23 replies to this topic

[Jamie_Garrison]

This is my journal detailing my adventures in learning about ants and keeping a colony... 

 

So me and my Girlfriend went out on 2/21/2017 to Black Creek Ravines Conservation Area in search of our first Queen Ant.  We came back with this girl

 

  

 

She is all tubed up and we have heer in a cigar box in the top of my closet...

 

 

 

 

So after doing a lot of research on P. imparis I doodled a little design for what i want as a formicarium. It is going to be a corner piece with 2cm deep chambers

 

[drtrmiller]

Looks interesting. May work for a large, established colony in the thousands, but certainly not with an incipient one.

[Jamie_Garrison]

Looks interesting. May work for a large, established colony in the thousands, but certainly not with an incipient one.

 

 

Dreaming big....you know

[Jamie_Garrison]

After reading and looking through this thread  

 

http://www.formicult...e-10#entry52035

 

I have decided to make it with the same material if i can get my hands on some

[CrazyLegs]

AAC would be a perfect medium for your corner pyramid design. Apparently it's hard to find in the U.S. but not impossible. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete is what you will be searching for there.

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 24 2017 - 1:33 PM.

[Jamie_Garrison]

AAC would be a perfect medium for your corner pyramid design. Apparently it's hard to find in the U.S. but not impossible. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete is what you will be searching for there.

 

So I googled AAC and found a company called AERCON AAC they are located in centrial FL ... the coolest part of my conversation is that they are sending me a free sample  a 12x12 (inch) block of it.....fist pump... 

[CrazyLegs]

The AAC was the cheapest component of my build. Free, well that's even better.

[Jamie_Garrison]

She is just waiting for paint to dry it seems...lol.. she is still doing nothing though just hanging out in her tube how long does it take for them to start laying eggs...not that I'm impatient but first queen has me anxious

[Nathant2131]

She is just waiting for paint to dry it seems...lol.. she is still doing nothing though just hanging out in her tube how long does it take for them to start laying eggs...not that I'm impatient but first queen has me anxious

Generally for most queens it takes up to 1 or 2 weeks; Sometimes more. That being said she could be infertile.

Edited by Nathant2131, February 26 2017 - 11:07 AM.

[Jamie_Garrison]

First attempt... this is going to be  a learning curve..i have a few holes drilled under the top left chamber to keep moist..my kids decorated the top after i put the piece of glass on it

 

Edited by Jamie_Garrison, March 1 2017 - 2:03 PM.

[Nathant2131]

That is beautiful!

[Leo]

cool, better than mine!

[Jamie_Garrison]

 

AAC would be a perfect medium for your corner pyramid design. Apparently it's hard to find in the U.S. but not impossible. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete is what you will be searching for there.

 

So I googled AAC and found a company called AERCON AAC they are located in centrial FL ... the coolest part of my conversation is that they are sending me a free sample  a 12x12 (inch) block of it.....fist pump... 

 

 

 

 

so my sample came in it was not a 12x12x12 but ill take 8x4x4 times two for free anyday

[Jamie_Garrison]

i put her in the fridge...hoping changing the temperature will reminder her she has a job to do

[Jamie_Garrison]

[Jamie_Garrison]

Made this today petri top and AAC

[Antyman]

How did you manage to cut the concrete to fit it in the dish?

[Jamie_Garrison]

sander

 

How did you manage to cut the concrete to fit it in the dish?

[Jamie_Garrison]

Attempt 2

 

[Jamie_Garrison]

going to put a bead of aquarium silicon around the top and the magnets will hold it against the dried silicon... and the front (chambers) was sanded smooth and a magnet set in to hold the glass against it