genus Formica, tetramorium, and aphaenogaster. Pictures are on the way as I am on my way home from Church at the moment. I’m excited to start this journey and excited for y’alls input. Stay tuned!!

[TechAnt]

Awesome!

[Jonny8040]

Ok, I just got home and checked and another queen has nanitics. As of now:
Lasius Americanus - 1 worker
Aphaenogaster - 1 worker
Tetramorium #1 - 4 workers
Formica #1 - 3 workers

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[Devi]

Nice!  Looks great!  I really really want to keep aphaenogaster but haven't been able to find any.  I'm jealous!  Nice pics btw, what set up do you use?

[Jonny8040]

Nice!  Looks great!  I really really want to keep aphaenogaster but haven't been able to find any.  I'm jealous!  Nice pics btw, what set up do you use?

We literally have aphaenogaster where I live under almost every single rock haha. They’re everywhere!! I use a regular test tube setup with a black construction paper covering for darkness and a zoomed 11.5” heating cable. All my colonies are doing great in this thank The Lord!

[Devi]

Nice.  I've been looking into heating cables to heat three mini hearths...  Do you like that one?  If so what brand is it?

[Jonny8040]

I love it. It’s made a world of difference in my ants. Here’s the link to it. It’s on sale right now which is good! Keep in mind that only the last 4 feet or so get hot. There’s a little black ring around the cord that heat stops at. 4’ is plenty enough cord for me with everything I have and would be for you as well with 3 mini hearths and many more!

Here’s the link:
https://www.petco.co...cB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Jonny8040]

I actually make my own ant formicarium to resemble THA mini hearths and that’s what these colonies will eventually get Lord Willing when they outgrow the test tubes.

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[Devi]

Wow!  That looks great.  How do you make those???  That seriously looks awesome.

[Jonny8040]

Wow! That looks great. How do you make those??? That seriously looks awesome.

Well thank you! I use grout for the nest material and then use damp sand to form the tunnels and chambers instead of clay or something else. I don’t have a bunch of money to spend on ants as I live on a farm and have to DIY a lot of stuff anyway so I thought it’d be fun to try to make some

[Devi]

No I get it, I'm anting on a budget as well, lol.  Is that blue material on the bottom wood that you carved out and added grout to, or is it already carved out?  I think the real challenge would be the humidity area, and finding a good sized plastic container that fits the bottom.

[Jonny8040]

No I get it, I'm anting on a budget as well, lol. Is that blue material on the bottom wood that you carved out and added grout to, or is it already carved out? I think the real challenge would be the humidity area, and finding a good sized plastic container that fits the bottom.

I built a wooden frame with screws so it can be removed after the grout dries and use a piece of large glass to sit the frame on so that it has to be flush with the price of glass that is held on by magnets. And then I make my chambers with the damp sand the way I want them. So it’s all grout. Not carved wood. I use the Paint storage containers from hobby lobby to make the hydration chamber and some super fine #120 mesh I believe. I use a band saw to cut the paint container to a more shallow size.

Here’s the paint containers:
https://www.hobbylob...jxoC75kQAvD_BwE

Edited by Jonny8040, August 24 2020 - 3:53 AM.

[Jonny8040]

Here ya go KitAnts! 👍🏼😁

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[TechAnt]

Awesome, you know that could be sold off as a Mini Hearth - Two Chambers Edition lol. It looks very similar to the real thing! I have been on a search for Firebrick or something to carve to make like a Mini Hearth formicarium for my honeypot queens (hoping they will get workers, knocking on wood).

Edited by TechAnt, August 24 2020 - 8:19 AM.