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A question about using the AC Hybrid nest


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15 replies to this topic

#1 Offline BugFinder - Posted March 5 2021 - 7:33 PM

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I recenlty picked up the hybrid nest designed for the large camponotous ants.  In one of his videos, AC suggests filling part of the nest with soil.  That gave me an idea:

 

what if I fill the entire nest, except for a small portion right in the front, with soil, so that the nest essentially becomes correctly sized for a founding colony, and as they grow, they can excavate soil as they like and dig their own nest.  

 

Would that be a bad idea?


“If an ant carries an object a hundred times its weight, you can carry burdens many times your size.”  ― Matshona Dhliwayo

 

My Journals:

Pogonomyrmex subdentatus

Camponotus Vicinus

Camponotus sansabeanus

Tetramorium (sp)

Pogonomyrmex Californicus

My Ant Goals!


#2 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 5 2021 - 9:33 PM

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You would probably sacrifice some visibility there--ants love hiding under things, so they would probably completely cover themselves, and make complete chambers out of the dirt, covering the glass with it. In terms of functionality, I imagine it would work great, but as mentioned above, not great for observational purposes.


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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 


#3 Offline gs5248 - Posted March 5 2021 - 10:56 PM

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Honestly, I think that would be better than a bare nests for the ants.


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#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 6 2021 - 4:58 AM

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Depending on the species, dry sawdust might be best. Pouring an absorbent layer of grout or hydrostone to cover the floor of the chambers would make it even better.
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"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 ConcordAntman - Posted March 6 2021 - 5:46 AM

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It sounds interesting. Post some pictures of your results!



#6 Offline AleeGuy - Posted March 6 2021 - 7:23 AM

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Depending on the species, dry sawdust might be best. Pouring an absorbent layer of grout or hydrostone to cover the floor of the chambers would make it even better.

^^^^^
It would be so great. You can pour it on the hydration holes in the nest and let some of it go through the holes so when it dries it will touch the water under it and bring it to the ants by capillary action. I would get a perfect plaster(the one ANTdrew uses) that is sold in hobby lobby if you don't want to spend too much money on hydrostone and it costs a bit more than grout, but absorbs water really well.

#7 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted March 6 2021 - 9:21 AM

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Depending on the species, dry sawdust might be best. Pouring an absorbent layer of grout or hydrostone to cover the floor of the chambers would make it even better.

^^^^^
It would be so great. You can pour it on the hydration holes in the nest and let some of it go through the holes so when it dries it will touch the water under it and bring it to the ants by capillary action. I would get a perfect plaster(the one ANTdrew uses) that is sold in hobby lobby if you don't want to spend too much money on hydrostone and it costs a bit more than grout, but absorbs water really well.

 

that is an ingenious idea, antdrew. grout would hold the water, and keep it moist for long periods of time, and not mold(if you get the polyblend kind). i might actually try this sometime if i ever get a hybrid nest. 


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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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#8 Offline BugFinder - Posted March 6 2021 - 3:30 PM

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Depending on the species, dry sawdust might be best. Pouring an absorbent layer of grout or hydrostone to cover the floor of the chambers would make it even better.

what about a desert sand type substrate, or maybe pumice?


“If an ant carries an object a hundred times its weight, you can carry burdens many times your size.”  ― Matshona Dhliwayo

 

My Journals:

Pogonomyrmex subdentatus

Camponotus Vicinus

Camponotus sansabeanus

Tetramorium (sp)

Pogonomyrmex Californicus

My Ant Goals!


#9 Offline BugFinder - Posted March 6 2021 - 3:32 PM

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Depending on the species, dry sawdust might be best. Pouring an absorbent layer of grout or hydrostone to cover the floor of the chambers would make it even better.

^^^^^
It would be so great. You can pour it on the hydration holes in the nest and let some of it go through the holes so when it dries it will touch the water under it and bring it to the ants by capillary action. I would get a perfect plaster(the one ANTdrew uses) that is sold in hobby lobby if you don't want to spend too much money on hydrostone and it costs a bit more than grout, but absorbs water really well.

 

that is an ingenious idea, antdrew. grout would hold the water, and keep it moist for long periods of time, and not mold(if you get the polyblend kind). i might actually try this sometime if i ever get a hybrid nest. 

 

 

Maybe it's because I'm ignorant of the products having never used them, but I envision that stuff hardening after it gets wet.  Are you saying it would remain granular, and act like sand?


The species is C. Vicinus.


“If an ant carries an object a hundred times its weight, you can carry burdens many times your size.”  ― Matshona Dhliwayo

 

My Journals:

Pogonomyrmex subdentatus

Camponotus Vicinus

Camponotus sansabeanus

Tetramorium (sp)

Pogonomyrmex Californicus

My Ant Goals!


#10 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted March 6 2021 - 3:40 PM

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Are you asking about grout and plaster?

#11 Offline MinigunL5 - Posted March 6 2021 - 4:52 PM

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You could do it but you'd likely never see the ants because they'd cover the glass in dirt.



#12 Offline gs5248 - Posted March 6 2021 - 5:02 PM

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You could do it but you'd likely never see the ants because they'd cover the glass in dirt.

Well, yeah. That is kind of the point. It makes it more naturalistic for the ants.



#13 Offline AleeGuy - Posted March 6 2021 - 6:36 PM

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You could do it but you'd likely never see the ants because they'd cover the glass in dirt.

Well, yeah. That is kind of the point. It makes it more naturalistic for the ants.

 

I'm sure C. Vicinus won't mind the plaster/plastic hybrid setup too :good2:. Plus the visibility.



#14 Offline MinigunL5 - Posted March 6 2021 - 8:16 PM

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You could do it but you'd likely never see the ants because they'd cover the glass in dirt.

Well, yeah. That is kind of the point. It makes it more naturalistic for the ants.

 

At that point it's not really worth the money versus a simple naturalistic set-up in my opinion. Plus if it's for a hill making species you won't be able to see that behavior.



#15 Offline gs5248 - Posted March 7 2021 - 11:03 AM

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You could do it but you'd likely never see the ants because they'd cover the glass in dirt.

Well, yeah. That is kind of the point. It makes it more naturalistic for the ants.

 

At that point it's not really worth the money versus a simple naturalistic set-up in my opinion. Plus if it's for a hill making species you won't be able to see that behavior.

 

That is a good point. 


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#16 Offline Chickalo - Posted March 7 2021 - 11:17 AM

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I might try some of these ideas with my current AC Camponotus nest, seems neat.  I planned on buying Hydrostone for minihearths, anyways. 


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