35 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

So I'm planning on ordering the Fortress Formicarium from Tar Heel Ants for a Camponotus pennsylvanicus colony. I was wondering whether type I (Ytong) or type II would be better for Camponotus? Thanks!

 

EDIT: Spelling

Edited by Mettcollsuss, November 13 2017 - 4:56 PM.

[Ender Ants]

So I'm planning on ordering the Fortress Formicarium from Tar Heel Ants for a Camponotus pennsylvanicus colony. I was wondering wether type I (Ytong) or type II would be better for Camponotus? Thanks!

I would say type l, since I don't think they'll be able to chew through that. Type ll is meant for species that can chew through ytong. I would get Type l if you don't want to spend the extra cash. 

[Reevak]

 

So I'm planning on ordering the Fortress Formicarium from Tar Heel Ants for a Camponotus pennsylvanicus colony. I was wondering wether type I (Ytong) or type II would be better for Camponotus? Thanks!

I would say type l, since I don't think they'll be able to chew through that. Type ll is meant for species that can chew through ytong. I would get Type l if you don't want to spend the extra cash. 

 

I believe Camponotus pennsylvanicus can chew threw ytong. I would say Type II

[Mettcollsuss]

 

So I'm planning on ordering the Fortress Formicarium from Tar Heel Ants for a Camponotus pennsylvanicus colony. I was wondering wether type I (Ytong) or type II would be better for Camponotus? Thanks!

I would say type l, since I don't think they'll be able to chew through that. Type ll is meant for species that can chew through ytong. I would get Type l if you don't want to spend the extra cash. 

 

The THA website doesn't list type II as being more expensive.

[nurbs]

Believe type II costs a tad more, but better IMO. Ytong (type I) is softer, type II is harder. Don't know what the composition of type II is. It's not plaster or epoxy, but appears to be some kind of cement.

 

Type II also has sand, type I does not.

 

I've always ordered type II. Have a few Mini Hearths and Fortress in Type II.

[Mettcollsuss]

Thanks!

[Hunter]

i use the type 2

[Mettcollsuss]

Yeah, I've decided on type II

[Derpy]

Why have the price for the atom nests gone up? I thought they were supposed to be 8 dollars?!

[xTNxANTMANx]

Just from personal experience, I wouldn't reccomend buying anything from TarHeelAnts.
#1-the guy that runs it is a total D**K! (excuse my language but its true). He has very poor communication and even after making a huge mistake on an order, (my order) he refused to fix it!
#2-extremely poor customer service!!! It was his mistake when the product plainly stated it would have certain features but nope! His only reply was I could get my money back because the one he had made for me was not coming the way it was described. (I still have the emails btw) He then proceeded to tell me he wasn't going to fix it and didn't offer no sort of compensation for MY loss.
#3-not the first time that had happened! Not only had someone else I know ordered the same product for the same particular feature, (they had no idea till it was received which is why I emailed before mine was mailed out) but a friend of mine ordered one after I urged him not to, and like I warned him, it came completely wrong! The "water tower" was hanging out the bottom of the entire nest at an angle which made it even worse. Again, refusal to fix or compensate for the problem. Here is the proof...

Atom C founding formicarium btw and to top it off, my friend had to wait right at 2 months to get this piece of crap!
Now, I am totally sure plenty of others have had good experiences with them, but personally, I wouldn't risk it. With a little time and patience, it very easy to made something similar. Most of the outworld containers are just cheap plastic display cases you can get from Hobby Lobby for an example. His products do look good, but again, I have also been in Discord chats where others even say the guy does not run a good business and only cares about the money.    ...again, just speaking from personal experience. If you do order, good luck.

 

[Derpy]

Wow, never knew this about TarHeel Ants, has anybody else had problems like this with them?

[Antking117]

Um yes, i have had many problems with Tar Heel in the past. Different issues with different nests, but again customer experience was awful. Took weeks for it to be even shipped in off season, then when I called with the messed up items I was completely ignored or hung up on at times. I was told it was user error and so I just decided to call the $100 a loss and started buying from drew and loops. I highly recommend everyone to avoid Tar Heel. I have already told many people about this, but I don't think in an actual post. I also do not have any evidence anymore, so sorry about that.

[ColKurtz]

So I have placed 2 orders with THA.  Both were in October.  The first one was for 2 ready to ship Mini-hearths.  I received them the same week I ordered them.  A colony of Tetramorium moved into one of them without too much prompting.  They seem to be doing well.  Based on that experience, I ordered more, but have not received them yet.  Based on the first experience, I am not concerned.  

[nurbs]

So I have placed 2 orders with THA.  Both were in October.  The first one was for 2 ready to ship Mini-hearths.  I received them the same week I ordered them.  A colony of Tetramorium moved into one of them without too much prompting.  They seem to be doing well.  Based on that experience, I ordered more, but have not received them yet.  Based on the first experience, I am not concerned.  

 

The ready to ship formicariums are usually a very painless order.

 

But the build to order formicariums take time, sometimes much longer than is stated on his website (up to two months). I'd have to agree with the statements here regarding customer service because I have experienced similar scenarios, but at the same time also not going to talk bad about any vendor since they are not here to defend themselves.

[Spamdy]

3-4 months for my friend to receive his. Glass came cracked and magnets were not glued on correctly. Not flat on the bottom and chamber is poorly carved. Asked several times and no responses to any of the emails.

[Antking117]

3-4 months for my friend to receive his. Glass came cracked and magnets were not glued on correctly. Not flat on the bottom and chamber is poorly carved. Asked several times and no responses to any of the emails.

Exact same problems I had.

[Hunter]

really i have had no problems and he has giving me a free atom b with a 200 porches, also i have never had 1 break, i also get a respond very fast

[Derpy]

Do you guys know of any other good formicaruim brands other than THA and Ants Canada. I think there is also Ants Australia as well as antkit, not sure how good their nests are though.

[nurbs]

Do you guys know of any other good formicaruim brands other than THA and Ants Canada. I think there is also Ants Australia as well as antkit, not sure how good their nests are though.

 

 

Tarheel makes decent stuff, and they've been in the business longer than most. They are one of the few vendors that still uses more natural substrate rather than acrylic or plastic for their formicariums. I personally like them, and the ants do well in them.

 

As some have pointed out here, their customer service needs improvement, and I second that. If they ever have formicariums under the "ready to ship", go for that. It is generally a painless experience and you will get the item within 1-2 weeks. The images under the "ready to ship" are the exact formicariums you will get, so there are no surprises. 

 

Recommend the Mini Hearth or Fortress type II. Some of the Atoms are not that great (had an Atom nest that actually killed every single species of ant I put in it. It had an extremely strong alcoholic odor to them and I could never get rid of the smell, even submerging it in water for 24 hours), so I have learned to stay away from Atoms.

 

Don't own any AC stuff, so don't know how varying species of ants do in them.

 

Been using epoxy and sand to make some very modular formicariums for my various colonies, and may make them available for sale if I can quickly mass produce them without losing quality (going to use silicon molds). 

Edited by nurbs, November 13 2017 - 10:05 PM.

[Derpy]

Well I just ordered some nests for my Pheidole colony, hope everything goes well.