Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Dspdrew's Formicarium 05 Research and Design (Updated 11-22-2023)

formicarium container out world enclosure how-to diy design dspdrew nest tutorial

  • Please log in to reply
237 replies to this topic

#201 Offline YawningGull - Posted August 26 2016 - 9:34 PM

YawningGull

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 20 posts
  • LocationRenton WA

I love how elegantly simple and pragmatic these nests are, opposed to curvy, windy, inefficient nests made to look natural. I think I'm gonna draw inspiration from this when making my first formicarium.


Edited by YawningGull, August 26 2016 - 9:37 PM.

  • dspdrew likes this

#202 Offline Kevin - Posted September 3 2016 - 4:31 AM

Kevin

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 833 posts
  • LocationSouth Jersey

Won't that cost a lot to print?


Hit "Like This" if it helped.


#203 Offline drtrmiller - Posted September 3 2016 - 4:43 AM

drtrmiller

    Vendor

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,714 posts

Won't that cost a lot to print?

 

No, because he owns a 3D printer.  Probably $1 or $2 in plastic filament.




byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#204 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 21 2016 - 6:12 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA
Finally made an update to this formicarium. The Liometopum occidentale colony I had in it died a while back.
 
Made a quick mold for a test backing.
 
med_gallery_2_131_191050.jpg
 
 
I realized a while back that most ants like their nest fairly dry. With the tile across the entire back of these nests, they were getting way too wet, so this time I'm only putting the tile across the bottom chambers.
 
Mold finished. Tile cut.
 
med_gallery_2_131_910514.jpg
 
 
Covered one side of the tile with painter's tape.
 
med_gallery_2_131_440329.jpg
 
 
Placed the tile in the mold with the taped side down and poured the resin.
 
med_gallery_2_131_1041461.jpg
 
 
Once everything was cured, I removed the tape and sanded the front down until it was perfectly flat. You can see where the resin has soaked into the tile a little bit. That's what makes the bond so strong. Without the tape across the front of the tile, it would have been all soaked with resin, and I would have been doing a LOT of sanding to get through it. I supposed with the mold being silicone and all, I could maybe apply enough pressure to the tile to keep any resin from seeping under it, but I'm not sure.
 
med_gallery_2_131_173519.jpg
 
 
I cut the threaded back plate into two small pieces since the back is no longer flat. There's also no need for the chamois anymore since I can just put the water tank directly against the tile.
 
med_gallery_2_131_117684.jpg
 
 
Here's how it looks with the water tank installed.
 
med_gallery_2_131_427723.jpg
 
gallery_2_131_9603.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_131_412120.jpg
 
 
I decided to redo the Hydrostone floor on the out world, sprinkling sand on the surface this time.
 
med_gallery_2_131_656448.jpg
 
 
I moved my Novomessor cockerelli into it for testing this time. Amazingly, I checked 30 minutes later and they were already moved in. Not sure if that means they REALLY like this nest, or they hate my little founding nests. :lol: They really actually seem to like both. Because the tile in the founding formicariums is so small, it should dry out pretty fast, causing the ants to move pretty quickly. I just didn't think it would be that quick.
 
med_gallery_2_461_553393.jpg
  • drtrmiller and sgheaton like this

#205 Offline sgheaton - Posted September 21 2016 - 6:47 AM

sgheaton

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 933 posts
  • LocationMinnesota

Yay! That's exactly like I was describing! And because we are talking in chat about it I'll just go back there. I really like that set up though. I'd put my money on being the best controlled in this fashion. 


"I'm the search bar! Type questions into me and I'll search within the forums for an answer!"


#206 Offline NightsWebs - Posted September 21 2016 - 12:49 PM

NightsWebs

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 217 posts
  • LocationSo Cal

except its much too small to hold my N. cockerelli way toooooo small


Current Colonies;

Acromyrmex Versicolor

Dorymyrmex Bicolor

Pogonomyrmex Californicus
Pogonomyrmex Rugosus

Pogonomyrmex Tenuispinus
Novomessor Cockerelli
Myrmecocystus Mexicanus

 

Last Update: 08 Jul 2016

 

 


#207 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 11 2017 - 6:51 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Well I guess the development of this formicarium has come to an end, unless I want to pay outrageous shipping prices for the main containers. The Container Store decided to discontinue them.

 

Mayra A: Hi, my name is Mayra A. How may I help you?

Me: can you tell me when you will have more item 10060544?

Mayra A: Unfortunately this item has been discontinued.

Me: Oh what

Me: Do you still not do any special orders?

Mayra A: Unfortunately we do not, sorry

Me: Are you going to discontinue the others too?

Me: I buy TONS of these from you guys.

