Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • 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

I'm now a big fan of tubs and tubes

Started By OhNoNotAgain , Sep 12 2024 5:14 PM

  • Please log in to reply
6 replies to this topic

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

OhNoNotAgain

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,116 posts
  • LocationCalifornia Argentine Ant Territory

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

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,946 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
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

mbullock42086

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 257 posts

really good for odontomachus too


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

Ants_Dakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,384 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

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

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal

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

GOCAMPONOTUS

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 929 posts
  • LocationRocklin,CA

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

AntsGodzilla

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 445 posts
  • LocationNorthern California

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!


 

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

 

Myrmecocystus depilis

 

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

Stubyvast

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 245 posts
  • LocationBC, Canada

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!

Back to General Ant Keeping · Next Unread Topic →


1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users