98 replies to this topic

[antsandmore]

Food:

 

Add Rainbow mealworms. The best price at quality for mealworms. Mealworms are an ideal protein staple. Plus, they give you a lot of overcounts.

 

http://www.rainbowmealworms.net

 

 

Test Tubes:

 

Buy glass test tubes at LCM Labs for the best price, quality. 20mm or 18m is a good size. 

 

http://www.lcmlab.co...ts.asp?Cat=1120

also, I found this on this website. apparently you can choose the color, and red is an option. how good would that be for the ants? here's the link. https://www.kartersc...V_p/pc-400d.htm

[M_Ants]

I bought the aspirator so I hope it's good. 

[AleeGuy]

Food:

Add Rainbow mealworms. The best price at quality for mealworms. Mealworms are an ideal protein staple. Plus, they give you a lot of overcounts.

http://www.rainbowmealworms.net


Test Tubes:

Buy glass test tubes at LCM Labs for the best price, quality. 20mm or 18m is a good size.

http://www.lcmlab.co...ts.asp?Cat=1120

also, I found this on this website. apparently you can choose the color, and red is an option. how good would that be for the ants? here's the link. https://www.kartersc...V_p/pc-400d.htm

Really bad. First of all, red covers doesn't work properly on many sp. and that red on the website is pretty bright red. Second of all, that is plastic, it will lose it's transparency by the time from degrading(plus there is constant humidity going inside of it so it will degrade even faster). And third of all, you won't almost ever see the true color of the ants(maybe the workers if it's connected to the outworld, you can see workers foraging), especially the queen.

[AleeGuy]

I forgot to say, just get Karter Sci glass test tubes. I use their glass test tubes all the time, they are cheap and have perfect quality.
I forgot to say, just get Karter Sci glass test tubes. I use their glass test tubes all the time, they are cheap and have perfect quality.

[antsandmore]

 

 

Food:

Add Rainbow mealworms. The best price at quality for mealworms. Mealworms are an ideal protein staple. Plus, they give you a lot of overcounts.

http://www.rainbowmealworms.net


Test Tubes:

Buy glass test tubes at LCM Labs for the best price, quality. 20mm or 18m is a good size.

http://www.lcmlab.co...ts.asp?Cat=1120

also, I found this on this website. apparently you can choose the color, and red is an option. how good would that be for the ants? here's the link. https://www.kartersc...V_p/pc-400d.htm

Really bad. First of all, red covers doesn't work properly on many sp. and that red on the website is pretty bright red. Second of all, that is plastic, it will lose it's transparency by the time from degrading(plus there is constant humidity going inside of it so it will degrade even faster). And third of all, you won't almost ever see the true color of the ants(maybe the workers if it's connected to the outworld, you can see workers foraging), especially the queen.

 

ok thanks! but I still might try it myself

Edited by antsandmore, January 21 2021 - 3:47 PM.

[StopSpazzing]

for the record, most of this stuff I have condensed onto this page:

 

https://www.antkeepi...ources#Supplies

 

 

 

Also, most insects can't see red spectrum very well. So while it's not pitch black to them, it's definitely darker for them than without a red filter. I personally use red transparent taillight repair tape.

Edited by StopSpazzing, January 21 2021 - 7:41 PM.

[AleeGuy]

for the record, most of this stuff I have condensed onto this page:

 

https://www.antkeepi...ources#Supplies

 

 

 

Also, most insects can see red spectrum very well. So while it's not pitch black to them, it's definitely darker for them than without a red filter. I personally use red transparent taillight repair tape.

And they especially see good through acetate, and cellophane rather than an acrylic,  probably because acrylic is thicker.

(image was taken from EchoMeter4)

[StopSpazzing]

 

for the record, most of this stuff I have condensed onto this page:

 

https://www.antkeepi...ources#Supplies

 

 

 

Also, most insects can see red spectrum very well. So while it's not pitch black to them, it's definitely darker for them than without a red filter. I personally use red transparent taillight repair tape.

