ANTSTORE World of Ants

[alybalyb]

Hi,

I'm new to this so if what I'm about to say is wrong do forgive.

Love this forum by the way, I have learnt so much since I started reading it.

I am thinking about setting up a Formicarium and having been reading the forum it seems to me that using "Celcon Block" or Ytong as you folks call it (I'm from Scotland) is the way to go for building the farm.

I'm just wondering if anyone has tried what I'm about to suggest and if so what results they got.

Once you carve the corridors and chambers, entance and exits etc in the Ytong.

Before you silicon the glass to the Ytong fill the corridors and chambers with damp sand except for perhaps the first chamber.

This way the workers can excavate into the next chamber when they need to expand there nest.

It makes for more natural behavour and you get to see excavation.

If this is possable are there any disadvantages to setting your Ytong farm up like this?

I look forward to your thoughts

Al.

[Krabbie]

Yes it is possible but there are some disadvantages:
- first is that sand can leave scratches on the glass.
- second is that the ants will dig their way in but if they can they will move all the sand to the glass-side so that there is minimal light into the ytong. This will leave you with a formicarium with only sand behind the glass.
- mould can get there where it's wet.

[alybalyb]

Thanks for your reply,

Yes I can see the problem with them pushing the sand over the glass and obscuring them now that you mention it.

Al.

[JimmyVe]

Hello alybalyb and welcome,

Krabbie is right but you can use such a setup if you don't mind that you can not look at the ants. The only thing you need to keep an eye on is the mould but if you don't make it to wet it will work fine.

[Zagone]

When I made my ytong nest for my Messors I put dry sand in most chambers, so the ants could excavate at a rate they choose.

Though I have 2 sides of the ytong with chambers carved out, but I could only put sand in the chambers of one side, so the wants would move all the sand from the 'front' side, to the empty chambers on the side.

Now a big issue with Messors is they have alot of refuse to throw away, so mold is a big issue. D:

[mircea]

I was also thinking of making this kind of setup. Instead of filling all cambers up I think a better idea is to block only the tunnels from one chamber to another. I also found here something similar:
viewtopic.php?f=133&t=12185
I do not know what is that green stuff maxfly is using, maybe some cork will do the job?

[UneXisted]

It's called Oasis floral foam. Im planning to use it also for my nests. I have seen several nests from france people who are using this stuff as a blockade. It will work, but you will have to use as little as possible. Better to keep it dry to prevent getting mold.