63 replies to this topic

[Swirlysnowflake]

 

 

 

 

Would it be a good idea to create a grout formicarium as shown by D Colony in this video? The Kritter Keeper tank I own has a strange shape where the tank gets wider towards the top compared to the bottom, so it would be a lot easier to have a mold that I can carve into rather then trying to chisel a usable shape out of a brick. Anyways I'm having trouble finding k23 firebrick or ytong brick in my area that is a correct size for the tank that I'm using. Would self made or store bought grout have any chemicals or additives that could potentially harm ants or any other reason why it wouldn't be a good material to use? Thanks

Unsanded grout generally is a ok material. Crystal has a great guide on how to use grout for formicariums.

 

Could you link the guide please? I don't really know how to search around this forum.

 

https://www.formicul...ced-hydration/ 

Shows how to make a specific type of formicarium, but it also still shows how to use grout. 

 

I see, thank you for the guide. How hard is it to chisel/break grout? It seemed that Crystals made a putty mold and poured the grout over it rather then what happened in the video where D Colony was able to chisel the grout.

 

I think that while it probably is possible to chisel it, it is a lot easier to make a mold. Chiseling out chambers is a lot of work, and its hard to get it to be as smooth as it would be with a mold.

However, I'm sure that it is possible to carve in the chambers. A power tool would make it a lot easier, but idk if that would end up cracking the grout. 

[YellowRubberDucky111]

So the mold came out pretty well, I'm using some PolyBlend Unsanded Grout. I might've taken it out of the tank a little early and used just a bit to much oil, which ended up with me breaking a few corners, but overall it should work. My new plan is to carve a cave like structure into the front of the brick and carve tunnels and chambers into the sides. I'm also planning on putting a water tower in the cave. Thankfully the grout doesn't seem to hard so I should be able to carve through it somewhat easily

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[YellowRubberDucky111]

Its very easy to carve out the grout brick and I was able to carve out the cave. My plan is to make the entrance of the hole go straight into the cave and from there the ants will be able to access the sides. I made a very rough image of my plan. The crossed out parts are representing where the holes and the eventual tunnels are. How deep and wide should I make the tunnels that the ants walk through?

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[nurbs]

I didn't read through the entire thread, so sorry if this has already been mentioned, but what species do you plan on putting in there?

 

I've been doing this for well over ten years, and the most common mistake I see new antkeepers make over and over and over and over again is spending too much time and money into designing the formicarium first, and then getting whatever the cheapest colony they can find as an afterthought. Decide on what species or colony you want first, and then when the colony grows and does well you can expand or make a new nest. Your nest and environment is dependent on the species you get.

 

Most GAN farmers (at least here in California) already have basic tried and true setups that already work well for first year colonies (like a simple test tube setup with an outworld). I can't tell you how many times I've sold to kids and the first thing they do once they get the colony is build this massive 20 gallon terrarium for the colony (because YouTube) with all sorts of paint and decorations, and then eventually killing the colony after a few weeks and come back to me asking why they died, even though the care sheet I send them specifically says not to do this.

 

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox. Your DIY does look nice, just be sure to let the grout completely cure before you drop any colonies in. Curing is not the same as hardening BTW. If you are still able to carve the grout and you can feel moisture inside the mold, it is not cured. I usually wait 1-2 weeks just to be safe.

[YellowRubberDucky111]

I didn't read through the entire thread, so sorry if this has already been mentioned, but what species do you plan on putting in there?

 

I've been doing this for well over ten years, and the most common mistake I see new antkeepers make over and over and over and over again is spending too much time and money into designing the formicarium first, and then getting whatever the cheapest colony they can find as an afterthought. Decide on what species or colony you want first, and then when the colony grows and does well you can expand or make a new nest. Your nest and environment is dependent on the species you get.

 

Most GAN farmers (at least here in California) already have basic tried and true setups that already work well for first year colonies (like a simple test tube setup with an outworld). I can't tell you how many times I've sold to kids and the first thing they do once they get the colony is build this massive 20 gallon terrarium for the colony (because YouTube) with all sorts of paint and decorations, and then eventually killing the colony after a few weeks and come back to me asking why they died, even though the care sheet I send them specifically says not to do this.

 

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox. Your DIY does look nice, just be sure to let the grout completely cure before you drop any colonies in. Curing is not the same as hardening BTW. If you are still able to carve the grout and you can feel moisture inside the mold, it is not cured. I usually wait 1-2 weeks just to be safe.

