22 replies to this topic

[AntsMAN]

I tried one and it worked really well, no problems yet. I used really hard wood.

 

First nest. I used a THA water tower, to keep the nest hydrated. It's a crude design. i just cut picture frame glass and adhere it with marine silicone.

 

 

 

This one I tried a little harder to make it look nice. I used a test tube with lid to make a water tower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by AntsMAN, May 23 2018 - 5:01 AM.

[Crystals]

Very interesting.

I am curious to see how it holds up over time and as the worker count increases.  Please updating this every few months or so.

[AntsMAN]

Here is the day I put them in, about 2 months ago. She now has 15 workers.

 

[AntsMAN]

Here's another one as she progessed.

 

[AntsMAN]

A small update they seem to be really enjoying the wood nests. No tunnels or mold yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Air]

Nice! Keep this colony updated, this nest is very interesting. 

[AntsMAN]

The wooden nests are terrible to keep hydrated, and the ants didn't seem to do to well. I am moving them to THA formicariums.

[BrittonLS]

The wooden nests are terrible to keep hydrated, and the ants didn't seem to do to well. I am moving them to THA formicariums.

What's hard to keep hydrated? I guess the wood probably sucks up a lot of the moisture? 

[AntsMAN]

Yeah, the wood sops up all the moisture from the water tower, and dries out really fast. It looks like the ants are having a hard time dealing with dropping humidity. They are not even half the size of the other colonies in THA Formicariums, and growing much slower. I think what they need is very damp rotting wood to keep the moisture level consistent, so for now I'm going to put two of them in THA products and try something different with the other as an experiment.

If I can get an old aquarium I'm going to get some rotting wood and see if I can get them to burrow in. I will do this in the shed as to not contaminate my other colonies and see how a totally natural environment effects the Queen.

Edited by AntsMAN, July 4 2016 - 8:19 AM.

[AntsMAN]

I have managed to keep a Colony of Camponotus pennsylavanicus in one of the wooden nests.

They aren't even doing half as well as my other Camponotus colonies. They just came out of hibernation a few days ago and already foraging.

 

[AntsMAN]

February 11 2017 - Lot's of eggs, they seem  to be doing very well. First year was a little rocky, they are very slow growing compared to the other Camponotus sp. I've had.

 

 

[Alabama Anter]

Great Pictures!

[CrazyLegs]

So it just took a little time to adjust to the different humidity levels?

[AntsMAN]

So it just took a little time to adjust to the different humidity levels?

I have to put water in it daily.

[Jelly]

The wooden nests are terrible to keep hydrated, and the ants didn't seem to do to well. I am moving them to THA formicariums.

 

I was thinking of making a formicarium similar to this. Are you sayin you would not recommend to pursue this route?

[AntsMAN]

 

The wooden nests are terrible to keep hydrated, and the ants didn't seem to do to well. I am moving them to THA formicariums.

 

I was thinking of making a formicarium similar to this. Are you sayin you would not recommend to pursue this route?

 

 

They are really hard to keep hydrated, and they seem to attract booklice.

[AntsMAN]

I have moved this colony to a new formicarium due to a booklice infestation I couldn't control. They seem to be doing much better in my hand made nest.

[AntsMAN]

They now seem to be doing much better since being moved.

 

[AntsMAN]

They seem to be a lot better in a moister nest. They went from 12 workers to over 30 since being moved from the dry wooden nest.

 

[AntsMAN]

June 13 2017