25 replies to this topic

[gs5248]

So two months ago, I ordered a THA fallen fortress. Instead I received a regular fortress. I emailed THA and they sent the nest we ordered. Today  I realized that that was defective to. My tetramorium have somehow gotten into the water tower. and about a hundred have drowned. I just find this ridiculous. I mean these formicarium total to more than a hundred dollars a piece! Does anyone know how I could fix this?

Edited by gs5248, January 19 2021 - 8:43 AM.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Contact Mack. I've always heard he makes things right. It would help if you could find the problem with the water tower to show him.

[gs5248]

Contact Mack. I've always heard he makes things right. It would help if you could find the problem with the water tower to show him.

I have always heard that to, but I contacted him when I got the wrong nest, and he sent me a defective formicarium to make up for it.

[ANTdrew]

Edit: I retract the above statement. I wasn’t in a good mood when I posted it, and I don’t mean to bash THA or Mack in anyway.

Edited by ANTdrew, January 19 2021 - 3:49 AM.

[gs5248]

Yeah, I am just really dissapointed. I have always heard that they have super great quality and customer service, but every single product that i have ordered, either comes as not the right product, or is defective.

Edited by gs5248, January 19 2021 - 8:43 AM.

[gs5248]

Okay, so I emailed Mack. And he said that the problem was that i was keeping tetramorium inside a formicarium meant for larger species. I knew tetramorium was destructive, but I never knew that it was that destructive!

Edited by gs5248, January 18 2021 - 4:42 PM.

[AleeGuy]

Yeah, I am just really dissapointed. I have always heard that they have super great quality and customer service, but every single product that i have ordered, either comes as not the right product, or is defective.

Tbh he is kind of a weird guy. His products are great, but he just don't likes people who makes somewhat similar formicariums to his.

Edited by AleeGuy, January 19 2021 - 11:45 AM.

[gs5248]

I guess it is understandable to be frustrated that others are copying your idea.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Okay, so I emailed Mack. And he said that the problem was that i was keeping tetramorium inside a formicarium meant for larger species. I knew tetramorium was destructive, but I never knew that it was that destructive!

 

From what I have heard, you DO have to pay attention to the ant size when ordering. It confused me the first time, too, when I was a total noob and didn't know what "small" vs "medium" vs "large" meant. But I've heard elsewhere that you DO have to order for small if you have a small species like Tetramorium.

 

P.S. You should see what Tetramorium does with some of the acrylic formicaria from China. They just waltz right through the gaps and go visiting everyone, esp. any species also housed in acrylic formicaria.

Oh yeah! I also had them sneaking out of a US-made competitor's formicaria. The lid wasn't totally tight-fitting in all the corners unless I was super, super, super careful every single time. Once I started using mineral oil barrier it got better, though.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, January 18 2021 - 6:08 PM.

[gs5248]

 

Okay, so I emailed Mack. And he said that the problem was that i was keeping tetramorium inside a formicarium meant for larger species. I knew tetramorium was destructive, but I never knew that it was that destructive!

 

From what I have heard, you DO have to pay attention to the ant size when ordering. It confused me the first time, too, when I was a total noob and didn't know what "small" vs "medium" vs "large" meant. But I've heard elsewhere that you DO have to order for small if you have a small species like Tetramorium.

 

P.S. You should see what Tetramorium does with some of the acrylic formicaria from China. They just waltz right through the gaps and go visiting everyone, esp. any species also housed in acrylic formicaria.

Oh yeah! I also had them sneaking out of a US-made competitor's formicaria. The lid wasn't totally tight-fitting in all the corners unless I was super, super, super careful every single time. Once I started using mineral oil barrier it got better, though.

 

Well, I am pretty much a total noob, I have only been ant-keeping for a year and a half. I did not realize that size mattered for containment, but I guess it does!

[Vendayn]

If they are tiny ants (like Pheidole for example), its even recommended to contact him and let him know its specifically for tiny ants. And if you are unsure if they could be considered tiny, could just send him off a message and let him know what species you plan/will use for the formicarium.

[Manitobant]

The formicarium may not actually be defective. I’ve had tapinoma chew their way into a water tower and drown in it, and tetra are quite destructive so it’s not out of the question.

[nurbs]

So two months ago, I ordered a THA fallen fortress. Instead I received a cracked regular fortress. I emailed THA and they sent the nest we rodered. Today  I realized that that was defective to. My tetramorium have somehow gotten into the water tower. and about a hundred have drowned. I just find this ridiculous. I mean these formicarium total to more than a hundred dollars a piece! Does anyone know how I could fix this?

