959 replies to this topic

[AntBoi3030]

Love the mushroom! What colony is this for?

[ANTdrew]

Love the mushroom! What colony is this for?

I’m actually not sure. I might put a Camponotus pennsylvanicus colony in it if they have some good growth this season.

[Artimusclydeperez]

I would like to sell this Crematogaster laeviuscula colony in a custom hanging nest I made they are growing outrageously fast lol and are fun to watch do you think $200 is a fair price?

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[Izzy]

I made a bunch of new outworlds last night, as most of my colonies are getting quite large and their THA Mini Hearth outworld isn't cutting it anymore. They have been in need of some major upscaling, or with other nests just in need of something to improve on their lazy outworld I made by just throwing loose dirt in a plastic container. I made the bottom layer with perfect cast and sprinkled sand on top as it was drying. I also made a few small ones for some all in one nests I plan to build at some point. Here are a few of my favorites. The plants are snippets of some fake plants I bought very cheap on Temu. I still need to drill the holes but I'm planning to do that soon.

 

In this one I dyed the perfect cast with some natural brown dye, and it turned out nicely with the sand. I think it looks much better than the light perfect cast layer with a darker sand. Not all species will show up against this color as well, but it was fun and I like the way it turned out. I'll probably be putting my Aphaenogaster uinta in here.

 

Besides the small Harry Potter scar shaped crack at the top right, this is one of the bigger ones I'll be using for one of my Camponotus vicinus colonies.

 

This is the biggest one and I'm quite happy with how it turned out. My two queen Lasius brevicornis colony has been in much need of a bigger outworld and I'm hoping to be able to view some more interesting behavior from them in here.

 

Another example of a bunch of these square ones I made that I will be using for my existing Camponotus sansabeanus colony and the two new sansabeanus queens I plan to introduce.

Edited by Izzy, June 7 2025 - 6:46 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

I would highly recommend drilling holes before you cast the outworld. Vibrations from the drilling can crack or upset the grout.

[Izzy]

I would highly recommend drilling holes before you cast the outworld. Vibrations from the drilling can crack or upset the grout.

 
Luckily everything turned out ok, but I had this same thought too. Next time for sure!

[AntBoi3030]

Here are my Pogonomyrmex in their new hommade setup!

[ANTdrew]

I worked off and on this week to complete this formicarium. I used PerfectCast and Hobby Lobby display cases as the mold. Chambers were made with wet sand.

I finally got around to moving a quickly growing colony of Camponotus pennsylvanicus into this nest. The nest is working nicely so far!

[AntBoi3030]

Moved my Camponotus Chromaiodes into a new homemade nest.

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[cfreidsma]

Currently working on some nests. This is the largest so far. I'm planning on making water towers like tarheel uses and covering the bottom in grout.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Currently working on some nests. This is the largest so far. I'm planning on making water towers like tarheel uses and covering the bottom in grout.

What 3D printer are you using? The print looks very nice and clean.

[cfreidsma]

Qidi x smart 3

[AntBoi3030]

Built this all-in-one tank for Irvine Nature Center's first ant exhibit. There are two nests with separate entrances so I can add more space. Both also have water towers accessible from tubes. Going to move a tetramorium colony in here.

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[ANTdrew]

Phenomenal work! Also great work promoting appreciation of ants in your community. Some kids may see this display and realize that ants are worthy of our respect and wonder, instead of just seeing them as pests.

[AntBoi3030]

Exactly! I've already brought in a few of my colonies, and campers really found them interesting. 

[TheGamblingAnt]

Looks awesome nice work. How do you hydrate the nest? I'll maybe like to try something like this myself

Edited by TheGamblingAnt, August 9 2025 - 6:54 AM.

[Djanello]

Stage 2 of my founding colonies:

 

 

Stage 1 was posted here: https://www.formicul...orlds/?p=248349

 

What has happened since:

- After creating my first 2 testtubes setups holding 2x 88 testtubes, I was able to catch 205 Queens.

 

They're doing fine in their testtubes, but they'll need some more room in the future. I also underestimated a little the time needed to maintain those founding nests. To speed up the inserting and removing of feeding dishes, I went for the approach seen here. The outworlds have lids that close tightly but can be removed relatively quickly. I'm also hoping that there's less risk of food spoiling and polluting the nests. I've been able to build this setup holding 50 homemade mini outworlds with each outworld being accessible from 3 different 10mm connectors. Each mini outworld is 5cmx5cmx2.6cm. Each has a testtube connected, a stop and a ventilated stop. I've started testing it on the first 50 queens that I have and I already have the materials ready and outworlds have already been made for another setup of 50. 

 

- I did have to cover up the uppermost layer of niger queens as they didn't do very well being out in the open. I was hoping that I could show my kids some more about the ants, and they did like it a lot, but the lower rows were clearly doing a lot better after a week.