And they especially see good through acetate, and cellophane rather than an acrylic,  probably because acrylic is thicker.

unknown-17.png

(image was taken from EchoMeter4)

 

It's not just thickness, obv different materials allow diff wavelengths to passthrough, ex, so a combination of red acrylic may be better than red acetate of same thickness. All good stuff and thanks for the visual!

[AleeGuy]

for the record, most of this stuff I have condensed onto this page:

https://www.antkeepi...ources#Supplies



Also, most insects can see red spectrum very well. So while it's not pitch black to them, it's definitely darker for them than without a red filter. I personally use red transparent taillight repair tape.

And they especially see good through acetate, and cellophane rather than an acrylic, probably because acrylic is thicker.
unknown-17.png
(image was taken from EchoMeter4)

It's not just thickness, obv different materials allow diff wavelengths to passthrough, ex, so a combination of red acrylic may be better than red acetate of same thickness. All good stuff and thanks for the visual!

Np, it isn't mine tho. I assumed that maybe because of the thickness of the acrylic it converted more light into red so that might be the reason that it worked better(but as you said, most does see the red spectrum) and yeah probably because of the wavelength's that it passes through and how good it does that.

Edited by AleeGuy, January 21 2021 - 8:28 PM.

[gs5248]

Are all kitchen sponges non-toxic? I have some random kitchen sponges, but I am not sire if they are ok for ants.

[Lillyrose]

Everyone seems to love the Tarheel formicariums... but the magnets scare me. Do they really keep ants in? Even little ants? I feel like they would be able to escape?

[ANTdrew]

Everyone seems to love the Tarheel formicariums... but the magnets scare me. Do they really keep ants in? Even little ants? I feel like they would be able to escape?

They absolutely do, but you need to specify small ants when you order because they go through extra protocols to ensure there are no gaps. I keep Pheidole bicarinata and Nylanderia vividula in THA setups, and those are some of the smallest ants around.

[Lillyrose]

Everyone seems to love the Tarheel formicariums... but the magnets scare me. Do they really keep ants in? Even little ants? I feel like they would be able to escape?

They absolutely do, but you need to specify small ants when you order because they go through extra protocols to ensure there are no gaps. I keep Pheidole bicarinata and Nylanderia vividula in THA setups, and those are some of the smallest ants around.

I noticed they have small and tiny .. but I wasn't sure what qualified.

[gs5248]

Unless there is something broken, the glass will hold on to the nest just fine, and nothing will escape, Not even from the large and medium sizes.

[Kaelwizard]

Everyone seems to love the Tarheel formicariums... but the magnets scare me. Do they really keep ants in? Even little ants? I feel like they would be able to escape?

They absolutely do, but you need to specify small ants when you order because they go through extra protocols to ensure there are no gaps. I keep Pheidole bicarinata and Nylanderia vividula in THA setups, and those are some of the smallest ants around.

I noticed they have small and tiny .. but I wasn't sure what qualified.

For your Tetramorium do small or tiny.

[AleeGuy]

Everyone seems to love the Tarheel formicariums... but the magnets scare me. Do they really keep ants in? Even little ants? I feel like they would be able to escape?

Rare earth magnets hold the glass pretty tight. For escape artists like pheidole bic, tetra. immigrans, tapinoma sessile, etc. I would seal it with aquarium silicone or epoxy though(just in case).

[Kaelwizard]

Everyone seems to love the Tarheel formicariums... but the magnets scare me. Do they really keep ants in? Even little ants? I feel like they would be able to escape?

Rare earth magnets hold the glass pretty tight. For escape artists like pheidole bic, tetra. immigrans, tapinoma sessile, etc. I would seal it with aquarium silicone or epoxy though(just in case).

ANTdrew said he doesn’t for Ph. bicarinata.

[ANTdrew]

No need to seal it if it’s designed for tiny ants.

[NickAnter]

I think the paper test would be a smart thing to do. Use a thin piece of paper, and slide it around the outside edge of the glass, and if it can clip through, small species will be able to get through. If not however, then it is quite unlikely that any ant would be thinner than a piece of paper.