Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

High Fire Ceramic Formicariums?

ceramic high fire cone 10 diy formicarium

  • Please log in to reply
4 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Waganga - Posted May 25 2018 - 11:41 AM

Waganga

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 87 posts
  • LocationNorthglenn, Colorado

Hi All,

 

Is there any particular reason there aren't formicariums made out of glazed ceramic clay?

 

In reading about other's formicarium making adventures, and in looking at some of the commercially available formicariums, it looks like a lot of people use ceramic components to help with hydration. However, it looks like the body of most formicariums are made out of acrylic, 3D printing materials, ytong, or even just cork/wood. 

 

I have a lot of different hobbies, and one of them is handbuilding with ceramic clays. I'm currently working in a studio with cone 10 high fire clays and glazes, and I'm messing around with some small (mostly 4" by 4") formicarium ideas, primarily constructed with either slab or coil handbuilding. The primary building hurdle I'm having so far is ensuring that my acrylic windows will fit nicely after the clay shrinks while drying and then while being fired. I can always cut the acrylic smaller, but that would be kind of a pain in the butt. 

 

Anyways, I'm really just wondering if anyone has already tried this, so I can learn from other's mistakes. :)

 

Thanks for reading!
Kayla



#2 Offline nurbs - Posted May 25 2018 - 12:29 PM

nurbs

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,630 posts
  • LocationLos Angeles

Been wanting to try this myself, but don't have the time. Give it a try, make a journal, and let us know! You may be the first. There may be commercial makers out there that fire their formicariums? But we don't know for sure since its not public knowledge.

 

My guess is it would make an excellent nest, much better than acrylic or 3D printed materials.


Instagram:
nurbsants
 
YouTube
 
California Ants for Sale

 

Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#3 Offline drtrmiller - Posted May 25 2018 - 12:37 PM

drtrmiller

    Vendor

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,714 posts

The shrinkage makes ceramics a poor candidate for any multi-component assembly requiring parts to fit together with precise tolerances, as are often necessary when keeping ants.  Instead of making acrylic fit into a ceramic piece, consider inserting the ceramic piece against the side of a box of acrylic, polystyrene, glass, or similar material, as is shown here:
 
5.jpg

The reason low-fire is prefered is the absorbency is better suited for the wet/dry cycles of a subterranean ant life compared to non-absorbent materials, on which any moisture would simply condense into droplets.  The plastic formicaries are not optimal in this regard, but they are relatively easy and inexpensive to produce, which makes them a top choice for commercial formicarium manufacturers.




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.

#4 Offline Waganga - Posted May 29 2018 - 8:08 AM

Waganga

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 87 posts
  • LocationNorthglenn, Colorado

Been wanting to try this myself, but don't have the time. Give it a try, make a journal, and let us know! You may be the first. There may be commercial makers out there that fire their formicariums? But we don't know for sure since its not public knowledge.

 

My guess is it would make an excellent nest, much better than acrylic or 3D printed materials.

 

I haven't seen anything around, not even someplace like Etsy where that kind of artsy fartsy stuff would most likely be. So, I'm definitely going to make a journal! I'm headed back to the ceramics studio tomorrow night to work on this project more, and if my first couple of prototypes show promise, I may start making them at home.

 

I've been wondering about it because it seems like cleanliness is a big issue when keeping an ant colony long term. It seems like most formicariums are designed for visibility, and not really for long term use/cleanliness. Since high fired ceramic, esp with a glazed surface, is glass-like, it would be a lot easier to clean and maintain.

 

 

The shrinkage makes ceramics a poor candidate for any multi-component assembly requiring parts to fit together with precise tolerances, as are often necessary when keeping ants.  Instead of making acrylic fit into a ceramic piece, consider inserting the ceramic piece against the side of a box of acrylic, polystyrene, glass, or similar material, as is shown here:
 
5.jpg

The reason low-fire is prefered is the absorbency is better suited for the wet/dry cycles of a subterranean ant life compared to non-absorbent materials, on which any moisture would simply condense into droplets.  The plastic formicaries are not optimal in this regard, but they are relatively easy and inexpensive to produce, which makes them a top choice for commercial formicarium manufacturers.

 

Yeah - the clay product I'm using is anticipated to shrink 10-15% between construction and final firing. Since I am adding an acrylic viewing window, and machine screws to hold it on, I'm trying to account for that shrinkage. It is satisfying when the 3/4" tubing fits perfectly inside the 3D printed holes in an acrylic nest, but there are other disadvantages to acrylic, too. I often see people combining different formicarium parts/test tubes/etc with blue tack or other adhesives to create seals, so I would imagine that's how I'd make up for any imperfections in the final build... 

 

The raw clay body of a high fire clay still retains some porosity, it's not totally vitrified, so it does still absorb and release some humidity if left unglazed. Raw clay body also retains a rough, stonelike texture, which can be further textured beyond just the natural texture of the clay. That would help break up the surface tension of any condensation that doesn't get absorbed directly into the clay body... Anywhere that it is glazed would have a glass-like texture.

 

I have seen this design before, it's pretty much the only ceramic formicarium I could find pictured online actually. However, it looks like the design is extremely bulky/chunky, a really inefficient use of the clay. As a result the glass tank actually becomes the primary container, as opposed to the clay making up a standalone formicarium of it's own. My current goal is to build a few small founding sized formicariums in a slab jar construction (similar to these) where the acrylic can be fitted inside is a viewing window. Take off the jar lid to view the ants, but put the lid back on to give the ants darkness and privacy. There would be test tube ports where test tubes could be mounted to feed/water, or tubing attached to lead to an outworld. I'm trying to make the chambers large enough that some substrate could be added, if desired, which would also help facilitate ant colony comfort. 

 

I like Nurb's suggestion of starting a proper journal on it, so I'll probably post that up later today with some pictures of my initial designs. I'll take some pictures of my first project tomorrow, and add those as well. :)



#5 Offline smares - Posted May 29 2018 - 9:46 AM

smares

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 211 posts
  • LocationLakewood, Colorado
I'd love to see a journal on this!





Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: ceramic, high fire, cone 10, diy, formicarium

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users