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Help! Which Formicarium should I buy?

formicarium beginner

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#1 Offline William. T - Posted January 7 2015 - 4:07 PM

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I need a formicarium. My ants are hibernating about will wake up in a month or two. I am have only one colony, and no experience in making these things, thus I am going to buy one. Here are some I am considering:

 

Uncle Milton Ant Farm-

 

Cheap, and well rated, I will add more ant farms as my colony grows.

 

Wild Science Ant Mine-

 

More expensive, mold prone, and poorly rated. But still is a plaster nest.

 

Tar Heel Ants Talus-

 

Mold resistant, nice, but expensive

 

Tar Heel Ants Growth Chamber-

 

Effective but ugly

 

Any advice would be welcome~

 

 


Species I keep:

 

1 Lasius cf. Neoniger 30 workers

1 Camponotus sp. 15 workers

20 Tetramorium SpE 30 workers

1 T. Sessile 200 workers

 


#2 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted January 7 2015 - 4:17 PM

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I think the Uncle Milton and the Wild Science are for colonies with no queen. To be honest, making your own is not hard at all and may be the cheapest possibility, not to mention you can make it look however you want it to!

#3 Offline Miles - Posted January 7 2015 - 4:25 PM

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How large is the colony? 

 

I have had products from 3 different manufacturers and Tar Heel Ants has always been consistently better quality and aesthetically. 

 

My review of the Talus (I have two) can be found here, a couple of reviews down. 


Edited by Miles, January 7 2015 - 4:26 PM.

PhD Student & NSF Graduate Research Fellow | University of Florida Dept. of Entomology & Nematology - Lucky Ant Lab 

 

Founder & Director of The Ant Network. Ant keeper since 2009. Insect ecologist and science communicator. He/Him.


#4 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted January 7 2015 - 4:40 PM

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If you will get a Tarheel Ants product for the size of colony you have, I suggest the growth chamber, because it will be easier to move them out of that than any other product of theirs for the size of your colony.



#5 Offline LAnt - Posted January 7 2015 - 5:57 PM

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For $10 you could probably get your own materials that would last a while.
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#6 Offline Mercutia - Posted January 7 2015 - 6:21 PM

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Well firstly, and I'm surprised no one has asked you this, how big is your colony? You want to get something that has enough room for them to grow without being too big. It's like shopping for clothing for children, always get a size up from a perfect fit.



#7 Offline DesertAntz - Posted January 7 2015 - 6:22 PM

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I thought you barely caught a queen last week? 


The good man is the friend of all living things. - Gandhi 


#8 Offline William. T - Posted January 7 2015 - 6:46 PM

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I caught a queen with 5-10 workers, I didn't count. They are rather small, the size of Pheidole.


Species I keep:

 

1 Lasius cf. Neoniger 30 workers

1 Camponotus sp. 15 workers

20 Tetramorium SpE 30 workers

1 T. Sessile 200 workers

 


#9 Offline DesertAntz - Posted January 7 2015 - 7:30 PM

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Oh ok. That's awesome. I should be getting two Havens from THA delivered tomorrow. The tracking number says they arrived in Phoenix today. 

 

Once I move my D. bicolor into them I'll post how they're doing and give a little review in my journal. 


The good man is the friend of all living things. - Gandhi 


#10 Offline Crystals - Posted January 7 2015 - 7:33 PM

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I often keep colonies in test tubes until they top 25 workers (large species) or 40 workers (small species).  No rush for months even after they come out of hibernation.  If they get hard to feed, put the test tube in a foraging area.

For size, choose a size in which the colony can fill at least 1/3 of the space.  Too much space means too many problems (ants leaving food in tunnels and mold sets in, very young colonies getting lost, etc).

 

As for your options:

1. avoid the uncle milton or gel farms.  They do not work long term for colonies.

 

2. You can buy a formicarium, there are a number of companies - Byformica, Antscanada, TarHeelAnts, and more outside of North America.

 

3. You can make your own.

I agree avoid plaster, but there are other materials out there.  Ytong, Firebrick, grout, hydrostone, acrylic etc.  (Avoid plain cement though)

 

In this link, in the Tutorial section are several how-tos.  You can treat ytong like firebrick, and hydrostone is much like grout in preparation.

http://www.formicult...of-handy-links/


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List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#11 Offline drtrmiller - Posted January 7 2015 - 8:07 PM

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For a colony of smallish ants that size, there is no reason why a GroTube wouldn't work.

 

For $39 and free shipping, you get a durable, reusable formicarium with detachable foraging area, complete food kit with different Formula foods to try as well as a glass beaker and silicone mold to prepare them, as well as 3 liquid feeders, and 6 different kinds of materials to either customize the foraging area floor or allow the ants to bring them in and customize their nest.

