306 replies to this topic

[Kevin]

Once again, great work. That thing looks amazing! For the outworld, you could poor a thin layer of grout and add some pebbles and sand to cover the whole thing, and add the hebel insert.

Edited by Kevin, March 22 2017 - 3:09 PM.

[Leo]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I'm afraid all of my requests from The US have been thwarted by the sheer cost of postage. My designs are evolving to reduce weight at any chance. Larger hebel formicariums present even more challenges.

well if possible ill buy one!

[Antking117]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I'm afraid all of my requests from The US have been thwarted by the sheer cost of postage. My designs are evolving to reduce weight at any chance. Larger hebel formicariums present even more challenges.

Ill pay postage xD If you can pack all 10 small ones into a package

[SoySauce]

Man, I'll take a bunch too! Beautiful work!

[CrazyLegs]

Thanks for your interest guys. With my day job keeping me busy I only make one of these a week. I'm no 3D printer.   

They are pretty much sold before I even post them for sale but you never know I may be sending one across the sea before I know it.

I just realised I hadn't posted the internals of the Crustacean so here's some shots of the inside.

This one was taken just after I added my Pseudoneoponera sp I hadn't even received my water bottles at that stage so had to improvise some plugs.

 

[Antking117]

 

Thanks for your interest guys. With my day job keeping me busy I only make one of these a week. I'm no 3D printer. 

They are pretty much sold before I even post them for sale but you never know I may be sending one across the sea before I know it.

I just realised I hadn't posted the internals of the Crustacean so here's some shots of the inside.

 

 

This one was taken just after I added my Pseudoneoponera sp I hadn't even received my water bottles at that stage so had to improvise some plugs.

 

 

 

Aha I diddnt realize that you diddnt realize that you diddnt post. lol i just thought you posted it somewhere else and i missed it! Much thanks! Can we get internals of after they were added? What have you been feeding them? Whelp, just found that you posted there and i missed it! Those things are sweet!

Edited by antking117, March 24 2017 - 2:15 AM.

[CrazyLegs]

They are almost like a pack of wolves in their behavior. When one ant brings home a meal, sometimes hell breaks loose with ants all vying for their share.

Very interesting ants to observe.

[Antking117]

That sounds sweet! I wonder if they became armored as such because of the internal competition or external predators.. hmm (maybe both )

[CrazyLegs]

Been a while since anything major happened inside the Crocodilian. I've just been routinely feeding and hydrating the nest. All the drones have since died but I have been adding the odd one I come across every once in a while. Today though there was a little surprise in the out world. A pair of wings!

If I'm incredibly lucky one of the queens may have mated. She is still with the group and is still friendly toward the other queen (for now) who still has her wings intact.

Here she is checking out my handiwork in this chamber and it also appears she is making sure to dominate the other queen in the nest.

Makes me a little nervous having two queens in there but there's not much I can do about it at this stage.

Edited by CrazyLegs, April 16 2017 - 11:05 PM.

[sgheaton]

And now we continue with the waiting game...... 

[CrazyLegs]

Plenty to do in the meantime.

Here's a sneak peak at my latest hebel creation. I've named it "The Geode" for obvious reasons.

And yes I am making this one for sale. I just need some time to add some more features and figure shipping costs.

[Jelly]

Another awesome formicarium, does this one have a lid? or just that stone lip?

[CrazyLegs]

It does Jelly. The lid is acrylic vented with micro mesh.

I've installed a 16mm access port for adding your ants which also doubles as a connector for more Geodes or Dragon eggs.

I'm imagining a table top diorama with ten or so of these things all connected together with short lengths of vinyl tubing.

Edited by CrazyLegs, April 14 2017 - 4:09 AM.

[Hayashi]

This thread is really great! I read the whole thing today. Thanks!

[Superant33]

Wow. I hope she mated. The anticipation is kind killing me.

[CrazyLegs]

Thanks guys,

Quick update on the Gecko and the Anonychomyrma sp. inhabitants.

Being a sealed unit, I have had to contend with mold growing in the unused chambers. I have a springtail culture brewing but its going to take time to build numbers. For now I have just been wiping it out once week with a cotton tip.

These ants really don't seem bothered by their moldy digs. Notice the hungry larvae are kept in a separate pile to the rest of the brood. Most likely to prevent them eating each other.

Here they are sharing a mealworm segment with her majesty.

Edited by CrazyLegs, April 15 2017 - 12:04 PM.

[Martialis]

Wow. Do you feed them in there?

[CrazyLegs]

The workers brought that meal back from the feeder globe to share with the queen and brood.

Edited by CrazyLegs, April 15 2017 - 12:21 PM.

[Martialis]

I'd forgotten about the globe. Thanks!

[Leo]

yes the glow globe