ANTSTORE World of Ants

[TimeyMaster]

cool thanks that makes it cheaper lol yea i love to see colonys grow will be so cool

[jbc]

Good yeah.

Today I'm gonna start making a 2 sided ytong nest for 2 colonies.

[SteveUK28]

@jbc C. ligniperda dont really need a heat mat, but it wouldnt hurt to keep one under half the ytong at around 25-7 daytime.. and much lower at night..

[jbc]

Why at night lower?

Can I heat it up to 26 Celsius, Steve?

[SteveUK28]

Well because at night the sun goes down and it goes cold naturaly.. so in a made setup you have to do the same.. Yes 26 is fine!

[jbc]

Thanks Steve

Timey how it is going with your project?

[TimeyMaster]

well io have found the stuff i need i now am waiting for my pay to come in and i will start getting the tools, might have found a colony for sale which is good

[jbc]

Cool, what's the colony's name?

Keep adding pictures of your work.

[TimeyMaster]

Lasius niger colony , was ment to be from a privet colector but found today it is from a online shop

[TimeyMaster]

geting started all i need is the time now lol

[jbc]

Nice work Timey, keep it up.

[SteveUK28]

Good stuff buddy.. get it done pal.... wood chisel works very well

[TimeyMaster]

at this stage i am at about 3 cm deep in each chamber will try and get the shape of the other chambers in then dig them out to 5cm like recommended, i have been using a drill and a awl so far as all i could afford was the awl and i had the drill and a 5mm masonry bit, i have a multi tool but i found the grinding tools where not man enough for the job but i will use them to grind out the tunnels, the tunnels i will work out where to put them when i have the chambers in place so i can place them so they are not to steep for the ants, i am finding the block a bit tough to carve with what i have but i will not let this beat me, hopefully soon i will be able to afford some more tools,

as for sealing and fronting the block i have been planning in my head a varnished pine base with groves in to mount the glass/perspex and a slopes front to put a plate to put the species name on, i know i am over thinking this but my wife really wants this neat if I'm going to keep it inside so will it really be a bad thing to put glass/ perspex all the way around? if it is a ventilation problem if i was to make a gap of 2 or 3 mm around the sides and back between (not the front of course) the block and glass/perspex what do you say?

and on my design i have 4 hols to add tubes so i can add on to the block for a out world and add-ons when needed i will fix the tubes first and have holes in the side glass/perspex for the tubes,

I can't thank you enough for your help and time you are taking to guide me in this!!

[jbc]

Good work, Timey.

Well the ventilation is bit a problem if you plan to put persex all around the ytong, leaving gaps 2-3 mm is a bit big for lasius niger. The workers could get easily through, but not the queen. As you now I will keep my Camponotus ligniperda in my ytong, glass in the front, and I plan to drill 4 little holes (2mm), my ants are big so yeah. You could close some tubes with cotton then the air will circulate, but plug 2 tubes with cotton coz then the air will circulate. Sorry for the long text.



Hey hows it going with your project? Great news I have my colony now have a look at it http://www.antstore.net/viewtopic.php?f=194&t=15864

[TimeyMaster]

the gaps will only be around the sides and back not where the ants are so hopeful they wont escape

i found a shop sign today it is 4 or 5 mm thick and very hard to cut i tried with my multi tool but that took for ever and i ended up drilling holes in it and had to snap it where the holes where any ideas on how to cut it? here are some picks and a update where the block is!













i am working a lot of hours at the moment so progress is slow but am getting closer, any ideas on cleaning the dust out out of the block as i don't think i will have access to a air compressor?

thanks again for all your help guys!!