 

- I'm still searching for the best/easiest source of protein for those nests. I've been using cooked eggs, both white and yellow parts of that egg, but I'm not too sure yet about the results. I would prefer something that can easily be divided over those 200 nests and does not spoil too quickly. For sugar sources I've been using biological honey which seems to work fine.

 

Any suggestions are again very welcome!

[ANTdrew]

Stage 2 of my founding colonies:



Stage 1 was posted here: https://www.formicul...orlds/?p=248349

What has happened since:
- After creating my first 2 testtubes setups holding 2x 88 testtubes, I was able to catch 205 Queens.

They're doing fine in their testtubes, but they'll need some more room in the future. I also underestimated a little the time needed to maintain those founding nests. To speed up the inserting and removing of feeding dishes, I went for the approach seen here. The outworlds have lids that close tightly but can be removed relatively quickly. I'm also hoping that there's less risk of food spoiling and polluting the nests. I've been able to build this setup holding 50 homemade mini outworlds with each outworld being accessible from 3 different 10mm connectors. Each mini outworld is 5cmx5cmx2.6cm. Each has a testtube connected, a stop and a ventilated stop. I've started testing it on the first 50 queens that I have and I already have the materials ready and outworlds have already been made for another setup of 50.

- I did have to cover up the uppermost layer of niger queens as they didn't do very well being out in the open. I was hoping that I could show my kids some more about the ants, and they did like it a lot, but the lower rows were clearly doing a lot better after a week.

- I'm still searching for the best/easiest source of protein for those nests. I've been using cooked eggs, both white and yellow parts of that egg, but I'm not too sure yet about the results. I would prefer something that can easily be divided over those 200 nests and does not spoil too quickly. For sugar sources I've been using biological honey which seems to work fine.

Any suggestions are again very welcome!

Don’t over do it with all the founding colonies. Most people last in this hobby about 18 months. The main reason, I think, is because of burn out. You may plan to sell most of those, but even that is getting harder and harder since Big Brother has taken over most ant sales now.

[Chickalo]

 

Stage 2 of my founding colonies:



Stage 1 was posted here: https://www.formicul...orlds/?p=248349

What has happened since:
- After creating my first 2 testtubes setups holding 2x 88 testtubes, I was able to catch 205 Queens.

They're doing fine in their testtubes, but they'll need some more room in the future. I also underestimated a little the time needed to maintain those founding nests. To speed up the inserting and removing of feeding dishes, I went for the approach seen here. The outworlds have lids that close tightly but can be removed relatively quickly. I'm also hoping that there's less risk of food spoiling and polluting the nests. I've been able to build this setup holding 50 homemade mini outworlds with each outworld being accessible from 3 different 10mm connectors. Each mini outworld is 5cmx5cmx2.6cm. Each has a testtube connected, a stop and a ventilated stop. I've started testing it on the first 50 queens that I have and I already have the materials ready and outworlds have already been made for another setup of 50.

- I did have to cover up the uppermost layer of niger queens as they didn't do very well being out in the open. I was hoping that I could show my kids some more about the ants, and they did like it a lot, but the lower rows were clearly doing a lot better after a week.

- I'm still searching for the best/easiest source of protein for those nests. I've been using cooked eggs, both white and yellow parts of that egg, but I'm not too sure yet about the results. I would prefer something that can easily be divided over those 200 nests and does not spoil too quickly. For sugar sources I've been using biological honey which seems to work fine.

Any suggestions are again very welcome!

Don’t over do it with all the founding colonies. Most people last in this hobby about 18 months. The main reason, I think, is because of burn out. You may plan to sell most of those, but even that is getting harder and harder since Big Brother has taken over most ant sales now.

 

I'm definitely a victim of this. Been burnt-out/too busy with school stuff for some two-ish years now, but I've been getting back into it. Came back onto this website for the nostalgia aspect, might post. I'd agree that going above and beyond for multiple founding colonies isn't the best. For one developed colony that you've already invested in, I'd argue for sure. Plus, it looks sick when it's one massive colony.

Anyways, off topic, but might I inquire who Big Brother is referring to in this situation? Or is that secret.

[RushmoreAnts]

 

Big Brother has taken over most ant sales now.

 

Anyways, off topic, but might I inquire who Big Brother is referring to in this situation? Or is that secret.

 

That could be rephrased as Big Brother's', as lately many prominent ant shops have all but monopolized the ant selling market, pushing out more localized vendors. Right now, the big 2 are Stateside Ants and AntopiaUSA. TheAntVault used to be big, but they got greedy and priced themselves out of the market (charging $60 to workerboost a colony with only 1 worker is wild) and aren't really relevant anymore. BuckeyeMyrmecology used to have a good share of the market as well, though he is in college and has been neglecting his ants, becoming less relevant as well. I have high opinions of Stateside and Buckeye as people, as they have contributed much to the community. It is a natural consequence, however, that consolidating the majority of sales to a few companies puts smaller sellers out of business.