869 replies to this topic

[Trailandstreet]

Some cool stuff there.

[Crystals]

Here is a closely related thread.

Various setups for founding queens: http://www.formicult...ounding-queens/

Some pictures are already in this thread, but others are not.

It is quite a nice thread for someone debating what style of nest to use with a queen or very young colony.

[AntTeen804]

Crystals I'm going to attempt to make one of those grout formicariums you have for your Camponotus H. I like them.

[Jonathan21700]

I recommend grout. After using grout I think it's one of the best materials for a formicarium. It's easy to work with and much stronger than plaster.

[AntTeen804]

Yeah

[dspdrew]

[Gregory2455]

Termites?

[dspdrew]

I wouldn't use it for termites, because they'll just eat it. My thread explains what it's for.

[Crystals]

And here is the link to the thread drew is talking about - http://www.formicult...015/#entry14668

 

[Crystals]

Someone fired clay to build an ant nest.   http://www.maclab.sk...formicarium.php

 

Carved and fired the clay. Sanded the clay flat. Filled the empty space with small gravel and poured plaster for the surface and added decorations.   As if I needed more inspiration to go down the clay route....  But clay needs to be fired at high temperatures to actually change.

 

[Gregory2455]

Ohhhh its for the Liometopum occidentale.

[dspdrew]

And here is the link to the thread drew is talking about - http://www.formicult...015/#entry14668

 

 

Thanks haha. I think I was half asleep when I posted that. This thing is molding like crazy BTW. I had a feeling that would happen, so it was kind of a test.

[Crystals]

Here is a way to make escape from a foraging area even harder.  Some of the species I keep have no problem walking vertically over some barriers, but are unable to walk upside down over them.

This is a page protector that I just traced and cut to shape, then taped in.  I did put 2 piece of harder plastic in the front corners in this outworld as that is where the Camponotus liked to chew.

 

 

Edited by Crystals, December 28 2017 - 2:58 PM.

[Crystals]

This is an interesting twist to a test tube.  Someone poured Plaster of Paris over the cotton to prevent the ants from digging in the cotton.n  Hard to reuse the tube after though.

 

Edited by Crystals, December 28 2017 - 2:59 PM.

[Gregory2455]

Maybe you can cast a little stainless steel wire or something in the plaster so you could pull it out with alligator forceps after?

[Crystals]

I think it would dissolve pretty easily with a long soak in water, especially if some bleach was added.  I never tried it.

[cpman]

A long soak in water would help, but bleach wouldn't. If you had to add anything, it would probably be smart to add some muriatic acid, which is just HCl.

[dspdrew]

I do notice when I soak my containers in bleach, the Hydrostone floors do get soft, and can be easily scraped up with my finger nails.

[AntsNY]

How do you guys use the bleach? Sounds toxic but apparently not?

 

Just to sterilize an old container? Then rinse well?

Edited by AntsNY, June 19 2015 - 9:52 AM.

[Crystals]

I usually mix bleach with water when cleaning test tubes.  A good rinse in clean water, or soaking things in a good aquarium conditioner, will remove the bleach.

Note: there are different types of bleach, I only use the one made from ammonia.