110 replies to this topic

[fortysixandtwo]

Very nice! Looks great. Creative use of equipment. 

[dspdrew]

Very nice indeed.

[FSTP]

Thanks drew!

 

 

Well I'm quite excited. Today my Lasius  neoniger colony that I saved a few weeks back decided to move into one of the formicariums I made.  I connected the test tube to it and within an hour and a half they all were moved in. 

 

 

Closer

 

 

And a couple deciding if they want to explore

 

Edited by FSTP, March 27 2020 - 12:53 PM.

[T.C.]

Super good job, they look healthy and happy.

[Alabama Anter]

awww super cute!

[antgenius123]

_{Very nice build!}

[iXvXi]

Inspiring! great work.

[Kevin]

How to replicate and manufacture THA Mini Hearth formicarium.

 

i bet i can do better

[CrazyLegs]

I love it.

Does the out world lid have, or need ventilation?

I hear a lot of people say not to have a humid out world.

Could someone please clarify why?

[dspdrew]

I love it.

Does the out world lid have, or need ventilation?

I hear a lot of people say not to have a humid out world.

Could someone please clarify why?

 

If the out world is humid, the ants sometimes think it's a good place for their nest. Also, the out world is hopefully where you ants are leaving their trash. When you have trash sitting in a humid container, you get mold.

[Barristan]

Nice nests. What do you use to make the sand stick to the plaster?

[antgenius123]

Forget THA, I'll just use this.

Edited by antgenius123, January 15 2017 - 3:26 AM.

[FSTP]

I love it.

Does the out world lid have, or need ventilation?

I hear a lot of people say not to have a humid out world.

Could someone please clarify why?

 

 

Thanks!, in that picture I don't have the final lid on the out world. For ventilation I drilled five 1/4" holes then used the same 100 micron nylon mesh to cover the holes. 

 

When I get home I'll take a pic and show you.

[antgenius123]

Looks very spacious, good job.

[FSTP]

Nice nests. What do you use to make the sand stick to the plaster?

 

 

I used a gorilla glue two part epoxy. I mixed the epoxy according the directions. Then using a disposable brush I painted a thin layer of epoxy on all the parts that I want the sand to stick to. Then I fill the entire cavity/chamber full with sand and let it set for however long it takes the epoxy to set. I think the one I was using has a 6 minute set time. Once it sets though it still needs a day or so to fully cure. The gorilla epoxy I used states that the epoxy is non toxic once cured. 

 

I've been also testing out a different method for coating the interior of the chamber for other bases that are more fine and powdery similar to dirt/silt. If it works out like I want I'll share  that method as well in this journal, but that might not be anytime soon as I'm out of town at the moment.

Edited by FSTP, January 15 2017 - 3:59 AM.

[FSTP]

I had two larger out worlds made for some larger formicarium projects I have planned. Got them in a week ago but have not been around to check them out. Luckily they arrived perfectly fine. 

 

Side by Side, each one is 18"x 8.25"x 8.25" with a hinged and vented top.

 

 

 

next to one of my mini formicariums for scale.

 

Edited by FSTP, March 27 2020 - 12:56 PM.

[FSTP]

Small update. 

 

 

I plant on making some formicariums out of these supplies I got today. They're little domes and petri dishes I will combine to make chambers. I'm hoping to use these to house CA's native leaf cutter ant. They will have HS bottoms which I will integrate my water reservoirs in, I will use the hard acrylic tubing to connect the three.

 

Edited by FSTP, March 27 2020 - 12:58 PM.

[T.C.]

Super cool. Can't wait to see it when it's done.

[CrazyLegs]

Those containers........

[AntsBrazil]

Small update. 

 

 

I plant on making some formicariums out of these supplies I got today. They're little domes and petri dishes I will combine to make chambers. I'm hoping to use these to house CA's native leaf cutter ant. They will have HS bottoms which I will integrate my water reservoirs in, I will use the hard acrylic tubing to connect the three.

 

 

I wish I had those for my Atta colony... =(