345 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

I don't really have anything listed anywhere yet, except for the small #7 dirt boxes that byFormica sells on Amazon. Normally I just have people order from me via PM or email. I'm not sure if I want to ship over seas again though. I did once and it was a real hassle, not to mention very expensive.

[JackPearl]

I don't really have anything listed anywhere yet, except for the small #7 dirt boxes that byFormica sells on Amazon. Normally I just have people order from me via PM or email. I'm not sure if I want to ship over seas again though. I did once and it was a real hassle, not to mention very expensive.

Ok fair enough I might try my hand at making a similiar nest idea or yours.

[Seadogrun]

Hello DPSDrew - 

 

I just received my dirt box #7 today.  There is some "material in the vertical tubes.  It looks like really course sand, maybe (I have included a pic).  Is this supposed to be there?  Also is there a guide to getting it set up, how to water, etc?  

 

Thank you.

 

Chris

 

Edited by Seadogrun, September 22 2017 - 7:34 AM.

[drtrmiller]

Hello DPSDrew - 
 
I just received my dirt box #7 today.  There is some "material in the vertical tubes.  It looks like really course sand, maybe (I have included a pic).  Is this supposed to be there?  Also is there a guide to getting it set up, how to water, etc?  
 
Thank you.
 
Chris
 

It's the contents of the hydration reservoir. Some may loosen in transit and fall in the tubes. Simply add water and it will fall back down inside. Never remove the tubes from the plastic reservoir.

[Seadogrun]

 

Hello DPSDrew - 
 
I just received my dirt box #7 today.  There is some "material in the vertical tubes.  It looks like really course sand, maybe (I have included a pic).  Is this supposed to be there?  Also is there a guide to getting it set up, how to water, etc?  
 
Thank you.
 
Chris
 

It's the contents of the hydration reservoir. Some may loosen in transit and fall in the tubes. Simply add water and it will fall back down inside. Never remove the tubes from the plastic reservoir.

 

Thanks!

 

And I now have a colony of a queen and about 20 pheidole workers.  They are in a much bigger test tube than what would fit in the dirt box.  How do you recommend I move them?  

 

I see only the port on the top and on the very bottom.

 

Also what is the plug on the bottom for?

Edited by Seadogrun, September 22 2017 - 11:09 AM.

[dspdrew]

Hello DPSDrew - 
 
I just received my dirt box #7 today.  There is some "material in the vertical tubes.  It looks like really course sand, maybe (I have included a pic).  Is this supposed to be there?  Also is there a guide to getting it set up, how to water, etc?  
 
Thank you.
 
Chris

It's the contents of the hydration reservoir. Some may loosen in transit and fall in the tubes. Simply add water and it will fall back down inside. Never remove the tubes from the plastic reservoir.

Thanks!
 
And I now have a colony of a queen and about 20 pheidole workers.  They are in a much bigger test tube than what would fit in the dirt box.  How do you recommend I move them?  
 
I see only the port on the top and on the very bottom.
 
Also what is the plug on the bottom for?

 
I just dump my ants where I want them. As for really small brood, I usually use a barbecue skewer to move them. If I was moving ants into one of these, I would just stick the small larvae and eggs to the side where the ants can find them. I don't  worry about making a mess, because the ants will clean it all up.
 
One potential problem though, is that these are not really designed for ants smaller than 3mm. Some Pheidole subgenera are only about 2mm, so I hope yours are one of the larger species. If you do try to house ants smaller than 3mm in these, they might be able to escape or find their way into the inner hydration container.
 
The plug on the bottom can be used to drain them if you ever add too much water. It can also be used to help move your ants out if you place it in the out world of a the new formicarium. I often use it to add queens that already have brood I don't want them to lose. I squirt water in the hole to carve out a chamber, and then install the queen and her brood. That keeps her from losing or burying her brood while digging a nest.
 
As for instructions, I haven't written anything up yet, but I need to.
 
