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New byFormica Formicarium for 2017


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29 replies to this topic

#1 Offline drtrmiller - Posted April 23 2017 - 12:42 PM

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I'm nearing completion of development for a new formicarium.

Features:
  • Attractive circular design with gear teeth (to serve design purpose)
  • Multi-material wood/acrylic construction
  • 6 optional hydration points with external glass reservoir to visually monitor hydration
  • 7 gated (individually opened or closed) honeycomb cells for horizontal or vertical use
  • Contrasting tonal wood floor with unique humidity control mechanism
  • Translucent frosted acrylic, brushed metal, mirrored acrylic, marble-like acrylic, or other decorative inlay for cosmetic conceal of sponges and dirty water/acrylic layers
  • Single connector slot for different size tubing or adapters
  • Includes "T" adapter to connect to another single nest
  • Chamber depth variable from 3-9 mm
  • About 18 mm total thickness
  • Optional adapter to change from horizontal to a vertical nest
Estimated retail price: $55 USD / $65 CAD / £40 GBP / €50 EUR / $65 AUD

Availability: Public preview first week of May (TBA). Kickstarter through May. Retail availability by early June.

Edited by drtrmiller, April 26 2017 - 11:43 AM.

  • Barristan, noebl1, Martialis and 4 others like this


byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#2 Offline Spamdy - Posted April 23 2017 - 2:55 PM

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:yahoo: byFormica new product? I can't wait! :yahoo:


  • Ants Galore likes this

All my colonies are dead. 

 

 Except:

  

  Pogonomyrmex barbatus

  Pheidole obscurithorax

  Pheidole morens


#3 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted April 23 2017 - 3:31 PM

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No way! Grats Terry! Can't wait!!!

YJK


#4 Offline Flubby100 - Posted April 23 2017 - 4:09 PM

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any pic?



#5 Offline klawfran3 - Posted April 23 2017 - 4:15 PM

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Sounds interesting, I can't wait until the preview is released. I might buy one to try it out now that I finally have some colonies up and running again.

The grow tube always seemed like a good buy but I was a little weary one how it was hydrated, I feel like since plastic nests aren't absorbent they flood easier than hydrostone or AAC. I do, however love every product I've bought from you and I assume you've worked out the best way to prevent flooding.


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#6 Offline Formicarius - Posted April 23 2017 - 4:24 PM

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Sounds interesting. 

Wonder how this will compete with the chinese acrylic or 3D-printed formicariums already on the market though.


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#7 Offline brian - Posted April 23 2017 - 6:30 PM

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Can't waite to see this sounds cool!

#8 Offline Serafine - Posted April 24 2017 - 12:43 AM

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Sounds interesting. 
Wonder how this will compete with the chinese acrylic or 3D-printed formicariums already on the market though.

From what it sounds it seems like Terry is going for a more sophisticated approach (some would say a luxury formicarium) this time that can't be easily copied by every chinese business man with a small factory.

Edited by Serafine, April 24 2017 - 12:44 AM.

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#9 Offline Spamdy - Posted April 24 2017 - 8:44 AM

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Sounds interesting. 
Wonder how this will compete with the chinese acrylic or 3D-printed formicariums already on the market though.

From what it sounds it seems like Terry is going for a more sophisticated approach (some would say a luxury formicarium) this time that can't be easily copied by every chinese business man with a small factory.
Smart!
  • Ants Galore likes this

All my colonies are dead. 

 

 Except:

  

  Pogonomyrmex barbatus

  Pheidole obscurithorax

  Pheidole morens


#10 Offline Loops117 - Posted April 24 2017 - 11:52 AM

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Oh dang kevin


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#11 Offline dspdrew - Posted April 24 2017 - 2:42 PM

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Sounds interesting. 
Wonder how this will compete with the chinese acrylic or 3D-printed formicariums already on the market though.

From what it sounds it seems like Terry is going for a more sophisticated approach (some would say a luxury formicarium) this time that can't be easily copied by every chinese business man with a small factory.

 

 

What's funny is this was exactly what he was going for when he first came on the scene.


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#12 Offline drtrmiller - Posted April 24 2017 - 3:14 PM

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The reason I haven't manufactured or sold any formicaries in the past year is that there are so many great vendors out there, and I haven't really seen a need for it, especially when manufacturing thousands of liquid feeders, bottles of Sunburst, and Fluon is taking up so much of my time.

 

That said, I completely understand that a lot of you want something a bit different than what currently exists in the marketplace; but please, let's lower expectations a bit.  This product is not intended to be "the" byFormica formicarium. It's simply "a" byFormica formicarium.  For the price I'm targeting, one can expect best-in-class design that is the most advanced, yet still acceptable and familiar.

 

I've never been too concerned with size.  Most vendors offer larger sized formicaries, and I'd speculate the vast majority of customers who purchase them never obtain a colony of sufficient size for the habitat, making them into little more than expensive paperweights.  I'd rather offer a quality product that does what is advertised and offers keepers of small- and medium-sized colonies the opportunity to observe their ants without worrying too much about the tools or formicarium.

 

Nor has it been my intention to compete with any vendor on price—especially the Chinese, which have a far lower cost of living, labor, and manufacturing.  Few here in this forum, or in European forums, can get in touch directly with a Chinese product creator and have a discussion like they can with me on this forum.  That is just one great benefit of buying from a small vendors like myself.

 

Finally, no additional information will be released until the product is finalized and ready for manufacturing.  While I greatly appreciate all the feedback I've received over the years, you guys are relying on me to use my vast knowledge and experience to design a great formicarium for you to enjoy, and that is exactly what I intend to do.


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byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#13 Offline FSTP - Posted April 25 2017 - 2:56 AM

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Not going to lie I'm kind of a byFomica FanBoy so I'm pretty excited for this.



#14 Offline ctantkeeper - Posted April 25 2017 - 5:13 AM

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I have to agree, although larger formicariums will always have their place, most of us just really want a nice, versatile founding formicarium or modular setup that can be used for small and medium-sized colonies. Something cheap and affordable (within reason) would also be greatly appreciated too. 


Edited by ctantkeeper, April 25 2017 - 5:15 AM.


#15 Offline Loops117 - Posted April 25 2017 - 11:36 AM

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I'm excited for this launch.



#16 Offline Serafine - Posted April 25 2017 - 1:18 PM

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What happened to the Mausoleum project?


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#17 Offline drtrmiller - Posted April 25 2017 - 1:35 PM

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What happened to the Mausoleum project?

 

I fully intend to spend time in the coming weeks developing a backlog of projects, including the one you describe.




byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#18 Offline Superant33 - Posted April 25 2017 - 2:29 PM

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I agree that there many great builders of formicaria. Loops, anttopia, THA, and Drew (his stuff looks great-love that box box made out of hydrostone?). There is always room for another. And I am looking forward to the byFormica formicarium!

#19 Offline klawfran3 - Posted April 25 2017 - 4:37 PM

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Hey Terry,

are you still in development of a complete ant diet or has that been totally scrapped?


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#20 Offline MikeMc - Posted May 3 2017 - 11:42 AM

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The first week of May... waiting impatiently. :) 


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