Mayra A: Only items 10060544 and 10060546 have been discontinued

Me: What size was 10060546?

Mayra A: Medium Stackable Rectangle

Me: Haha do you have measurements?

Me: Medium is pretty subjective

Mayra A: 11" x 7-1/8" x 3-1/2"

Me: Oh great.

Me: I'm very unhappy.

Me: Thanks.

Mayra A: We apologize for the inconvenience. Have a great rest of your day.


  • Kevin and Martialis like this

#208 Offline Kevin - Posted March 11 2017 - 7:22 AM

Kevin

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 833 posts
  • LocationSouth Jersey

Well I guess the development of this formicarium has come to an end, unless I want to pay outrageous shipping prices for the main containers. The Container Store decided to discontinue them.

 

Mayra A: Hi, my name is Mayra A. How may I help you?

Me: can you tell me when you will have more item 10060544?

Mayra A: Unfortunately this item has been discontinued.

Me: Oh what

Me: Do you still not do any special orders?

Mayra A: Unfortunately we do not, sorry

Me: Are you going to discontinue the others too?

Me: I buy TONS of these from you guys.

Mayra A: Only items 10060544 and 10060546 have been discontinued

Me: What size was 10060546?

Mayra A: Medium Stackable Rectangle

Me: Haha do you have measurements?

Me: Medium is pretty subjective

Mayra A: 11" x 7-1/8" x 3-1/2"

Me: Oh great.

Me: I'm very unhappy.

Me: Thanks.

Mayra A: We apologize for the inconvenience. Have a great rest of your day.

There is still hope Drew, the shorter ones are available! I haven't had luck getting a reply from the manufacturer.


Hit "Like This" if it helped.


#209 Offline nepenthes - Posted March 12 2017 - 5:08 PM

nepenthes

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 29 posts
  • LocationCentral Ohio

Have you tried Pioneer Plastics?



#210 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 12 2017 - 5:10 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Have you tried Pioneer Plastics?

 

Wow, haven't seen you on here in a long time. I don't think I remember them being a distributor of BoxBox containers.



#211 Offline Zeiss - Posted March 12 2017 - 5:20 PM

Zeiss

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,230 posts
  • LocationFountain Valley

Have you tried Pioneer Plastics?

They aren't acrylic, so I don't think he wants to use them.



#212 Offline nepenthes - Posted March 12 2017 - 5:36 PM

nepenthes

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 29 posts
  • LocationCentral Ohio

I just thought I would make a suggestion, that's what we use for out colonies. @dspdrew



#213 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 12 2017 - 8:25 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Oh I didn't know what Pioneer Plastics was. I thought it was a store or something.



#214 Offline thosaka - Posted March 12 2017 - 9:22 PM

thosaka

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 207 posts

I love the metal formicariums.



#215 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 13 2017 - 6:33 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I love the metal formicariums.

 

What metal formicariums?


  • sgheaton likes this

#216 Offline nepenthes - Posted March 13 2017 - 9:56 AM

nepenthes

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 29 posts
  • LocationCentral Ohio

https://www.pioneerplastics.com/



#217 Offline T.C. - Posted July 26 2017 - 5:58 PM

T.C.

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,099 posts

gallery_2_131_9603.jpg


So I won't be getting my hands on one of these? Got an old one laying around? I really liked the look of these.
  • sgheaton likes this

#218 Offline TKD102 - Posted July 26 2017 - 9:42 PM

TKD102

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 41 posts
  • LocationIndiana, USA

Hopefully he can figure out if pioneer plastics is good for what he's doing or not, but if it doesn't work out, that's okay too.


Currently Keeping:

Tetramorium Immigrans


#219 Offline charliebynar - Posted November 27 2017 - 8:02 AM

charliebynar

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 25 posts
  • LocationArizona

This morning I checked the water tank, and the Ytong plate was still saturated, without any moisture below it or on the bottom of the tank, so this design should work perfectly. I'll check it again about eight hours from now to be sure, and then I will try putting it up against a larger piece of Ytong about the size of what will be the nest backing, to see how well the water transfers to it from the Ytong plate on the tank. As for the wicking test, it did exactly what I expected; it wicked up to the same level at 85 percent humidity as it did at 60 percent.



#220 Offline charliebynar - Posted November 27 2017 - 8:05 AM

charliebynar

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 25 posts
  • LocationArizona
Drew, how are you measuring humidity of the Yong? It's my understanding that the ideal humidity for Myrmecocystus Mexicanus is between 50%-70%. At what humidity have you had the most success at with this species?





Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: formicarium, container, out world, enclosure, how-to, diy, design, dspdrew, nest, tutorial

1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users