63 replies to this topic

[YellowRubberDucky111]

Hello all! I'm new to the the ant keeping scene and want to try my hand at it. I have a Kritter Keeper I want to convert into a formicarium. My plan is to put a rectangle box in the middle of the tank and make tunnels that are pressed up against the wall of the tank. I also want to make a top layer that serves as a foraging area. This is what I'm taking inspiration from. My question is how would I make the tunnels against the glass and I what materials I should use. Is there a DIY guide that I can check? I also want to know if anyone else had used a Kritter Keeper to make a formicarium before and has any tips. Thank you!

[SleepyAsianAnter]

That appears to be a painted Ytong or K23 Brick with chambers carved or dremeled into it. It is then placed inside the box, and plaster, likely ultracal or hydrostone, was poured on the side. 

 

Hydration comes from a small hole that a syringe can be inserted into, it'll fill up that separated chamber and wick throughout the nest. You can see the hole in this pic

 

Edited by SleepyAsianAnter, December 9 2020 - 9:02 PM.

[YellowRubberDucky111]

That appears to be a painted Ytong or K23 Brick with chambers carved or dremeled into it. It is then placed inside the box, and plaster, likely ultracal or hydrostone, was poured on the side. 

 

Hydration comes from a small hole that a syringe can be inserted into, it'll fill up that separated chamber and wick throughout the nest. You can see the hole in this pic

 

So would using brick be a good idea? I saw some videos where people would use gypsum or plaster to create a mold that's made out of something like playdoh or clay

[SleepyAsianAnter]

 

That appears to be a painted Ytong or K23 Brick with chambers carved or dremeled into it. It is then placed inside the box, and plaster, likely ultracal or hydrostone, was poured on the side. 

 

Hydration comes from a small hole that a syringe can be inserted into, it'll fill up that separated chamber and wick throughout the nest. You can see the hole in this pic

 

So would using brick be a good idea? I saw some videos where people would use gypsum or plaster to create a mold that's made out of something like playdoh or clay

 

 

Not a regular brick, if you are in the US AAC/YTONG will be harder to get, K23 firebrick might work. You want one of these two because they are aerated and will disperse water evenly. Gypsum plaster works as well, but you'll need to remove the entire cast to remove the clay. 

[YellowRubberDucky111]

 

 

That appears to be a painted Ytong or K23 Brick with chambers carved or dremeled into it. It is then placed inside the box, and plaster, likely ultracal or hydrostone, was poured on the side. 

 

Hydration comes from a small hole that a syringe can be inserted into, it'll fill up that separated chamber and wick throughout the nest. You can see the hole in this pic

 

So would using brick be a good idea? I saw some videos where people would use gypsum or plaster to create a mold that's made out of something like playdoh or clay

 

 

Not a regular brick, if you are in the US AAC/YTONG will be harder to get, K23 firebrick might work. You want one of these two because they are aerated and will disperse water evenly. Gypsum plaster works as well, but you'll need to remove the entire cast to remove the clay. 

 

Thanks, I was just actually watching a video from AntsAustralia talking about using AAC. The brick method does seem like the best way to go, I will try to see if I can pick up some of that K23 firebrick you recommended. I have a few more questions though, is there a certain depth i should make the substrate on the top layer of the tank? Should I include some sort of foliage?

[ANTdrew]

Don’t put a deep layer of substrate, or the ants will nest in it instead of the tunnels you worked hard to create. A few plastic plants will look nice, but aren’t necessary. Don’t go overboard with foliage because it will make it harder to clean the foraging area.

[SleepyAsianAnter]

 

 

 

That appears to be a painted Ytong or K23 Brick with chambers carved or dremeled into it. It is then placed inside the box, and plaster, likely ultracal or hydrostone, was poured on the side. 

 

Hydration comes from a small hole that a syringe can be inserted into, it'll fill up that separated chamber and wick throughout the nest. You can see the hole in this pic

 

So would using brick be a good idea? I saw some videos where people would use gypsum or plaster to create a mold that's made out of something like playdoh or clay

 

 

Not a regular brick, if you are in the US AAC/YTONG will be harder to get, K23 firebrick might work. You want one of these two because they are aerated and will disperse water evenly. Gypsum plaster works as well, but you'll need to remove the entire cast to remove the clay. 

 

Thanks, I was just actually watching a video from AntsAustralia talking about using AAC. The brick method does seem like the best way to go, I will try to see if I can pick up some of that K23 firebrick you recommended. I have a few more questions though, is there a certain depth i should make the substrate on the top layer of the tank? Should I include some sort of foliage?

 

If you are going to attempt a copy of the nest you posted, then you'll put the carved brick into the corner first, then you will pour plaster to fill it in, and the plaster will flow over the top of the brick. If I were you, while the plaster is wet, sprinkle sand liberally onto the top of the plaster, then when it hardens you will have a nice sandy texture on it. 

