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I'm now a big fan of tubs and tubes

Started By OhNoNotAgain , Sep 12 2024 5:14 PM

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted September 12 2024 - 5:14 PM

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I've started keeping more of my colonies in a tub-and-tube set up.

 

Pros:

 

I'm super lazy and test tubes need less frequent watering than traditional formicaria.

The ants are easier to see in a test tube.

You don't even need to pick it up and turn it side to side to find the queen. (Yes super lazy)

 

Cons:

 

Limited colony size unless you have a set-up that allows for multiple tubes.

Looks even less like a typical underground ant nest.

 


  • RushmoreAnts likes this

Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus (inactive), vicinus, laevigatus/quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus (inactive)

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and californicus (inactive)

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.

#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 12 2024 - 5:42 PM

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It truly is very hard to improve on the tried and true tub and tube setup. I had a colony of Pheidole pillifera adamantly refuse to move into a mini-hearth even after leaving them in baking sunlight. I gave up and put the tube in a tub with sand, and now they’re thriving.
  • RushmoreAnts and antlover18 like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline mbullock42086 - Posted September 12 2024 - 6:01 PM

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really good for odontomachus too


#4 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 12 2024 - 6:26 PM

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I have found the Tubs and Tubes adaptor from Por Amor found here to be really helpful for these setups.


  • GOCAMPONOTUS and antlover18 like this

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

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My Formica sp. Journal

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My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal

#5 Offline GOCAMPONOTUS - Posted September 12 2024 - 6:31 PM

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I have found the Tubs and Tubes adaptor from Por Amor found here to be really helpful for these setups.

I second this. My colonies feel very secure when I have these on their tubes.


  • Ants_Dakota and antlover18 like this

Currently keeping: 2 C.vicinus colonies.2 C.sansabeanus. 1 C.leavissimus. 2 C.Ca02. 1 V.pergandei. 4 T.immigrans.1 F.pacifica. 1 C.hyatti

1 M.ergatognya

 

 

 

 

Trying to get my hands on :C.modoc,A.vercicolor, and Any Honeypots

  

 

 

#6 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted September 12 2024 - 6:33 PM

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It truly is very hard to improve on the tried and true tub and tube setup. I had a colony of Pheidole pillifera adamantly refuse to move into a mini-hearth even after leaving them in baking sunlight. I gave up and put the tube in a tub with sand, and now they’re thriving.

Nice to know!


I keep:

pogonomyrmex rugosus

myrmecocystus depilis

monomorium ergatogyna

And many Carnivorous plants such as: Dionea muscipula (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) (show off your plants here)

Godzilla thread

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

 

Multiple ant colonies coming soon...

#7 Offline Stubyvast - Posted September 14 2024 - 10:15 AM

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Agreed! I do a modified sort of tubs and tubes set-up where the test-tube is connected to the tub by a bit of tubing on the outside, so I can keep the outworld more spacious. A bit harder to make, but looks great.


Currently raising: 

Myrmica rubra (1 queen +  ~5 workers)

Lasius niger (single queen + ~90+ workers)

Lasius neoniger (3 single queen + brood)

Formica spp. (Queen [likely parasitic, needs brood])

Formica pacifica (Queen)

Also keeping a friend's tetramorium immigrans for the foreseeable future. Thanks CoffeBlock!

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