10 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

A lot of young people on here struggle with the costs of ant-keeping. Too many keep colonies crammed up in a test tube for far too long. Here is a simple, cheap alternative. You won’t win any beauty contests, but your ants will do far better than crammed up in a filthy tube.

1) Buy a box of spinach or salad greens at the grocery store. This should not cost more than $4.
2) Eat the nutritious greens.
3) Clean the box well and remove any stickers.
4) Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut a donut out of the middle of the lid.
5) Apply fluon to the top edge of the box and the underside of the rim on the lid.
6) Add a THIN, dry layer of sand. Plaster would be good if you have it.
7) Place test tube in the outworld and let the ants explore!

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Edited by ANTdrew, July 2 2021 - 3:31 PM.

[yaboiseth]

80% of my colonies are housed in test tubes in tupperware lined with fluon and a thin layer of play sand and some disinfected twigs and pebbles. Definitely the best, easiest and cheapest setups, until I have enough to put them in something fancy.

[PetsNotPests]

2) Eat the nutritious greens. Open your trash can and-

I'm sure this would be very helpful for some of those newbies, so thanks for making this. 

Edited by PetsNotPests, July 3 2021 - 6:17 AM.

[Canadant]

It's really only that simple. A big thanks to Antdrew here.

[MrPurpleB]

Definitely, love this idea. This is my preferred method, it really helps cheapen the cost and I find it to be space efficient.

[ANTdrew]

Photo proof this works. This new Camponotus chromaiodes colony was impossible to feed because workers were desperately trying to chew out of their cotton 24/7. I gave them this ghetto outworld and dropped some food in with a liquid feeder, and look how fat and happy they all are now. Zero stress.

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Edited by ANTdrew, July 3 2021 - 5:26 PM.

[antsriondel]

yeah.EAT YOUR GREENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PaigeX]

this would make a funny 2-5min craft video xD

 

Also its how i have my colony's right now. I don't have a lot of money so i make my own stuff xD

Edited by PaigeX, December 14 2021 - 9:32 AM.

[Stubyvast]

So I know this post is super old, but found it and had a question. 

Do you keep the outworld in the dark? Because the test tube will still be exposed to light this way. I want to try this out, the basic "tubs and tubes" set-up, but I'm afraid that my ants won't react well to constant light. Thanks!

[ANTdrew]

Cover the tube with aluminum foil or cut a cardboard tube in half.

[The_Gaming-gate]

A clear plastic cup from a fast food restaurant will work if you seal the straw-hole.