Yeah, I've seen those YouTube videos where they make building a formicarium look like a arts and crafts project. I've mentioned earlier in the thread that I plan on keeping honeypots because there native where I live and I like the idea of catching one myself and starting a colony from that, but I might also buy an established colony if I feel that I'm ready and can't wait for July. I'm not really looking to spend to much on this project, the most expensive part of all this was probably the grout, though I do have a few more things on the list like some gypsum plaster, a water tower and some sand. I've done some research about how you should wait for the queen do build up a brood before putting her into a formicarium and watch her die of shock.

[YellowRubberDucky111]

I finished the toughest part of this project, installing the water tower. Now all that's left is layering the top with plaster, patch up holes and divots with plaster, clean the tank, and add decorations to the outworld like sand and twigs. I'm a little skeptical about my ant nest so I'm thinking about stocking it with a cheaper and more robust ant to see how the nest performs and from there going to ants like honeypots. Does anyone know any robust, easy to keep ants that are native to SoCal? Because I might end up releasing the ants when I want to move on to a different colony and I don't want to end up releasing nonnative ants into the habitat

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[AleeGuy]

nice formicarium! you can try to make that formicariums this way too:
guide by SleepyAsianAnter: https://docs.google....dit?usp=sharing
YouTube guide:

It is way easier, it will sand coat the nest(makes it look good and protects a little from mold outbreak) plus you don't have to carve out the chambers.

[YellowRubberDucky111]

nice formicarium! you can try to make that formicariums this way too:
guide by SleepyAsianAnter: https://docs.google....dit?usp=sharing
YouTube guide:

It is way easier, it will sand coat the nest(makes it look good and protects a little from mold outbreak) plus you don't have to carve out the chambers.

The video is privatized so I can't watch it, but if I ever happen to make another formicarium I'd much rather go with a method that doesn't require me to carve stuff

[MinigunL5]

I finished the toughest part of this project, installing the water tower. Now all that's left is layering the top with plaster, patch up holes and divots with plaster, clean the tank, and add decorations to the outworld like sand and twigs. I'm a little skeptical about my ant nest so I'm thinking about stocking it with a cheaper and more robust ant to see how the nest performs and from there going to ants like honeypots. Does anyone know any robust, easy to keep ants that are native to SoCal? Because I might end up releasing the ants when I want to move on to a different colony and I don't want to end up releasing nonnative ants into the habitat

If you want to go that route then I suggest you buy some test tubes and see what you can catch next year once nuptial flights start again.  Why would you release them though?

Edited by MinigunL5, December 14 2020 - 7:42 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Yes, start with an easy, rewarding species. Gain experience and learn to appreciate the ants around you. Every species is incredible in their own way. Don't immediately jump to the fancy species.

Judging from what I've read on here, some good species to start with in CA would be things like Solenopsis xyloni, Camponotus fragilis, or Veromessor spp.

[Ants_Dakota]

you need to let the grout dry for about 1 month and wash the formicarium out multiple times to ensure that there is no fumes.

[YellowRubberDucky111]

I finished the toughest part of this project, installing the water tower. Now all that's left is layering the top with plaster, patch up holes and divots with plaster, clean the tank, and add decorations to the outworld like sand and twigs. I'm a little skeptical about my ant nest so I'm thinking about stocking it with a cheaper and more robust ant to see how the nest performs and from there going to ants like honeypots. Does anyone know any robust, easy to keep ants that are native to SoCal? Because I might end up releasing the ants when I want to move on to a different colony and I don't want to end up releasing nonnative ants into the habitat

If you want to go that route then I suggest you buy some test tubes and see what you can catch next year once nuptial flights start again. Why would you release them though?

I was thinking that I would have no where else to put them if there colony got to big or if I wanted to keep a different ant species, but I guess I could make another new formicarium instead with the experience I gained from making this one

[MinigunL5]

 

 

I finished the toughest part of this project, installing the water tower. Now all that's left is layering the top with plaster, patch up holes and divots with plaster, clean the tank, and add decorations to the outworld like sand and twigs. I'm a little skeptical about my ant nest so I'm thinking about stocking it with a cheaper and more robust ant to see how the nest performs and from there going to ants like honeypots. Does anyone know any robust, easy to keep ants that are native to SoCal? Because I might end up releasing the ants when I want to move on to a different colony and I don't want to end up releasing nonnative ants into the habitat

If you want to go that route then I suggest you buy some test tubes and see what you can catch next year once nuptial flights start again. Why would you release them though?

