868 replies to this topic

[Izzy]

I built my first formicarium over the weekend using Perfect Cast! I purchased some 3x3 inch glass plates to fit the mold perfectly so I didn't have to bother with cutting it since I figured getting a clean cut would probably be the hardest part.

 

 

Unfortunately a little bit of sand moved and created some spaces where the ants can escape (see picture below).

 

 

I'm trying to determine the best way to do a spot job on this and fix it. I was thinking of either taking some more casting material and filling it in, or maybe using some air drying clay? I imagine the last option probably isn't as durable and certain ant species would be able to chew through it. With the first option I'm just worried about doing it cleanly which is why I was leaning towards the second since that would be easy to redo.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Other than that I'm happy with how it turned out. I think it would make a decent founding chamber. I figured starting small with a flat nest would be easiest to get some experience. Maybe its not fixable and I can just use it as a learning experience, but I was excited it turned out as well as it did.

[ANTdrew]

I would recommend a dab of 100% silicone to seal that. gap. Nice looking design, though.

[Izzy]

I would recommend a dab of 100% silicone to seal that. gap. Nice looking design, though.

 

Thank you! Would it need to be something like Aquarium safe silicone or does any old silicone do?

[ANTdrew]

Any 100% silicone will work. Loctite is an inexpensive brand I get at Home Depot.

[futurebird]

I can also vouch for "apoxie sculpt" two-part clay style epoxy as ant safe (when dry) and ant proof (my pennsylvanicus colony can't chew it when it's dry) it also sticks to plastic, and wood even metal very well. It's now my go-to crack plugger. 

[UtahAnts]

Nice build! That happens to me from time to time. I like to reapply a small amount of perfect cast directly onto the gap. Use sand for interior texture and sand down to keep the plane level. You won't be able to notice it and it will plug the hole nicely. Silicone and epoxy will work as well.

[cutchins]

This thread is awesome. Feeling inspired enough to try and make my first formicarium this weekend!

[Ernteameise]

Last year, I had contacted TarHeel ants to have a new custom nest made for my Messor barbarus harvester ants.

They desperately needed a new nest, since their old acrylic nest was much too small and half of the colony was living outside in the outworld.

 

So I had a custom Nucleus style nest made.

 

 

The nest is covered with a red cover to give them some privacy when I am not watching them.

 

 

 

I opted for minimal decorations, since Messor are known to trash their habitats. They can take down beautiful decorations in no time if they do not like them.

Inside, the nest comes with a covering of Vermiculite (I like the color) and some petrified wood rocks strewn in.

 

The nest is heated with a heating mat:

 

 

The top of the nest, I had a minimalist outworld done, again with vermiculite substrate and a few petrified wood rocks.

I actually like it a lot.

 

 

For my smaller founder colonies, I also got a mini hearth each, both also with a red cover.

One has vermiculite inside, the other one a dusting of white sand.

 

 

 

All of these formicaria I have now arranged on my shelving unit.

Nice center piece for my living room.

 

[futurebird]

Used some of my spring break to make magnetic felt cozies for my colonies so I can check on them without disturbing them as much with vibrations. I used tacky glue to hold the magnets in place between two layers of felt. Worked Great!

 

Magnet placement. Small magnets on purple felt line up with the screws that hold their log home together.

 

each magnet is covered with felt dots using glue. I show how it can be easily and quietly removed. No upset ants!

 

The other large wooden nest got a yellow cover I show how the felt peels back showing ants in wooden chambers.

 

When covered with felt to block the light the wooden branch nest has yellow and green stripes. This looks much better than the ragged fabric scraps I used to use to block out all the light.