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Nurbs Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums


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#1 Offline nurbs - Posted June 4 2017 - 12:51 PM

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I don't post as much as others here, so figured it's time I share some of my own experiences.

 

Here are some mini test tube foraging containers I made with pencil boxes.

 

Used grout and then poured fine quartz sand on top, but I have also used hydrostone as well and they all work fine (will try epoxy next once I run out of grout). This is mainly used to hold the test tube in place so it doesn't roll around but to also give the outworld a more natural look instead of the smooth plastic polystyrene feel for the ants.

 

It takes about 48 hours for the grout to cure. The mold is then very gently removed from the pencil holder (it's thin and can be fragile, especially grout) and then glued back onto the case with silicone.

 

They are compact, stackable, and great if you have a lot of species to care for but do not have space. The foraging area allows the ants to keep the trash outside of the test tube and gives them a foraging environment to move about in. Excellent for colonies that are starting to grow in worker size and generally inexpensive to build (but time consuming). 

 

You can use water bottle caps or aluminum foil as a feeding tray.

 

It's not the prettiest thing, but it's practical and works quite well.

 

 

LcUhNEyl.jpg

 

a7mZCZrl.jpg

 

YKUVb0ql.jpg

 

qDCH2NVl.jpg


Edited by nurbs, October 15 2018 - 2:44 AM.

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Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#2 Offline Hayashi - Posted June 4 2017 - 2:14 PM

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Thanks for this! I've been wanting to ask how you house your large number of semi claustral queens. Do you have a link to where you buy the pencil holders?
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#3 Offline nurbs - Posted June 4 2017 - 3:10 PM

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Daiso! It's the 99 cent store of Japan. I raid the one where I live every week. The employees there have yet to ask what I do with them, but they know me.

 

The store also has lots of random knick knacks (like tweezers and containers and eyedroppers) that are useful for anting.

 

But any kind of clear plastic case that fits a test tube will work. 


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Undescribed "Modoc"

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https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#4 Offline nurbs - Posted June 4 2017 - 3:14 PM

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Check out this feeding spoon from Daiso. Use it to drop in seeds or wingless fruit flies into a test tube. Works great.

 

Made in Japan!

 

$1.50  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

 

T4sskYrl.jpg

 

81G4wzol.jpg


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Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#5 Offline Hayashi - Posted June 4 2017 - 7:48 PM

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Daiso! I should have known. I go to the one in Oceanside. I'll have to stop by this week to get pencil holders and a few bags of Hi-Chew while I'm there.
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#6 Offline nurbs - Posted June 5 2017 - 11:49 AM

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Daiso! I should have known. I go to the one in Oceanside. I'll have to stop by this week to get pencil holders and a few bags of Hi-Chew while I'm there.

 

For sure. It's an anting supply store in disguise.


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Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#7 Offline nurbs - Posted June 18 2017 - 4:01 PM

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Made a few more. This time with hydrostone instead of grout. Been making and using these for years with much success, but this is the first time I've made so many in one sitting.

 

 

ef3iVVCl.jpg

 

qx9MjPVl.jpg

 

1nb3RIml.jpg

 

dNVJrnUl.jpg

 

 

d26MbCIl.jpg


Edited by nurbs, June 18 2017 - 4:07 PM.

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Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#8 Offline xTNxANTMANx - Posted June 21 2017 - 8:34 PM

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I've got to say this is definitely a neat little trick. I think it would be something cool to use for a small starting Colony as well. I think I may have to give this a try with one of my Camponotus Queens. Or maybe perhaps one of my pheidole Queens. I've heard Pheidole polygamous so I have five that are laying eggs at the moment. Once they get a few workers is when I plan on trying to introduce a pair together and whatever happens then we'll make my decision easier on if I should proceed with more joining or not.
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Keeping:
Camponotus subbarbatus
Camponotus pennsylvanicusx3 (founding)
Dorymyrmex bureni
Formica pallidefulva x3
Formica subsericea x4
Tetramorium immigrans

Have kept many other ant species but now keep over 100 tarantulas and other inverts! Mantids, centipedes, and scorpions to name a few 😁

#9 Offline soulsynapse - Posted June 21 2017 - 9:51 PM

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Been looking for new foraging containers, good idea


I do the same thing but with sand


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#10 Offline soulsynapse - Posted June 22 2017 - 12:03 AM

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Did the ants put the wood at the entrance themselves?


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#11 Offline nurbs - Posted June 22 2017 - 1:42 AM

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Did the ants put the wood at the entrance themselves?