I know I have described the best way to initially hydrate the nest a few times on the forum. I'll see if I can find the post and link it here.

Edit:
Found it.
 

The way I initially hydrate these nests is by squirting about a 1/4 inch of water on the surface. I take that opportunity to wash the dust off the sides of the plastic. That amount of water will completely soak all of the dirt, and then continue slowly soaking into the vermiculite in the inner container, leaving the nests with the perfect dampness for new queens to start digging their nests. The reason I soak all of the dirt in the beginning is so that as the upper layer dries out, it hardens, protecting the nest against collapse.

Keep an eye on it, because it might dry out a little faster than usual the first time. A lot of that water will slowly soak into the hydration media in the inner tank. It just takes a small amount of water added to the tank via the tube to dampen it a bit again. It's best to try to keep a nice gradient of moisture.

Edited by dspdrew, September 22 2017 - 6:37 PM.

[Seadogrun]

DSPDrew - Thank you very much. My colonies are pheidole megacephala. Do you think this will work for me? If not is there anything I can do to make it work?

If I do use this product, I just want to make sure I understand the transfer from the test tube. You are saying to just open the tube and dump everything into the dirt box?

Thanks for the help,

[dspdrew]

DSPDrew - Thank you very much. My colonies are pheidole megacephala. Do you think this will work for me? If not is there anything I can do to make it work?

If I do use this product, I just want to make sure I understand the transfer from the test tube. You are saying to just open the tube and dump everything into the dirt box?

Thanks for the help,

 

I think that species will be fine. Yes, I would just dump them into the nest, brood and all.

[Seadogrun]

One more question(for now) DSP D:

 

Do the ants still need to drink water with this nest?  Or is the hydration system sufficient to keep them hydrated?

 

Thanks,

Edited by Seadogrun, October 9 2017 - 4:44 PM.

[dspdrew]

One more question(for now) DSP D:

 

Do the ants still need to drink water with this nest?  Or is the hydration system sufficient to keep them hydrated?

 

Thanks,

 

The nest should be wet enough toward the bottom for them to drink.

[Seadogrun]

 

One more question(for now) DSP D:

 

Do the ants still need to drink water with this nest?  Or is the hydration system sufficient to keep them hydrated?

 

Thanks,

 

The nest should be wet enough toward the bottom for them to drink.

 

Thank you!

[dspdrew]

Making lots of dirt boxes on my kitchen production floor.
 

[Leo]

what's the hammer for?

[nurbs]

what's the hammer for?

 

When he ant rages.

[dspdrew]

 

what's the hammer for?

 

When he ant rages.

 

 

 

It's for putting the inner container lids on. I use it along with that blue microfiber cloth covered "plunger" I designed.

[dspdrew]

There is finally a user guide for these now. For anyone who has one of these already, I recommend you download a copy of this guide.
 

 

Attached Files

•  Dirt Box User Guide.pdf   800.5KB   597 downloads

[dspdrew]

I started putting a hole at the surface level of these things now to make it easier to move a colony from one to another, or just to connect two. I also made some really simple little connectors and tube fittings.
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
The connectors don't snap in or anything like that because they're not meant to hold anything together. They just create a secure pathway between two Dirt Boxes as long as they're kept up against each other.
 
I'm using some right now to move three different Myrmecocystus colonies out of some of the older small Dirt Boxes and into some new large ones.
 

 

 
 
The ridge in the middle keeps the tube centered and stops it from slipping into one box or the other.
 

 

 
 
I'm including a connector and tube fitting with each of these now.

[MegaMyrmex]

I want one of those so bad right now....

[sgheaton]

what's the hammer for?

Quality Control

 

 

Edit:

Your dedication to your work really shows. 

Edited by sgheaton, October 30 2017 - 5:54 AM.

[T.C.]

I have mixed feelings. Maybe with the guide I won't drown my colony again. However to get the new upgrade I gotta buy a new drewcarium! I see what you are doing here!