7 replies to this topic

[BroJack]

Does anyone know about a reliable, cheap or DIY formicarium that will contain really small ants. I have 9 single queen colonies (will try multiple next year - did not know when I caught and set them up) and am finding workers on my desk frequently. They were in test tube set-ups but got really hard to feed when the numbers of workers grew. I moved them into tube and tub (pencil box)  set-ups with fluon on the tubs. The fluon did NOTHING to contain the workers and the tops don't contain the workers either.

I'm looking for formicarium ideas that 1) will contain them and 2) make feeding and hydration easy.

I have read the journals but none seem to go beyond their founding test tubes. The one that did had a dirt formicarium and I'm not interested in going that direction at this time.

Any ideas or suggestions? This is my first experience with ants this small.

[ZTYguy]

There’s the founding AUS Ants formicarium. Or just make one from an amac box.

[Manitobant]

A tar heel ants atom would work. Email him as he only makes them for special order.

[ANTdrew]

A test tube in a pencil box will create too much humidity for fluon to be effective. Put the tubes in a larger container with a well ventilated lid. Renew fluon every few months.

[gs5248]

You could try a THA mini hearth. It is very effective at keeping in small species from my experience. It costs around 30 dollars. However, the shipping can be expensive, especially if you live outside of the US.

[Kaelwizard]

You could try a THA mini hearth. It is very effective at keeping in small species from my experience. It costs around 30 dollars. However, the shipping can be expensive, especially if you live outside of the US.

A bifurcated mini hearth is better for tiny species. Also they are in Arizona.

Edited by Kaelwizard, December 28 2020 - 3:27 PM.

[gs5248]

 

You could try a THA mini hearth. It is very effective at keeping in small species from my experience. It costs around 30 dollars. However, the shipping can be expensive, especially if you live outside of the US.

A bifurcated mini hearth is better for tiny species. Also they are in Arizona.

 

Yes, however a bifurcated mini hearth is more expensive at fifty dollars. I have kept tiny species in regular mini hearth, and they have been fine. But if you could get your hand on a bifurcated one, then it would probably be better.

[UtahAnts]

THA is having a holiday sell, 25 for mini hearth, 30 for xl and bifurcated, etc. But I would recommend a Bifurcated mini hearth for brachymyrmex, I have kept some in test tubes before, and they were fine.