17 replies to this topic

[MrEnfenete]

Welcome to Cup Of Ants

So I have two models at the moment I do make custom ones to fit needs at the moment the two styles will be displayed below I mainly keep micro ants so these are made to suit more small ant needs and are escape proof.

Also this first nest the plastic can come in three colors "Green, White, Black". If you have a custom nest design you want done using this nest cup send images of how you'd like it make and I can help achieve that for you.

Nest #1
Size medium
"Main Hub Nest"

This nest it set up to have different height to help the ants choose a humidity the fits there needs works well for ants that a very picky on humidity.

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Edited by MrEnfenete, November 13 2022 - 7:17 AM.

[MrEnfenete]

Nest style #2

Size Nano

"Queens Tower"

These nest I had originally made for my acorn ants because they only would nest in places I couldn't view them at so through trial and error I've come to a design that fits there needs and has so much control of how they are care for but so simple.

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[ANTdrew]

How does hydration work?

[MrEnfenete]

Those pipes on the side you fill them with water and it slowly drains into the nest making certain parts of the nest wet and others are dry giving them choice of where to place there young I've been using these for about a few years with great success.
The nest are made of grout

[T.C.]

From my experience grout is not absorbent enough for a design like this. And even when a colony does have a successful establishment, the poor humidity kills them in hibernation.

[MrEnfenete]

It's worked very well for me haven't had any loses and I keep alot of very difficult species. Grout does absorb water and holds it very well. Maybe the type of grout you used wasn't sanded most sanded grouts hold water.

[MrEnfenete]

This nest has been holding the same humidity for a few weeks now the water catches in the bottom of the up like a reservoir and will keep winking it up to the ants.

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[ANTdrew]

You might get even more water absorption if you mixed in bands of perlite into the grout.

[MrEnfenete]

Could do that as well I just have always done it this way because of how well it's worked for my Strumigenys pergandei and Temnothorax curvispinosus.

[T.C.]

I guess it would vary on how thick the grout is. But personally, ill pass on nests without water towers.

Edited by T.C., November 13 2022 - 2:33 PM.

[ZTYguy]

What species have you kept in there and do you have any photos of said ants in there?

[MrEnfenete]

I currently am keeping at the moment Strumigenys pergandei, Strumigenys clypeata, Temnothorax curvispinosus was but recently just traded it to a friend for some Stigmatomma pallipes currently I keep them in soil but am in the process of having them transfer to these nests. At the moment I have a very cheap phone and don't have any photos of my colony's but I'm thinking sometime soon I'll invest in a camera with a micro lense to take photos of my ants. I kept these micro ants due to size and space needed to be kept. I've had both of my Strumigenys colonies going for about 2 years and about 4 months going strong.

Edited by MrEnfenete, November 13 2022 - 9:48 PM.

[Flu1d]

I currently am keeping at the moment Strumigenys pergandei, Strumigenys clypeata, Temnothorax curvispinosus was but recently just traded it to a friend for some Stigmatomma pallipes currently I keep them in soil but am in the process of having them transfer to these nests. At the moment I have a very cheap phone and don't have any photos of my colony's but I'm thinking sometime soon I'll invest in a camera with a micro lense to take photos of my ants. I kept these micro ants due to size and space needed to be kept. I've had both of my Strumigenys colonies going for about 2 years and about 4 months going strong.

That's pretty impressive.. How often do you have escapes?

[MrEnfenete]

In the beginning I had a lot because of the size tubing and drill bits I was using would create micro gaps that they could get out from but since I have changed drill bits to a Dowel bits I've had the holes be the exact size for the tube to slide in and makes a perfect seal. So as of this year has been no escapes because of this change and is why I want to sell some of my work to ant keeps who have smaller more sensitive ants.

[MrEnfenete]

Nest name "Sandbar"
Size Medium

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[aznphenom]

In the beginning I had a lot because of the size tubing and drill bits I was using would create micro gaps that they could get out from but since I have changed drill bits to a Dowel bits I've had the holes be the exact size for the tube to slide in and makes a perfect seal. So as of this year has been no escapes because of this change and is why I want to sell some of my work to ant keeps who have smaller more sensitive ants.

what's a dowel bits? Googling it seems just to show normally looking bits

[MrEnfenete]

They have spur ends if you'd like I can link you to the ones I use.

[MrEnfenete]

Here's the drill bits I use.
https://www.amazon.c...n/dp/B0049C7CTW