19 replies to this topic

[andytjuh]

Hello all,

A couple of months ago i started with ant keeping, we had a nuptial flight so i thought this is the time to do it

So yeah, now i am working on a Ytong nest, and it's starting to get shape.
What do you think about it so far ?
See pictures below to see my creation!

But idk, I'm not sure if i am doing it right..
I want to get some help , tips, something you want to share with me, so i won't make any mistakes.

Thinking about this big hole in the middel of the Ytong nest,
I drilled it for the water to keep the nest hydrated,
but every time i fill this hole like 5 hours in the water is gone.

I already tried it with a sponge.. don't know exactly how long it last because i went to work for 10 hours came back and it was dry.


Feel free to ask me anything

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by andytjuh, September 3 2020 - 9:29 AM.

[TechAnt]

I think you'd need more water towers as that nest is fairly big. But I'm not a great formicaria maker, so don't take my word for it. I think people like dspdrew, CatsnAnts, and others would know better.

[andytjuh]

Thank you for you're reaction,

 

Yeah it will be a big ytong nest hehe, but i have plans for the other half.

I want to make a plasticglass outworld on top of it where my ants can walk arround and easy feeding food.

[TechAnt]

Thank you for you're reaction,

 

Yeah it will be a big ytong nest hehe, but i have plans for the other half.

I want to make a plasticglass outworld on top of it where my ants can walk arround and easy feeding food.

No problem!

Another thing, keep in mind what species you plan on housing in there, as tunnels too small or too big may be uncomfortable for the ants.

[andytjuh]

Yeah true, i have a colony of lasius niger.

the tunnels are a minimum of 1 cm

[Ants_Dakota]

And cleaning. How are you going to access the nest when it needs cleaning, as well as visibility. Are you going to be able to see the colony at all times?

[andytjuh]

I was thinking something like this,

 

The top side is from plexiglass and has a hole in it.

The hole is covered with a mesh.

I can remove the top for easy access

 

The lower part is from ytong, where i cover all the sides with plexiglass with red foil

 

Edited by andytjuh, September 3 2020 - 11:28 AM.

[AleeGuy]

You can check in AntsAus vid how he makes his ytong nests that he sells: on 6:29 time code

Edit: what did you use to cut chambers that nice?

Edited by AleeGuy, September 3 2020 - 11:49 AM.

[andytjuh]

Thanks man I'm gonna watch it,

 

I made the nest with a drill bit and smoothen it out by hand.

It's not done yet, still allot of work left.

 

But i still don't have a design for the outerworld, i want to carve it out into a bowl form then add some sand where they can dig

[Devi]

A word of caution about the outworld:  In the design above, the outworld is nearly half the size of the nest.  I think this is way too small.  I think that the outworld should be AT LEAST the same size as the nest, if not bigger.  Your ants would do sooo much better with a bigger outworld.  Other than that, I love the design!  Looking great so far!

[AleeGuy]

You can check in AntsAus vid how he makes his ytong nests that he sells: on 6:29 time code

Edit: what did you use to cut chambers that nice?

P.s. he puts some type of wood or something to hold humidity better or something

P.p.s. where did you bought ytong block?

[Kaelwizard]

You can check in AntsAus vid how he makes his ytong nests that he sells: on 6:29 time code

Edit: what did you use to cut chambers that nice?

P.s. he puts some type of wood or something to hold humidity better or something

P.p.s. where did you bought ytong block?

You mean a sponge?

[AleeGuy]

You can check in AntsAus vid how he makes his ytong nests that he sells: on 6:29 time code

Edit: what did you use to cut chambers that nice?

P.s. he puts some type of wood or something to hold humidity better or something

P.p.s. where did you bought ytong block?

You mean a sponge?

No, check 6:37 he uses some type of plywood. For sponge best is PVA sponge

[Kaelwizard]

Oh! That’s strange.

[andytjuh]

A word of caution about the outworld:  In the design above, the outworld is nearly half the size of the nest.  I think this is way too small.  I think that the outworld should be AT LEAST the same size as the nest, if not bigger.  Your ants would do sooo much better with a bigger outworld.  Other than that, I love the design!  Looking great so far!

Yeah, i can imagine that it's a tight space for the ants... but i want atleast 30 centimers sand for them to dig in, but i can always expand the outworld to a L shape.

So you get the same size but then infront of the Ytong block.

Thank you!

 

 

You can check in AntsAus vid how he makes his ytong nests that he sells: on 6:29 time code

Edit: what did you use to cut chambers that nice?

P.s. he puts some type of wood or something to hold humidity better or something

P.p.s. where did you bought ytong block?

 

I did not buy the Ytong block..

I'm a carpenter so yeah i can get those blocks for free on my work hehe.

Edited by andytjuh, September 4 2020 - 7:18 AM.

[Ants_Dakota]

 

A word of caution about the outworld:  In the design above, the outworld is nearly half the size of the nest.  I think this is way too small.  I think that the outworld should be AT LEAST the same size as the nest, if not bigger.  Your ants would do sooo much better with a bigger outworld.  Other than that, I love the design!  Looking great so far!

Yeah, i can imagine that it's a tight space for the ants... but i want atleast 30 centimers sand for them to dig in, but i can always expand the outworld to a L shape.

So you get the same size but then infront of the Ytong block.

Thank you!

 

 

You can check in AntsAus vid how he makes his ytong nests that he sells: on 6:29 time code

Edit: what did you use to cut chambers that nice?

P.s. he puts some type of wood or something to hold humidity better or something

P.p.s. where did you bought ytong block?

 

I did not buy the Ytong block..

I'm a carpenter so yeah i can get those blocks for free on my work hehe.

 

SO ENVIOUS!!! Ship one to me!!!

[AleeGuy]

I did not buy the Ytong block..
I'm a carpenter so yeah i can get those blocks for free on my work hehe.

Send it to me too plsss, I'm so envious too.

Edited by AleeGuy, September 4 2020 - 7:47 AM.

[andytjuh]

Ytong is not that expensive you know that right ?

 

You can but it at you're construction market for like 5 dollars.

[AleeGuy]

Ytong is not that expensive you know that right ?

You can but it at you're construction market for like 5 dollars.

not because of the price but because of the availability, there is almost no store U.S. that sells aac(ytong) that's why we want them

[Spazmops]

Are you putting loose substrate in the outworld? Bear in mind if you do, the ants will likely either live in the outworld or fill the nest with sand. The second one could be seen as a good thing, but I doubt you’d want outworld-dwelling ants.