8 replies to this topic

[Cmcalistert]

I've been getting more serious about getting this done lately so I guess I should ask for your thoughts and opinions as to this project. I've been gathering parts for all of this but there are some things I just can't decide on. First let me explain. I want a harvester ant colony either at my shop\office or at home. However, I want their home to make people ask questions. So on this idea, I want something HUGE and eye-catching.  I remember when I was a kid that I got my first uncle Miltons ant farm. Back then we didn't have a lot and so my father took me out to the old school yard where there was this HUGE Texas red and bed (harvesters). We caught some of those ants for my ant farm and like always they eventually died. Once, my dad got the idea we could just dig up a queen...lmao... that didn't work so well for him. I can say though that it has always stuck with me about how massive the colony was and how deep he went before he gave up trying to find a queen. With all this in mind I have decided to use 3'x8' glass as my front and back panel. My 1st question comes is do I build this for Horizontal viewing or Vertical. What I have posted a drawing of is only their formicarium, their outworld will be attached to this but at a later time after the colony is large enough. for now the only other question is should the formicarium be 1",2",3" or 4" in thickness. I know the smaller it is the easier it will be to see things inside. But I don't want to cramp this colony either so I'm stuck between 2" and 3" .... Tell me what ya think.

 

SORRY took 2 edits for me to get the pic to upload 

Attached Images

• 

Edited by Cmcalistert, June 19 2023 - 1:11 PM.

[Ernteameise]

I am not very much into the technical side....
But wow.
I would love to visit to see this when this is installed.

[Cmcalistert]

I am not very much into the technical side....
But wow.
I would love to visit to see this when this is installed.

That would be wonderful. If i can get it all done it will absolutely for public display. Hope ya live in Texas otherwise it might be a bit of a drive. But hey, we can fix your golf cart while you look at the ants.

[Ernteameise]

I am not very much into the technical side....
But wow.
I would love to visit to see this when this is installed.

That would be wonderful. If i can get it all done it will absolutely for public display. Hope ya live in Texas otherwise it might be a bit of a drive. But hey, we can fix your golf cart while you look at the ants.

Haha, I am on a whole different continent.
But I do have US relatives, and would actually love to do a grand tour one day.
But in any case, your plans for the display sound awesome.

[ANTdrew]

Just bear in mind that it takes years and a lot of care and dedication for a colony to get as big as you’re envisioning. My best advice is to take a big step back and focus on the ants first, and the formicarium later. Start with the basics and tried and true techniques to start a healthy colony. It is a lot harder to grow a mature colony than people realize.

[Cmcalistert]

Just bear in mind that it takes years and a lot of care and dedication for a colony to get as big as you’re envisioning. My best advice is to take a big step back and focus on the ants first, and the formicarium later. Start with the basics and tried and true techniques to start a healthy colony. It is a lot harder to grow a mature colony than people realize.

I can appreciate that advice. I am defiantly new to this site. And yes, I don't expect to have a colony large enough for this plan for some time to come. I have a few formicarium's that will house them as they grow. At the moment this plan is just that a plan. I really need to decide on the thickness so I can get the edges cut. I am using 1/2" glass, so I'm not cutting it myself. The size of this project is the reason I'm starting on it so soon. This formicarium will be inset into a wall so that the glass isn't sticking out past the face of the wall. This means I need to do a remodel at the office before I can even install it. This also means I need to decide how thick it will be before I have the office/shop remodeled.

[UtahAnts]

I know some people have tried this, don't know if they've done it to the extent you're showing here but it sounds like a really cool project. Here is a link to another user's journal with a similar setup. You will probably want to have a thickness of not much more than an inch at the most.

Edited by UtahAnts, June 19 2023 - 7:27 PM.

[ANTdrew]

This is another incredible setup for Pogonomyrmex: https://www.formicul...a/?fromsearch=1

[Cmcalistert]

I know some people have tried this, don't know if they've done it to the extent you're showing here but it sounds like a really cool project. Here is a link to another user's journal with a similar setup. You will probably want to have a thickness of not much more than an inch at the most.

 

 

This is another incredible setup for Pogonomyrmex: https://www.formicul...a/?fromsearch=1

 

Those are both right in line with where I'm headed. Thanks! ill have to read them in their entirety when I have time but again thank yall both. Also I did notice that the smaller setup was using about an inch between the glass. I did like how open that left the view. As for their out world. I am looking at converting a conference table but have yet to completely figure out how to sound deaden the glass top for the ants comfort. Before heads explode let me say I understand the issues and I will be working through them one at a time. In the long run, I want something that is beautiful to look at before I even add the ants.