 

Yup. It is dried oak bark. The first round of brood for the colas eclosed, but noticed the queens stopped laying eggs after that. I remember grabbing some oak bark when I caught those queens a few months ago at Chaney and scattered them into the outworld. Not only did they put them at the entrance, but every single queen has now laid a new batch of eggs. 


Edited by nurbs, June 22 2017 - 2:06 AM.

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Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#12 Offline nurbs - Posted September 19 2017 - 8:59 PM

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Some more pics. I raid Daiso and make about 20 of these every week. They work so well.

 

3A1ucn0l.jpg

 

8qoXjiQl.jpg

 

EJa6tvMl.jpg

 

 

Ngmw8fUl.jpg

 

 

And here is a variation of the same concept in different size foraging containers:

 

Uy1Vtj3l.jpg

 

 

lBFrBFVl.jpg

 

 

 


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Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#13 Offline T.C. - Posted September 19 2017 - 9:30 PM

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Haha, man I'm gonna have to find something like this. I'm sick of taking food in and out of testubes. If they just had a small outworld, it would go much quicker... and be more efficient
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#14 Offline nurbs - Posted September 19 2017 - 9:31 PM

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Here is an Acromyrmex doing well in the "pencil case" formicarium. There are dried broken up rose petals in the outworld:

 


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Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#15 Offline nurbs - Posted September 19 2017 - 9:39 PM

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Haha, man I'm gonna have to find something like this. I'm sick of taking food in and out of testubes. If they just had a small outworld, it would go much quicker... and be more efficient

 

Yeah, that's exactly why I make so many. Makes feeding simpler and also helps keep the test tube clean of food and mold.

 

It's also inexpensive to make, cost to build is about $6-7. 

 

Here is a shot of C. quercicola taken two months ago. They are doing real well in this setup: 

 

TnUYwqHl.jpg


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Instagram:
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California Ants for Sale

 

Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#16 Offline Scrixx - Posted September 19 2017 - 10:07 PM

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Those would be so nice to have. Love how compact and stackable it is. I'm going to post my Pogonomyrmex subnitidus setup tomorrow. It's big. It takes up so much space especially for only 15 workers. Something like this would be perfect.

 

Just checked and I have two Daiso nearby and I'll raid them tomorrow. 

 

Thanks for sharing.


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Keeping: Camponotus sansabeanus - C. vicinus - Formica francoeuri - Liometopum occidentale -  Pogonomyrmex californicus - P. rugosus - P. subnitidus - Solenopsis molesta - S. xyloni - Tapinoma sessile - Temnothorax sp.

Journals: Camponotus sansabeanus & C. vicinus | Pogonomyrmex californicus & P. rugosus | Solenopsis molesta & S. xyloni

Discontinued: Pogonomyrmex subnitidus


#17 Offline VoidElecent - Posted September 20 2017 - 4:39 AM

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I've been looking for these containers online but I can't seem to find them. I would really like to use similar setups for my colonies; they seem effective and fairly straightforward to make.


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#18 Offline CNewton - Posted September 20 2017 - 5:00 AM

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I went to the local dollar store and couldn't find anything quite as perfect as those pencil cases. I'm having to stick with throw-away "Gladware" storage containers, 3/$2. Not quite as nice as the tops snap-seal shut and it can be a real disturbance. Currently, the lids are just sitting on top. I'm going to try grouting the bottom like how you used the Hydrostone.



#19 Offline Kevin - Posted September 20 2017 - 11:52 AM

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Those are a perfect fit. Wish we had something so perfect here, haha.

 

EDIT: Soul found them. I believe it is the exact one.

 

http://www.daisojapa...-in-10-pkg.aspx


Edited by Kevin, September 20 2017 - 2:45 PM.

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#20 Offline Scrixx - Posted September 20 2017 - 3:23 PM

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Damnit I visited two different Daiso and they don't carry the clear ones or sold out. There's an opaque one but it says "I'm Bored" on it. The rest are solid colors.


ScrixxAnts Queen Adoption

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Keeping: Camponotus sansabeanus - C. vicinus - Formica francoeuri - Liometopum occidentale -  Pogonomyrmex californicus - P. rugosus - P. subnitidus - Solenopsis molesta - S. xyloni - Tapinoma sessile - Temnothorax sp.

Journals: Camponotus sansabeanus & C. vicinus | Pogonomyrmex californicus & P. rugosus | Solenopsis molesta & S. xyloni

Discontinued: Pogonomyrmex subnitidus





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