[YellowRubberDucky111]

 

 

 

 

That appears to be a painted Ytong or K23 Brick with chambers carved or dremeled into it. It is then placed inside the box, and plaster, likely ultracal or hydrostone, was poured on the side. 

 

Hydration comes from a small hole that a syringe can be inserted into, it'll fill up that separated chamber and wick throughout the nest. You can see the hole in this pic

 

So would using brick be a good idea? I saw some videos where people would use gypsum or plaster to create a mold that's made out of something like playdoh or clay

 

 

Not a regular brick, if you are in the US AAC/YTONG will be harder to get, K23 firebrick might work. You want one of these two because they are aerated and will disperse water evenly. Gypsum plaster works as well, but you'll need to remove the entire cast to remove the clay. 

 

Thanks, I was just actually watching a video from AntsAustralia talking about using AAC. The brick method does seem like the best way to go, I will try to see if I can pick up some of that K23 firebrick you recommended. I have a few more questions though, is there a certain depth i should make the substrate on the top layer of the tank? Should I include some sort of foliage?

 

If you are going to attempt a copy of the nest you posted, then you'll put the carved brick into the corner first, then you will pour plaster to fill it in, and the plaster will flow over the top of the brick. If I were you, while the plaster is wet, sprinkle sand liberally onto the top of the plaster, then when it hardens you will have a nice sandy texture on it.

Last few questions, should I have multiple entrances into the nest? In the picture there also seems to be holes around where the plaster filling is, does that mean he hydrates the plaster? How many hydration holes do I need? I also just wanted to say thanks, because you guys have been real helpful

[SleepyAsianAnter]

You can have multiple entrances, but I don't really see the purpose of it. You shouldn't hydrate the plaster itself, as there's no point, hydrate the firebrick. Hydration chambers in that nest is a hole separately carved into the brick coupled with a hole drilled into the container which allows for filling, you can have one or 2, but there should be a moisture gradient from one end to another, I would just have one. 

[YellowRubberDucky111]

So the checklist is, Plaster, Firebrick, Sand, and some decor? Could I use plaster of paris? Or should I only use gypsum plaster?

[SleepyAsianAnter]

I would use ultracal 30 or hydrostone. Make sure the kind of of firebrick you use is k23, and rinse it off before putting ants in it. A dremel would be good to. 

 

Best of luck!

[ANTdrew]

Hobby Lobby Perfect Cast plaster is an excellent and very cheap alternative to hydrostone.

[Ants_Dakota]

Hobby Lobby Perfect Cast plaster is an excellent and very cheap alternative to hydrostone.

i need to get myself some of that sometime, and test it out.

[Devi]

Interesting... Is it like plaster of paris?  Or a different compound/mixture?

[Ants_Dakota]

Interesting... Is it like plaster of paris?  Or a different compound/mixture?

i think it is like plaster of paris, just more mold resistant.

[Devi]

 

Interesting... Is it like plaster of paris?  Or a different compound/mixture?

i think it is like plaster of paris, just more mold resistant.

 

I need something like that for my formicariums!  Might have to go check it out!  

[YellowRubberDucky111]

This is my first rough draft of how I want the formicarium to turn out. The shaded in circles are the entrance holes into the nest. The rectangular portion at the bottom is a kind of cave I want to carve out. I liked how the mini hearths from THA had the kind of open mouth look that let ants hang from the ceiling and provided a good amount of space for the queen if she decided to stay there. I'm leaning towards keeping honey pot ants because there native where I live and there pretty interesting ants, and I've heard that they enjoy having space to hang on the ceiling and walls

 

Attached Images

• 

[SleepyAsianAnter]

I don't see a hydration chamber there, and honeypots are a really sensitive species, I wouldn't risk putting them in a homemade nest.

Edited by SleepyAsianAnter, December 11 2020 - 12:58 PM.

[YellowRubberDucky111]

I don't see a hydration chamber there, and honeypots are a really sensitive species, I wouldn't risk putting them in a homemade nest.

I was thinking about putting a water tower under the nest like AntsVienna did in this video. I didn't know whether or not a desert species of ants would need a humidifier in there nest so I didn't want to draw one out. I have read that honey pots are notoriously fragile, but why would a homemade nest decrease there chance of survival compared to one that you could buy online?

[Swirlysnowflake]

 

I don't see a hydration chamber there, and honeypots are a really sensitive species, I wouldn't risk putting them in a homemade nest.

I was thinking about putting a water tower under the nest like AntsVienna did in this video. I didn't know whether or not a desert species of ants would need a humidifier in there nest so I didn't want to draw one out. I have read that honey pots are notoriously fragile, but why would a homemade nest decrease there chance of survival compared to one that you could buy online?

 

Possible malfunctions due to design, bad nesting material used, etc. 

The best seller for honeypot formicarium would be TarHeelAnts. His design has been tested for a very long time, and right now almost all the nests are on sale. Trust me, if you spend the money on the honeypots, you don't want them to die.