47 replies to this topic

[CoolColJ]

Just formal post about these nests for the interested
 
Usually 30mmm x 200mm so they can house large ants
With a refillable sand hydration chamber at the back.
 
There is a member here called Leo that uses one for his ants

Pics from Leo's journal
https://lh6.googleus...-F7A=w1920-h912
https://lh5.googleus...JJEA=w1920-h912
https://lh6.googleus...XUj0=w1920-h912
https://lh4.googleus...HUEv=w1920-h912
 
 
Easiest place to buy them from is Aliexpress, it's kinda like a Chinese Amazon. Pretty safe, I've bought a few things from there.
You can see them listed here. They come in various colours and combinations, some as part of a large acrylic formicarium with 1-10 of these tubes as well.
 
https://www.aliexpre...bamboo ant nest
 
 
http://img.alicdn.com/imgextra/i2/3340958150/TB257IWvMxlpuFjSszgXXcJdpXa_!!3340958150.jpg http://img.alicdn.com/imgextra/i1/3340958150/TB2QoJrvYVkpuFjSspcXXbSMVXa_!!3340958150.jpg
http://img.alicdn.com/imgextra/i3/3340958150/TB2Lo0rvYVkpuFjSspcXXbSMVXa_!!3340958150.jpg http://img.alicdn.com/imgextra/i4/3340958150/TB2A2SFXtqgF1Jjy1zdXXc8dFXa_!!3340958150.jpg
http://img.alicdn.com/imgextra/i4/3340958150/TB2jIkoXfAPyuJjy0FcXXbCzpXa_!!3340958150.jpg

Edited by CoolColJ, March 16 2018 - 4:08 PM.

[CoolColJ]

Single chamber versions

https://item.taobao....5097&abbucket=4

https://gd1.alicdn.com/imgextra/i2/278653170/TB2wPo.l5qAXuNjy1XdXXaYcVXa_!!278653170.jpg

 

 

https://www.aliexpre....5add14c17IfHMS

 

Edited by CoolColJ, April 25 2018 - 5:16 PM.

[ZllGGY]

this is actually really cool

[CoolColJ]

Spotted a strange variant, as part of a formicarium

https://www.aliexpre...iceBeautifyAB=0

Not sure how these work, but I can see a hydration hole
You would peel off the brown protection sheets of the sides off course

Edited by CoolColJ, March 21 2018 - 4:02 AM.

[Martialis]

It looks like it would work well for twig-nesting species.

[Leo]

I recommend 

[CoolColJ]

Came across this vid of someone using them with Camponotus consobrinus ants

These are one of the larger ants you can get

 

Edited by CoolColJ, April 22 2018 - 8:36 PM.

[sirjordanncurtis]

Spotted a strange variant, as part of a formicarium

https://www.aliexpre...iceBeautifyAB=0

Not sure how these work, but I can see a hydration hole
You would peel off the brown protection sheets of the sides off course

The only real question is how u get the ants into the tube/setup

 

[Canadian anter]

I would assume the giant cork opening 

[sirjordanncurtis]

yeah, but you sort of have to make sure they move into the tube, not the plastic

[rbarreto]

yeah, but you sort of have to make sure they move into the tube, not the plastic

They will move into the tube on their own as the little out world has no humidity, is exposed to light, and is way too open for the ants to feel comfortable.

[Derpy]

Does anybody know how to make these?

[sirjordanncurtis]

The one with the cork is fairly easy to construct via cutting plastic and 3d printing a few parts. I'm not sure exactly how the test tube one works, but the structure of it doesn't seem to complicated.

[CoolColJ]

Does anybody know how to make these?

 

I suppose you could start with a large plastic test tube and drill a hole for the water, as for the rest, it's probably gypsum and sand.

They probably mold the interior piece outside and slide it in

 

 

edit - TBH, they are not expensive, and it would most likely cost you more in time, labour, materials and R&D to make your own

Edited by CoolColJ, April 23 2018 - 5:57 PM.

[CoolColJ]

I like this single chamber variant. Good for a founding queen, and you can use the front section for feeding to minimise panic when you drop in dead insects.

And not have to worry about water running out and cotton getting moldy

 

Edited by CoolColJ, April 23 2018 - 6:03 PM.

[Derpy]

How long does shipping take from AliExpress?

[ken14400]

How long does shipping take from AliExpress?

ranges from 16 days to 2 months depending on the shipping you choose

[noebl1]

 

How long does shipping take from AliExpress?

ranges from 16 days to 2 months depending on the shipping you choose

 

 

Same experience here too to the US.  Occasionally I'll find vendors with cheap DHL and get it within a few days, but that's very very unusual.  Last thing I ordered in March shipped as ePacket took about 3.5 weeks, which is about the average for me.  Sometimes I've seen stuff take about 2weeks to go from China to the US, then sit in US Customs for 1-2weeks before magically moving on to the USPS and getting here a couple days later.   Another variable is the Holidays taken in China greatly effect order speed, especially during Chinese New Year where the majority of vendors basically shut down for 1-2 weeks.

Edited by noebl1, April 24 2018 - 1:58 PM.

[CoolColJ]

How long does shipping take from AliExpress?

 

 

My quickest was 9 days for 3 water feeders

The longest was a few days over the cut off deadline, a month, and I could have gotten a refund - this one was only supposed to take a couple of weeks with EMS delivery

Edited by CoolColJ, April 24 2018 - 2:07 PM.

[CoolColJ]

With Camponotus fedtschenkoi