I was thinking that I would have no where else to put them if there colony got to big or if I wanted to keep a different ant species, but I guess I could make another new formicarium instead with the experience I gained from making this one

 

Unless you're on a budget I would look into buying formicaria.

Edited by MinigunL5, December 14 2020 - 10:59 AM.

[SleepyAsianAnter]

 

 

 

I finished the toughest part of this project, installing the water tower. Now all that's left is layering the top with plaster, patch up holes and divots with plaster, clean the tank, and add decorations to the outworld like sand and twigs. I'm a little skeptical about my ant nest so I'm thinking about stocking it with a cheaper and more robust ant to see how the nest performs and from there going to ants like honeypots. Does anyone know any robust, easy to keep ants that are native to SoCal? Because I might end up releasing the ants when I want to move on to a different colony and I don't want to end up releasing nonnative ants into the habitat

If you want to go that route then I suggest you buy some test tubes and see what you can catch next year once nuptial flights start again. Why would you release them though?

I was thinking that I would have no where else to put them if there colony got to big or if I wanted to keep a different ant species, but I guess I could make another new formicarium instead with the experience I gained from making this one

 

Unless you're on a budget I would look into buying formicaria.

 

arguably buying costs more than making

[YellowRubberDucky111]

Is there an ant native to SoCal that "decorates" there nest? Like bringing in sand and objects into the nest and laying them around. I think it would be interesting for ants to give my rough and shoddy formicarium a more natural look and character.

[SleepyAsianAnter]

Pogonomyrmex will bring in seeds to store them in the nest

[YellowRubberDucky111]

Pogonomyrmex will bring in seeds to store them in the nest

I looked them up and they seem like a really cool species. Are they tough to keep? Is there a good journal about them as well? Thanks, I will definitely look into these guys more

you need to let the grout dry for about 1 month and wash the formicarium out multiple times to ensure that there is no fumes.

When should I start washing the grout? Right now it's still relatively wet and if I were to wash it now it would fall apart

[MinigunL5]

 

 

 

 

I finished the toughest part of this project, installing the water tower. Now all that's left is layering the top with plaster, patch up holes and divots with plaster, clean the tank, and add decorations to the outworld like sand and twigs. I'm a little skeptical about my ant nest so I'm thinking about stocking it with a cheaper and more robust ant to see how the nest performs and from there going to ants like honeypots. Does anyone know any robust, easy to keep ants that are native to SoCal? Because I might end up releasing the ants when I want to move on to a different colony and I don't want to end up releasing nonnative ants into the habitat

If you want to go that route then I suggest you buy some test tubes and see what you can catch next year once nuptial flights start again. Why would you release them though?

I was thinking that I would have no where else to put them if there colony got to big or if I wanted to keep a different ant species, but I guess I could make another new formicarium instead with the experience I gained from making this one

 

Unless you're on a budget I would look into buying formicaria.

 

arguably buying costs more than making

 

That's what I meant by, "Unless you're on a budget". If you can afford to buy a nest and you're e beginner it's better to buy one than DIY.

Edited by MinigunL5, December 14 2020 - 3:56 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

 

 

 

 

I finished the toughest part of this project, installing the water tower. Now all that's left is layering the top with plaster, patch up holes and divots with plaster, clean the tank, and add decorations to the outworld like sand and twigs. I'm a little skeptical about my ant nest so I'm thinking about stocking it with a cheaper and more robust ant to see how the nest performs and from there going to ants like honeypots. Does anyone know any robust, easy to keep ants that are native to SoCal? Because I might end up releasing the ants when I want to move on to a different colony and I don't want to end up releasing nonnative ants into the habitat

If you want to go that route then I suggest you buy some test tubes and see what you can catch next year once nuptial flights start again. Why would you release them though?

I was thinking that I would have no where else to put them if there colony got to big or if I wanted to keep a different ant species, but I guess I could make another new formicarium instead with the experience I gained from making this one

 

Unless you're on a budget I would look into buying formicaria.

 

arguably buying costs more than making

 

you can create bigger formicariums for less by building them yourself. and with the experience, you can make them almost as good as tha

personally, i love creating nests, and i am on a budget. i have the supplies for maybe 4 nests, so you do have to buy in bulk.

[ANTdrew]

Bear in mind that the first thing ants are going to decorate is the glass, so you can't see in. They are weird like that.