8 replies to this topic

[evanmancini2011]

Hey I was wondering if anyone had any good formicarium ideas for my 20+ pogonomyrmex ant colony?

 

 

Thank you for your time!

[Zeiss]

In my experience, I've always preferred something with top down viewing of the colony because they like to cover vertical glass which makes it hard to see them.

[UtahAnts]

A simple top down view works great, see the first few images. Alternatively, if you are willing to make a nest yourself, try a dual view setup. You get characteristics of top and side viewing, plus unique lighting abilities. 

 

 

 

Dual views

 

 

Or

 

 

Closeup with overhead lighting

 

 

[ChenZ]

 

A simple top down view works great, see the first few images. Alternatively, if you are willing to make a nest yourself, try a dual view setup. You get characteristics of top and side viewing, plus unique lighting abilities. 

 

 

 

 

 

Dual views

 

 

 

Or

 

 

 

Closeup with overhead lighting

 

That gif of yours is what makes my want to keep P. rugosus!

 

I have a P. subnitidus colony growing like crazy in a tube and tub set up, I feel so timid about getting stung by them (quite allergic to insect stings!) so still haven't put them into a better looking set up.

 

For those who's keeping them in a more decent formicarium (other than test tubes), is it easy to handle them safely when cleaning and changing the nest?

[100lols]

[mention]UtahAnts [/mention]loving those man!

OP, your other option is one of Andrew’s “dirt box” formicarium or a formicarium designed similarly.

Although visibility isn’t going to be as good, seeing my ants tunnel is awesome! They’re always busy digging, moving things around, etc. it’s pretty exciting compared to my colonies I keep in a regular plaster formicarium.

[Manitobant]

Pogonomyrmex are horrible climbers, so a horizontal formicarium is recommended. Personally, i would go for a THA fallen fortress or labyrinth.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

Top down for them no doubt.

My Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis started in a side view mini hearth, but quickly grew into a fallen fortress.

Which i later expanded on with my own makes, still top down views, poured in perfect cast.

 

I find the Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis i keep acclimate to whatever the light conditions are pretty quickly. Which means if you put them in enough dark for long enough they will become more light averse and get the freak outs when rapidly exposed to light. But once they were living under the light in top downs fully, they no longer care when the 14 hour daytime lamp kicks on in the morning.

They will build up dirt on the glass regardless of top or side view. It's just easier to build up on a side view, while a top glass needs more condensation to hold the dirt/debris in place. I make sure not to give them much in the way of dirt/loose sand to work with, and always get some heat cable on the glass to help keep it from getting condensation.
Which is easier to do with a top down glass view than a side one.


 

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, November 6 2023 - 1:28 PM.

[evanmancini2011]

Ok thank you for all of your responses! I have one quick question of what the fallen fortress is made out of?

 

Thank you for your time! 

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

Ok thank you for all of your responses! I have one quick question of what the fallen fortress is made out of?

 

Thank you for your time! 

THA calls it "type III" and as best as i can tell there is no given ingredients of what that means exactly. So i can't say what the material is, like saying perfect cast or ytong, its some kind of poured plaster/concreat like material. THA have been working on it up to type III now and have completly phased out type II for whatever shortcomming about it they didn't like.
https://tarheelants....-iii-formicaria

 

https://tarheelants....ess-formicarium

It's a nice connected setup where the nest is resting on a platform with the outworld as a single unit, but can be detached.
Also includes a port in both nest and outworld to expand off of which i haved used both of now.