 

It's a kit to give someone everything they need to get started with their small colony in the world of antkeeping.

 

You can see a live stream of a colony living in a GroTube, here on YouTube.

 

Unlike many formicaries where the chambers are oriented along a wall vertically, creating caverns that you must use a flashlight to see inside, the GroTube is designed for maximum visibility, allowing you to see your ants and the inner-workings of the colony close-up to the glass, and more clearly than any other product available.

 

I will say some people who have started with a single queen or only had 1 or 2 workers have had problems with the GroTube.  But with a colony of 5-10 workers and a queen—that is what I started the one on the YouTube video with about 2 months ago, and now they have 20 workers and are still growing.

 

Because the lid is removable on the GroTube, you will be able to clean and reuse it with any colonies you have in the future for years and years.

 

If you have any questions about the GroTube, I and others would be more than happy to answer them here.




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.

#12 Offline Miles - Posted January 7 2015 - 8:09 PM

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Well firstly, and I'm surprised no one has asked you this, how big is your colony? You want to get something that has enough room for them to grow without being too big. It's like shopping for clothing for children, always get a size up from a perfect fit.

I actually did ask how large his colony is in my above post.


PhD Student & NSF Graduate Research Fellow | University of Florida Dept. of Entomology & Nematology - Lucky Ant Lab 

 

Founder & Director of The Ant Network. Ant keeper since 2009. Insect ecologist and science communicator. He/Him.


#13 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted January 7 2015 - 8:16 PM

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:lol:

Did nobody see that he mentioned the size of the colony in a previous thread?



#14 Offline dean_k - Posted January 7 2015 - 8:57 PM

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I need a formicarium. My ants are hibernating about will wake up in a month or two. I am have only one colony, and no experience in making these things, thus I am going to buy one. Here are some I am considering:

 

Uncle Milton Ant Farm-

 

Cheap, and well rated, I will add more ant farms as my colony grows.

 

Wild Science Ant Mine-

 

More expensive, mold prone, and poorly rated. But still is a plaster nest.

 

Tar Heel Ants Talus-

 

Mold resistant, nice, but expensive

 

Tar Heel Ants Growth Chamber-

 

Effective but ugly

 

Any advice would be welcome~

 

Add this guy to the list -> http://www.ebay.ca/i...984.m1423.l2649

 

For a colony of 5ish, you have 3 choices.

 

A test tube.

 

Grotube

 

Tar Heel ants growth chamber



#15 Offline Miles - Posted January 7 2015 - 9:07 PM

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Don't forget the Tar Heel Ants Talus. It isn't optimal for viewing, but neither is a test tube or even necessarily a grotube. Viewing is quite challenging when you're beginning your colony, and becomes easier over time.


PhD Student & NSF Graduate Research Fellow | University of Florida Dept. of Entomology & Nematology - Lucky Ant Lab 

 

Founder & Director of The Ant Network. Ant keeper since 2009. Insect ecologist and science communicator. He/Him.


#16 Offline LAnt - Posted January 7 2015 - 9:35 PM

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I am going to try to build my one taluses this year to anyone that cares. And what's wrong with just a test tube and outworld, the ol' fashioned way.

Edited by LAnt, January 7 2015 - 9:36 PM.

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#17 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted January 7 2015 - 11:06 PM

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I thought of trying to make something like the Talus too, but I cannot find a container like that. :lol: It is like an over sized petri dish or something... Nor would I have any idea what steps go into making something like that... Or would I? Does anyone know if the Talus is Ytong, or some plaster like material?



#18 Offline drtrmiller - Posted January 7 2015 - 11:49 PM

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Don't forget the Tar Heel Ants Talus. It isn't optimal for viewing, but neither is a test tube or even necessarily a grotube. Viewing is quite challenging when you're beginning your colony, and becomes easier over time.

 

A GroTube isn't optimal for viewing?  You must have an absurd definition of "optimal," never mind the fact that you have never even seen one, in person.  There is no physical way to observe ants more closely and clearly than with a GroTube or test tube.

 

I can't even begin to imagine what you could possibly mean by your second statement.  

 

Perhaps you will choose to support your praises and criticisms with facts, in future discussions?

 

uc?export=view&id=0B4O2xPb2dcB_QkNxVGJyR

 

med_gallery_2_120_150798.jpg


Edited by drtrmiller, January 8 2015 - 12:44 AM.



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.

#19 Offline DesertAntz - Posted January 8 2015 - 12:39 AM

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What species is that in the top picture? 


The good man is the friend of all living things. - Gandhi 


#20 Offline drtrmiller - Posted January 8 2015 - 12:42 AM

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What species is that in the top picture? 

 

Lasius neoniger


Edited by drtrmiller, January 8 2015 - 12:42 AM.



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.





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