264 replies to this topic

[Ants_Dakota]

Looking great! Always wanted to mess around with LEDs and ant nests

Edited by Ants_Dakota, January 2 2023 - 6:49 PM.

[UtahAnts]

It's been a bit since this thread was updated. I wanted to try making a cavernous formicarium for my growing Myrmecocystus mexicanus colony who will likely outgrow their dome formicarium within the next few months. This one features a large double sided chamber, with sandstone from southern Utah jutting from the walls to provide hanging space. The top viewing section should illuminate the repletes hanging from the rocks and walls below. To make this nest I used the same technique found here, with a few obvious modifications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[UrbanOrganisms]

Absolutely lovely design, I can't wait to see your colony in there. Do you have any pictures of the mexicanus colony in their current dome nest?

[UtahAnts]

They are featured in my main journal for now, found here. The plastic cloche dome of the nest, while offering 360 degree visibility, falls short when it comes to pictures. The plastic limits the clarity, something I hope to solve with this new design. Below are a few images of the repletes and the colony's pupae piles. 

 

 

 

 

[UtahAnts]

2.0 version of the Olive wood nest is for a large Camponotus Colony. The twine creates the possibility for the formicarium to be displayed vertically from a wall. I tried to create a layered formicarium, inspiration from an image of a wild carpenter nest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[T.C.]

Awesome, have you considered adding water towers in any of them?

[UtahAnts]

I tried it a few years ago, but I just don't see the value of humidity systems inside wooden formicariums. Seeing as most wood dwelling species, especially large colonies, don't need an artificial sources of humidity in the nest coupled with the affect of the extra humidity on the wood leads me to keep these designs pretty simple. Never had problems with housing Camponotus colonies in these drywood formicariums given the colony has a drinking water source in the outworld.

 

However maybe if I was trying to house a species (something like Formica) which required high humidity in a wood formicarium I would consider water towers. Then again, cement-based nests may be better suited for high levels of humidity over a longer period.

[T.C.]

I tried it a few years ago, but I just don't see the value of humidity systems inside wooden formicariums. Seeing as most wood dwelling species, especially large colonies, don't need an artificial sources of humidity in the nest coupled with the affect of the extra humidity on the wood leads me to keep these designs pretty simple. Never had problems with housing Camponotus colonies in these drywood formicariums given the colony has a drinking water source in the outworld.
 
However maybe if I was trying to house a species (something like Formica) which required high humidity in a wood formicarium I would consider water towers. Then again, cement-based nests may be better suited for high levels of humidity over a longer period.

I agree, but in the back of my mind I worry about hibernation and humidity in these nests.

[Rrar]

Nice nest I want some

[ben]

Huge fan of the formicariums you’ve designed and built! I especially like your dome cloche ones, love the idea of a 360 degree view.

Will you be making any more domes in the future but with glass? If so, I’d love to see a video as it’s hard for me to picture and imagine how the layering works for that one!

[UtahAnts]

I might make another dome nest, and glass is a great idea, but I have yet to find a glass cloche dome with a plastic base. The dome nests are pretty labor intensive and a lot goes into them, especially with LEDs. I'll keep a video tutorial in mind if I make another one.

[ben]

Yeah I haven’t seen any glass with a plastic base yet either. Might have to resort to 3D printing to pair glass with plastic for those type of domes.

[UtahAnts]

Here's a 5 by 7 horizontal formicarium featuring two seperate sets of chambers. Each side could be connected via tubing or alternatively two separate colonies could be housed in the same setup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ben]

Amazing nest as usual!

Btw, I am getting into 3d printing. So if you’re looking for a plastic base to use with a glass dome, let me know!

[BRock]

Nest look awesome. Do you build the flat nest the same way as you tutorial for the multi layered nest? Are you using sand or clay as your molding material? I just built my first flat nest out of ultra cal and it came out ok but nothing close to yours. I poured mine upside down against the glass but I assume with your designs over the water towers your pouring them right side up then setting in the magnets?

[UtahAnts]

Hey there, welcome to the forum and congrats on your formicarium.

I usually do all the flat nests upside down in one pour, so they are not made the same way as the vertical leveled nests. However you could use multiple pours, it depends on what you want the final look to be. I use sand for most of the flat formicariums unless you are talking about the adobe lined (orange chamber) formicariums in which case I do use clay for the initial pour.

[John7429]

are you back?

[UtahAnts]

I'll be back from Dubai tomorrow. I was finally able to connect to the forum with my hotel's wifi.

[UtahAnts]

Here's some more dual view formicariums for a friend's Myrmecocystus queens. I used wood molds, perfect cast, fine beach sand and plexiglass coverings. 120 micron mesh over a tealight container serves as the water towers. I took some pictures of the casting process so I'll be putting together a short guide for these in the near future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[liamsantics]

wow those look AMAZING!