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Fortress or Fallen Fortress?

Started By Devi , Dec 5 2020 6:44 PM

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#1 Offline Devi - Posted December 5 2020 - 6:44 PM

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Hey guys,

I am thinking about getting a colony of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis from THA, (queen with 20 workers) and I was thinking of getting a fortress or fallen fortress possibly.  Is one better than the other?  What formicariums would you guys recommend for a colony this size?  (from THA please) 

Thanks so much guys! 


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#2 Offline Zeiss - Posted December 5 2020 - 7:10 PM

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Something flat is best for viewing since Pogonomyrmex are usually very dirty ants.  They will cover the side-viewing nests with their crap and random other things, haha.


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#3 Offline Spazmops - Posted December 5 2020 - 8:58 PM

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My Pogonomyrmex looooooove covering their glass, but they spend most of their time on the ceiling, which they wouldn't be able to do in a fallen fortress.


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Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted December 6 2020 - 4:24 AM

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I recently got a Fallen Fortress for my Pheidole, and I love it. I chose the Fallen Fortress for better viewing of the tiny species. Another thing I like about the Fallen design is how you can look over the nest area to see the outworld, whereas in the Fortress, the outworld is blocked in a way.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#5 Offline AleeGuy - Posted December 6 2020 - 8:35 AM

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Fallen because Pogonomyrmex are bad climbers, so it will prob be easier to go to another chambers that are at the same level than in fortress where they have to climb up.
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#6 Offline Spazmops - Posted December 6 2020 - 8:43 AM

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Fallen because Pogonomyrmex are bad climbers, so it will prob be easier to go to another chambers that are at the same level than in fortress where they have to climb up.

They're bad at climbing plastic but just fine at climbing type 3 material. As I said, mine spend more time hanging upside down on the ceiling than on their water tower.


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Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#7 Offline Manitobant - Posted December 6 2020 - 10:04 AM

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I'd do the fallen fortress since you have Pogonomyrmex, as they are bad climbers and probably wouldn't trash the glass as much.
My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#8 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted December 6 2020 - 4:50 PM

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Yup, you should see the horrendous dirty mess that is my Pogonomyrmex subnitidus mini-hearth. I can't see a thing. I'm getting some flat stuff (e.g. Fallen Fortress) just for them.

And I agree - I like the Fallen Fortress and Labyrinth design a LOT. Great visibility. Can easily find the queen. etc.


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Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus, vicinus, quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and previously californicus

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.

#9 Offline Devi - Posted December 6 2020 - 5:55 PM

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Thanks everyone for your advice and recommendations!  I decided to go for a labyrinth...  More can be found here.  :)  https://www.formicul...is/#entry171728


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