306 replies to this topic

[sgheaton]

You possess "modern views" (think square edges, sharp lines, GLASS) while remaining functional, I'm assuming the front rock flips open to reveal the inner formicarium chambers, that your innovative displays not only are revolutionary, but pioneering the way that others will attempt to replicate. 

[Jamie_Garrison]

You possess "modern views" (think square edges, sharp lines, GLASS) while remaining functional, I'm assuming the front rock flips open to reveal the inner formicarium chambers, that your innovative displays not only are revolutionary, but pioneering the way that others will attempt to replicate. 

 

 

This is going to make this hobby/world so much more interesting to others i would have that on my desk at work a for sure avenue to bring others into the hobby

 

so impressed with his work...can't wait to see the final product... 

[CrazyLegs]

Thanks guys. There are no patents here. If knowledge isn't shared a lot of great ideas could simply be lost in time. All modesty aside though, you need a certain amount of dexterity when creating a formicarium with hand tools. You will need to be competent in cutting acrylic, drilling glass, positioning and setting magnets with strong adhesives to name a just a few things. There are plenty of moments along the way where you think you may have ruined everything. Routing out a flat panel for an acrylic screen was no easy task with a $60 hand router. 

Staying true to the animal theme I have called this creation "The Crustacean"

Edited by CrazyLegs, March 3 2017 - 1:39 PM.

[Jamie_Garrison]

what is the actual size of the glass 

[CrazyLegs]

It's a 100mm cube tank Jamie, This is for my Pseudoneoponera sublaevis, they keep very small colonies and won't need a large outworld. Nests in the wild only have three or four chambers. The tunnel area I have to work with is 160mmX60mm.

Edited by CrazyLegs, March 3 2017 - 1:48 PM.

[FSTP]

this so so great you've given the community a great gift of ideas and info. I may have to try something like this.

[CrazyLegs]

Your welcome FSTP, I would be interested to see how others put there own spin on this idea. It's all pretty much experimental at the moment.

 

Ol' Original passed on a few days back so I set her up on a silica packet and sprayed her intermediately with isopropyl alcohol for three days to dry.

I had some catalyst type casting resin that was no good for making formicariums but I thought I would try to cast her. I ended up stuffing it up. It became too hot and I think I boiled her. In my defense I used the directions on the catalyst bottle which for some reason were different from the resin bottle. A little glow powder on the base makes it look reasonable.

Not bad for a first attempt at casting insects I suppose.

Edited by CrazyLegs, March 7 2017 - 5:41 PM.

[CamponotusLover]

Awesome!

[Leo]

sad but oh well

[Antking117]

Wow! Nice! The commitment is real!

[Antking117]

Any updates?

[CrazyLegs]

Not much to report on the Myrmecia brevinoda. a couple more males have come out, buzzed around the outworld and died but no eggs have been spotted.

 

I finally received my little bottles that I will be using to hydrate my nests. I have a cotton wick tied through the cap to draw moisture.

The larger one is for the Crustacean model and plugs the reservoir to provide longer lasting hydration as the hebel slowly draws moisture from the wick. The smaller bottle plugs the second nest entrance and the ants can drink from here as needed.

They make great hydration indicators as the water level drops.

The rubber stopper fits either nest entrance for maintenance.

 

 

[thosaka]

Amazing handiwork. You have one hell of a talent.

[CrazyLegs]

Thanks Tagassi.

 

I have been crazy busy lately and the internet has been down among other annoyances. I have however still been improving my hebel formicarium designs. I have moved away from the heavy fish tanks and have settled into a design that I think is functional and unique. I call it the "Dragons Egg"

This ancient egg shaped hebel rock has had a cover sliced from the side held in place with magnets to provide darkness to your colony during the day. Beneath the cover is the viewing screen, also removable and held in place with magnets.

As a foraging area I have come up with what I call the "Outworld Tree" which is also hebel carved to cradle a Fererro Rocher box.

Yet more magnets strategically placed will auto locate the outworld to the nest entrance.

A slow release hydration bottle system inset into the top and your good to go.

 

 

 

 

[Leo]

[T.C.]

As always, great work. I don't need any nests at the moment, but by next summer I will need quite a lot. If you are still making them, I will be looking to you for some of my nest needs. These nests are great and deserve a space right on the table in the center of the living room.

[sgheaton]

Excellent job well done. 

[Antking117]

I want 10. I am preparing for the soon to be ant colonies and haven't decided what i need yet.

[CrazyLegs]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I'm afraid all of my requests from The US have been thwarted by the sheer cost of postage. My designs are evolving to reduce weight at any chance. Larger hebel formicariums present even more challenges.

[Jelly]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I'm afraid all of my requests from The US have been thwarted by the sheer cost of postage. My designs are evolving to reduce weight at any chance. Larger hebel formicariums present even more challenges.

 

Your formicariums are awesome. If only we had hebel here in the US, you could design and outsource the labor.