9 replies to this topic

[MichiganAnts]

first off my inspiration was from CaptainRedBeardd





so while updating my pc and reading what CaptainRedBeardd was doing i began to look at my starting nests and think, how can i improve these and make my job of feeding and watering my small colony easier on me and them. then i had the idea, compartmentalization!!

so i looked in my long forgotten fishing gear and found this. it is able to be slotted off and i could easily cut/drill holes to let the colony expand. plus if i used a deterrent around the high walls i could simply open it up, block off the food/water.. change it.. unblock it, then close the lid. id have to also add air holes and my tiny colony would only use up 1 or 2 rooms, but then i had a better idea.. if that worked i could (until they got bigger) put BOTH my little colonies in here.. 1 up top, 1 on the bottom. 

i wouldn't add any dirt or anything fancy for them to play with. but it would be alot easier on me and the ants. any thoughts? as you may or may not know from my journal, currently i have 1 nest in a tiny formicarium, and they always have a worker watching the entrance, so feeding them is a pain in the butt!. and my other colony i found today and they are in a cup with a lid on it.. now i am still planning on getting Antcanadas' starter pack so both colonies have the same kind of nest and such. but this could work till then. and if i don't do it this year i could move them into this after hibernation.

so what are your thoughts?

[Enderz]

I was going to do the same thing but with a more food holder box that has the same look i would go with it cause its a good idea. Just remember to make the right mesurements. For the Camponotus pennsylvanicus- Queen length: 1.9 centemeters usually (if your making a queen chamber make it like 2.5 centemeters to let it have easy access). Worker Length: 0.5-1.6 centimeters (2 centemeter holes) hope this helped! (info from http://animaldiversi...pennsylvanicus/ )

 

For the other species just go online and look around.

Edited by EnderzATwar411, September 28 2016 - 9:13 PM.

[MichiganAnts]

well each box is roughly 2 inches cubed. so i'd prolly give them 3 cubes long and maybe a vertical cube up aswell.

[Crystals]

It can be done.  I made a tutorial for something similar here - http://forum.formicu...icture +journey

More tutorials are available in the link in my signature.

[sgheaton]

Essentially copying+pasting my response to him before. 

Love the idea! Used it myself. Had them laying around and already redivided. Yay free things.  I'd keep one species per container (rather than putting 5 of the same queens in 5 separate containers that are all fused together.)  

I don't like how they are 1-2" high. Unless you power-glue mesh ontop of it, only had the lid .... Because of this my intent was that they were my founding chambers. Gave half of the queens dirt and the others not. Moving forward, unless your ant species is requiring it, I recommend not adding dirt to it. It really just made things harder to observe. Truthfully -- the tetramorium queens that were in solo cups performed just as well as those that had dirt in their containers. I will most likely be re-using them next year again as basic container/founding chambers. 

[T.C.]

Already did it, about a week ago.

www.formiculture.com/topic/3655-myrmica-rubra-in-homemade-formicarium/

[MichiganAnts]

so you all seem to think its a good idea?. it would only last until i buy them a proper home

[Enderz]

so you all seem to think its a good idea?. it would only last until i buy them a proper home

yes I would do it because shipping may take a while

[Crystals]

No harm in building one.  You can keep it for the future as well.  I have had some colonies living in this type of setup for years with no problems. 

My Aphaenogaster in particular loved the bead container setup where the sand had been pushed into the grout.  They moved in immediately and took me dismantling the formicarium to get them to move out as they outgrew it.  Luckily I just had to use an exacto blade to cut the silicone holding the glass on the bead container.

[MichiganAnts]

ok well ill start building this today, ill post pics