6 replies to this topic

[FormiCanada]

Hi all,

 

One thing I've always wanted to start is a subforum topic regarding tips, tricks and helpful information to help your ease-of-access in antkeeping.

This topic will cover all the kinds of things I use to make antkeeping as streamlined as possible -- and where to find them. 

 

 

The first thing I would like to bring up is Redlighting. 

 

 

Redlighting:

 

 

What is Redlighting?:

 

As most ants cannot see red, it's important to not disturb them when viewing them. I only check on my colonies when I'm redlighting. Redlighting is a term that I coined a while ago with my colleagues where we view our ant colonies specifically under red light. White light can startle most colonies and can send them into a panic, which obviously isn't good. Although ants are used to the circadian rhythm of day and night's natural light, the nests should always be covered and dark. The process of redlighting allows me to keep the ants and observe their natural social behaviours without disturbing them. 

 

 

What Do I Need?:

 

1) Socket Lighting

 

What I use are the Ecosmart Smart LED A21's. These bulbs are as easy to install as quite literally -- screwing in the lightbulb. The fixture I have in my ant room has two bulb sockets, so I purchased two of them. They're dimmable and app-friendly, so I can control them on my phone. I prefer this over remote-controlled lighting as it's an all-in-one system.

 

 

You can find these and like-kind products at Home Depot and also other hardware stores:

 

 

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/ecosmart-smart-led-a21-e26-100w-equivalent-a-line-light-bulb-dimmable-colour-changing-powered-by-hubspace/1001693621 

 

 

 

2) Acute Lighting 

 

On top of the actual socket room lighting, I also have a hand-held red LED flashlight, which I also use to observe the ants. The RaySoar Single Mode LED Red Light Flashlight is my go-to for this regard. Requires 1 AA Battery. 

 

 

You can find that product here on Amazon:

 

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B085VKVMQR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

 

 

Synopsis:

 

When I use these products, I'm able to comfortably see the ants and not worry about disturbing them too much. I've tried all kinds of LED's, with and without remotes & it's been a tedious process. This is by far the easiest way for me to observe ants & I take photos by having my flashlight on my phone on. 

 

 

 

More updates on other things to come! 

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

FormiCanada,

Ants National Team (A.N.T) & A Cultured Legacy Productions

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Edited by FormiCanada, February 14 2024 - 10:23 AM.

[rptraut]

Hello;

 

I'm happy to contribute a tip that might help save everyone some grief if you work with a hot glue gun.   I use one quite a bit while making formicaria and I often have trouble holding two or more pieces together while the glue cools enough to hold them.   To get around that problem I've found some useful tricks. 

 

 

 

 

Blowing on hot glue will cool it more quickly, just like your soup.  A little spritz of cold water from a spray bottle will cool the glue, but for quick cooling and basically "freezing" two pieces together, I use a freezer pack like the one shown above.  I touch it to glue, screen and acrylic in about four places and it pins those spots so I can go around the screen with more glue and not move the screen.    Then I use the flat of the ice pack to press down and smooth the glue giving a nice tight smooth look without the usual lumpy, bumpy look you can get with a glue gun.   Keep the ice pack moving, it will stick to the glue!

RPT

 

 

[FormiCanada]

Hello;

 

I'm happy to contribute a tip that might help save everyone some grief if you work with a hot glue gun.   I use one quite a bit while making formicaria and I often have trouble holding two or more pieces together while the glue cools enough to hold them.   To get around that problem I've found some useful tricks. 

 

 

 

IMG_7847.JPG

 

Blowing on hot glue will cool it more quickly, just like your soup.  A little spritz of cold water from a spray bottle will cool the glue, but for quick cooling and basically "freezing" two pieces together, I use a freezer pack like the one shown above.  I touch it to glue, screen and acrylic in about four places and it pins those spots so I can go around the screen with more glue and not move the screen.    Then I use the flat of the ice pack to press down and smooth the glue giving a nice tight smooth look without the usual lumpy, bumpy look you can get with a glue gun.   Keep the ice pack moving, it will stick to the glue!

RPT

 

 

 

This is really cool. A trick that I use to bond glue is flour. It instantaneously bonds! 

[ZATrippit]

Hi can you please change the font? I'm finding it hard to read, thanks.

[FormiCanada]

Hi can you please change the font? I'm finding it hard to read, thanks.

 

 

Hi ZATrippit, is this better? I've changed the font to Arial, 18 pt! Thankyou for the suggestion!

[ANTdrew]

MUCH better.

[FormiCanada]

MUCH better.

 

 

I checked this on my phone and yes the font was actually VERY difficult. On desktop it's not so bad (I usually respond during my office work-days). I'll change the fonts on all my previous posts ! 

 

Cheers guys thanks!!