868 replies to this topic

[aznphenom]

Thanks. I like the design. Can you pop out the nest? Personally, I would want to add a sponge under the nest to have the nest be able to wick up water. I prefer my ants to have direct contact with water.

[CoolColJ]

Thanks. I like the design. Can you pop out the nest? Personally, I would want to add a sponge under the nest to have the nest be able to wick up water. I prefer my ants to have direct contact with water.

yeah. When I got the nest it was damp, so I took it out gave it a good wash, and let it set for a few weeks, so that the gypsum was fully dry and hard

Just a matter of tipping it upside down.

 

Also shaved a bit off the bottom where the water hole cap is so the plug could go in easier

[CoolColJ]

You could shave a hole in a lower passage and put in a small rope at the bottom to allow the ants to have a water source for drinking

Edited by CoolColJ, October 15 2020 - 8:22 AM.

[KitsAntVa]

CoolColJ have you ever bought tech ant products i am considering buying a nest.

[TechAnt]

CoolColJ have you ever bought tech ant products i am considering buying a nest.

Their full name is High Tech Ants. Saying 'Tech Ant' makes them sorta sound like me.

[Ants_Dakota]

The new AntsDakota Desktop v.5.6 formicariums!

Read in the AntsDakota.com thread for more info!

 

[CoolColJ]

CoolColJ have you ever bought tech ant products i am considering buying a nest.

 

No.

 

Not a fan of the style

 

I did recently order some 3D printed nests from Aliexpress.

these have a gypsum surface over the printed nest, and a THA style water tank.

Along with magnets holding the glass down and attaching the nest to outworld

 

[steelplant]

Ants Vienna's latest YouTube video is how to make a mini hearth. Sorry can't post the link - will try later. Easier than the way I've been trying to do it.

[CoolColJ]

Thanks. I like the design. Can you pop out the nest? Personally, I would want to add a sponge under the nest to have the nest be able to wick up water. I prefer my ants to have direct contact with water.

I wanted to say that ants may not need as much water as you think

 

I have a sealed starter acrylic nest with a small Melophorus colony in it.

And for the last 2 years they have had no access to direct water, and still going strong!

They must get water from the moisture that collects on the mesh that seals off the water sponge from them.

[CoolColJ]

Getting mold growing on the raw honey in that nest, so it does get more than humid enough in the outworld section with the lid on!

So I will have to keep the lid off....or make the vent bigger

[AleeGuy]

Aliexpress has a lot of formicariums and some of them are decent for some sp. That doesn't really matter for them where they are nested

[masonwade]

There is one supplier in the U.S.

Source?

[ANTdrew]

Here's a riff on Crystals' bead container idea:

 

I found this nice container at the Dollar Tree,  and I used Hobby Lobby Perfect Cast for the chambers (which acts basically just like hydrostone). It has a 44ml water tower and a tightly fitting lid. I still need to drill some access and ventilation holes. I'll test it out on my rapidly growing Nylanderia. If it turns out to be CrematoProof, I will offer these through AntsDakota.

Edited by ANTdrew, November 1 2020 - 10:47 AM.

[ANTdrew]

I finished my build. I'm calling this the Antpartment. I'll move in my Nylanderia once I'm done airing it out.

 

[Ants_Dakota]

looks great! i will love selling it through our site!

[steelplant]

They're gonna love it Antdrew. Great idea, really well realised. Following with interest!

[KitsAntVa]

I finished my build. I'm calling this the Antpartment. I'll move in my Nylanderia once I'm done airing it out.

Very Nice!

[ANTdrew]

They're gonna love it Antdrew. Great idea, really well realised. Following with interest!

Thanks! I’ll update in my Nylanderia thread.
Of course I went back to the Dollar Tree, and there were no more of these containers. I hope this won’t be a one off.

[madbiologist]

Here's some photos of a nest I've made for selling.

It's 4 inches in diameter, and can hold a few thousand Crematogaster sized ants, or around 500 Camponotus sized ants. 

The nest also has 15mm of livable height for the ants.

[M_Ants]

My 2 queen Crematogaster colony is gonna need this soon.