27 replies to this topic

[Etherwulf]

How's the vertical working out for you? I don't think that the exorbitant price tag justifies the need to water it constantly.

[dean_k]

I've used it for 3+ months. My Myrmica colony used to live in it.

 

It has some issues. Some are more serious than others.

 

1. Moisture retention: At first, it was okay but then the acrylic covering blue foam started to bend, exposing the blue foam. Thus, far faster evaporation of moisture from the foam. By time I decided to relocate my colony from it, I had to water it 2 times a day to keep larvae from drying up.

 

2. Acrylic joints: It is joined by acrylic parts which can break. I've broken a joint during disassembly of outworld. Why did I disassemble the outworld? To clean it. But it does ship with a lot of spare joints.

 

3. Most ants prefer moisture and the moistest chamber is a mile away from nest entrance/exit. They are basically on opposite sides. It makes smaller colony's life harder to venture out to outworld. My colony did eventually get used to the long journey back and forth but it didn't feel good for me.

 

4. Slippery floor. It's shiny acrylic floor that ants have to walk on. When combined with high level of moisture, the acrylic floor becomes slippery and ants will have a hard time dragging big stuff through.

 

5. Water hole ( 1mm in diameter ) is so small that it can be clogged after some time unless you use distilled water exclusively.

 

6. It has bump between chambers. You can see what I mean by looking at photos of it. It's normally not a problem but smaller ants will have a heck of time dragging stuff through the bumps. Even Myrmica struggled with bumps.

 

All above points I made are what I've experienced from my Myrmica colony journal @ http://www.formicult...olony-crystals/

 

My Myrmica colony has moved into THA Hearth. Now it isn't without issues but none of them so far has been as bad as issues that I've experienced with Omni nest vertical. The original Omni nest is probably better.

Edited by dean_k, February 6 2015 - 7:25 AM.

[drtrmiller]

My habitat nest [circa 2012] was dysfunctional and led to the death of multiple colonies [after hibernating them in the freezer]. I was shocked.

 

I'm shocked you continued doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome.  Isn't that the "definition of insanity?"

 

[There] was a design flaw. There was a significant gap between the glass and the nest itself. Enough for Camponotus workers and brood to get stuck in between and die.

 

I've seen Camponotus workers fit in some very tight spaces.  In my experience, the only ants that get stuck are the ones that are really good at exploring and have very flat and small bodies, such as Linepithema humile.  I've observed most other ants back up once they reach a point of discomfort.

 

In fact, I experienced the very issue of ants getting stuck and dying in 100% of the Tar Heel Ants nests I owned and used with L. humile and Solenopsis invicta.  If they weren't all in my paperweight storage bin somewhere, I'd offer to share pictures.

 

The main frustration is that the company didn't seem to care much that my ants were dying in it. So much for "Ant Love". 

 

I have been told that it did occur in other nests of the same design. I don't think it's consistent.

 

Why do you feel the company "didn't care?"  

 

Have you seen the supposed issue in similar nests, firsthand?  When defaming an individual, it's probably a good idea not to rely on second-hand information.  To illustrate as an example of what not to do: I heard that Mack was contemplating retiring from the ant business.

 

Miles, on 06 Feb 2015 - 12:48 AM, said:

 

"Moisture retention seems to be the most consistent complaint of AntsCanada customers."

 

 

Colophonius, a member here, questioned why we in the states were so concerned with "moisture retention."  He went on to say that most antkeepers in Germany don't worry with such things.

[Gregory2455]

I can see Terry is back...

[AntsAreUs]

I think THA is better honestly, along with much cheaper prices.

[BugFinder]

Antscanada definitely lacks in product options. That is my biggest complaint aside from the insane prices.

 

Mine too bud!  I love their products, I just wish they had a better selection and I do think they are a tad over priced.  I wish they had something for founding colonies.  It'll probably be years before I have enough ants in my colony to use one of their products.

[AntsAreUs]

 

Antscanada definitely lacks in product options. That is my biggest complaint aside from the insane prices.

 

Mine too bud!  I love their products, I just wish they had a better selection and I do think they are a tad over priced.  I wish they had something for founding colonies.  It'll probably be years before I have enough ants in my colony to use one of their products.

 

Depends, I would say 1-2 years.

[BugFinder]

I believe you, but at the rate my colony seems to be growing (or dying off, if you prefer) it feels like I will never get there, lol.