6 replies to this topic

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

I'm setting up a small tube run from the nest to a 2nd larger outworld.
I don't have the ants on hand yet (Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis) as i've been setting up to be ready for them before they arrive. Which is likely later this week if they ship today(weather decides).

What i'm unsure of is tube sizing to use for this. Currently i've set it up with tube that fits the 3/8 sized ports on the mini hearth and outworld. But I considered that if the ants were foraging the 3/8 tube run(about 18" long) might be a little small for two way traffic and seed carrying. But i also considered the possibility that if i use too large a tubing they might decide to move into the tube.

So any advice on this setup? Would you use smaller or larger tubing for such run to an outworld?

 

Thanks for your time and efforts,

FFY

[ANTdrew]

3/8 tubing is a great size for Pogonomyrmex. They will work out the two way traffic in their own ways, plus they don’t grow that fast where it would be a problem for a long while.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

 

3/8 tubing is a great size for Pogonomyrmex. They will work out the two way traffic in their own ways, plus they don’t grow that fast where it would be a problem for a long while.

 


Thanks for the info. My favorite kind too, no additional work to do.

[T.C.]

What's the light setup you have? Are those heat lamps?

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

What's the light setup you have? Are those heat lamps?

it's a zoomed mini dual dome. one side is a 40w "basking bulb" not a halogen or anything really hot. The other a 40w ceramic heater. If it's extra cold in the day they may both be on. But mostly it's the light on a day/night timer and the heater on a thermostat. the temp probe is outside the formicarium, on the back right up next to it along the outworld/nest line. I also have a heatcable on a separate temp probe that's inside the nest using the nestmate port on the back.

 

It's well sized for the mini hearth, but i can already tell if i expanded to fill up the platform it's on with more nest and bigger outworld. I'd probably need something a bit bigger to cover all of it with enough warmth during winter.

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, January 20 2023 - 4:48 PM.

[Flu1d]

3/8 tubing is a great size for Pogonomyrmex. They will work out the two way traffic in their own ways, plus they don’t grow that fast where it would be a problem for a long while.

When you say 3/8" tubing, do you mean ID or OD? I have both and I feel as if 1/4 ID // 3/8 OD would be pretty tight

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

 

3/8 tubing is a great size for Pogonomyrmex. They will work out the two way traffic in their own ways, plus they don’t grow that fast where it would be a problem for a long while.

When you say 3/8" tubing, do you mean ID or OD? I have both and I feel as if 1/4 ID // 3/8 OD would be pretty tight

 


This is in reference to a TarHeelAnt's mini hearth, they use 3/8od-1/4id for that, and with the Pogonomyrmex it is working well. I note that while they move in it just fine, it is a "one way" sized path an they have to work out who squats down and who climbs over who sometimes. But it is working well for them.

Some of them have taken up dumping trash and other random things in the tube. I see lots of single sand grains,(what detaches form the poured form, not added loose substrate) and some obvious trash drops.
Interestingly some ants start binging seeds back to the nest but abandon them part way there and turn around to go back for a different one.
And no one else seems interesting in picking any of these seeds up. Like they decided it's just not a good seed that any of them want.

I'm going to make another vented tube and then just swap out the tubes whenever the in use one looks like it needs cleaning.

I do plan to use the next size tube up for the next outworld, as that's the port size out of the FF outworld and i'll connect form it to the next larger outworld i'm getting.