 

Can you take a pic of the water tower?

 

We had someone a few years ago that had the exact same problem. But it turned out to be user error; he was filling the water tower by puncturing the actual mesh and not using the port.

[gs5248]

 

So two months ago, I ordered a THA fallen fortress. Instead I received a cracked regular fortress. I emailed THA and they sent the nest we rodered. Today  I realized that that was defective to. My tetramorium have somehow gotten into the water tower. and about a hundred have drowned. I just find this ridiculous. I mean these formicarium total to more than a hundred dollars a piece! Does anyone know how I could fix this?

 

Can you take a pic of the water tower?

 

We had someone a few years ago that had the exact same problem. But it turned out to be user error; he was filling the water tower by puncturing the actual mesh and not using the port.

 

Actually, I e-mailed Mack, and gave me the answer. I was using the water tower correctly but some how my tetramorium managed to tunnel there way through.

The formicarium may not actually be defective. I’ve had tapinoma chew their way into a water tower and drown in it, and tetra are quite destructive so it’s not out of the question.

Yes, it was not defective, it was the ants.

[ANTdrew]

It doesn’t surprise me at all that Tetramorium would do this.

Edited by ANTdrew, January 19 2021 - 3:42 AM.

[gs5248]

 

Edited by gs5248, January 19 2021 - 6:33 PM.

[Devi]

I think they would slip through the glass...

[Devi]

 

So two months ago, I ordered a THA fallen fortress. Instead I received a cracked regular fortress. I emailed THA and they sent the nest we rodered. Today  I realized that that was defective to. My tetramorium have somehow gotten into the water tower. and about a hundred have drowned. I just find this ridiculous. I mean these formicarium total to more than a hundred dollars a piece! Does anyone know how I could fix this?

 
Can you take a pic of the water tower?
 
We had someone a few years ago that had the exact same problem. But it turned out to be user error; he was filling the water tower by puncturing the actual mesh and not using the port.

 

I'm just trying to envision how he accessed the water tower without getting swarmed? I'm confused. LOL.
 

Edited by Devi, January 19 2021 - 6:30 AM.

[FSTP]

 

Okay, so I emailed Mack. And he said that the problem was that i was keeping tetramorium inside a formicarium meant for larger species. I knew tetramorium was destructive, but I never knew that it was that destructive!

 

From what I have heard, you DO have to pay attention to the ant size when ordering. It confused me the first time, too, when I was a total noob and didn't know what "small" vs "medium" vs "large" meant. But I've heard elsewhere that you DO have to order for small if you have a small species like Tetramorium.

 

P.S. You should see what Tetramorium does with some of the acrylic formicaria from China. They just waltz right through the gaps and go visiting everyone, esp. any species also housed in acrylic formicaria.

Oh yeah! I also had them sneaking out of a US-made competitor's formicaria. The lid wasn't totally tight-fitting in all the corners unless I was super, super, super careful every single time. Once I started using mineral oil barrier it got better, though.

 

 

 

 the size options only change how the chambers are shaped.  The thread starter should not have had the issues he's had regardless of size selected. 

Edited by FSTP, January 18 2021 - 9:36 PM.

[Vendayn]

 

 

Okay, so I emailed Mack. And he said that the problem was that i was keeping tetramorium inside a formicarium meant for larger species. I knew tetramorium was destructive, but I never knew that it was that destructive!

 

From what I have heard, you DO have to pay attention to the ant size when ordering. It confused me the first time, too, when I was a total noob and didn't know what "small" vs "medium" vs "large" meant. But I've heard elsewhere that you DO have to order for small if you have a small species like Tetramorium.

 

P.S. You should see what Tetramorium does with some of the acrylic formicaria from China. They just waltz right through the gaps and go visiting everyone, esp. any species also housed in acrylic formicaria.

Oh yeah! I also had them sneaking out of a US-made competitor's formicaria. The lid wasn't totally tight-fitting in all the corners unless I was super, super, super careful every single time. Once I started using mineral oil barrier it got better, though.

 

 

 

 the size options only change how the chambers are shaped.  The thread starter should have had the issues he's had regardless of size selected. 

 

Well like I said, if the buyer lets tarheel know the ant and if its a tiny/small ant, he is pretty good at making sure things are proper for that species. At least that is my experience. Or he may suggest a proper formicarium that is more suitable for that species, though he'd still make sure that formicarium is good for that ant. At least to the best he can.

Edited by Vendayn, January 18 2021 - 9:30 PM.