ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Hauntedhavoc]

Is a plaster formicarium sutiable for lasius niger? i have an idea for a formicarium+arena build that i would like to try but as i am new to antkeeping i have no idea if it is suitiable or not.

[Zagone]

Lasius niger should be fine in plaster-nest aslong as it's a good plaster. It needs to be able to hold some moisture for the brood though.

[Hauntedhavoc]

would a series of 1/2 inch (1.4 cm) tunnels, about another 1/2 inch behind the main tunnels and chamber, filled with cotton wool and then leading into a water tray.

sorry if thats confusing hope this helps

[Zagone]

Is it gonna be standing upright? I don't know in the case, but if it's gonna by leying down it'll help.

But the main issue is how your plaster reacts to water. Some plasters dissolve in water, and some barely take it in. And yet otherrs go moldy very easily.

[Hauntedhavoc]

i do want it to stand upright yes. can anyone recommend a medium that i could use to build a nest from. i dont particually fancy using ytong as its kind of big and space in my house is at a premium as most of my house is used as storage as my sister is expecting a child.

and is the a ytong block? i heard some where that it is aereated concrete?

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[Zagone]

Tre are several typse of concrete that can be used to make nests by casting it. And if you get a blcok of y-tong it can very easily be cut into smaller pieces.

Thre's a buncha people on an american forum I used to frequent that use pretty normal concrete/cement to make his nests.

And the picture could very well be suitable as a nest, but it's ahrd to tell from an image how soft it is.

Y-tong is usually white, as far as I'm aware.

[Hauntedhavoc]

now im starting to lead more to a y-tong nest as i've been doing more and more research into the subject and found that plaster nests can be a giant pain in the backside.

im thinking of making up a box type thing to hold a ytong nest (laying flat) on the bottom and a moated out world above it but off set so i can see into both..

abit like this

(side view)
___
| |___
|_______|

may incoporate places to keep containers and stuff but that is a long way off yet. i got to catch a queen first could be entertaining lol

[SteveUK28]

Yup.. that is a ytong block.. but a rather large one.. Your better off popping down to wicks.. they sell them there for like 90p.. and if you get one thats broken a bit they will discount it some more. As for you L shape.. thats not a bad idea.. I guess it all depends on what ants your after.. but if your gonna go catching then i guess your thinking about a lasius.. In which case you dont even have to think about a nest yet as they are happily kept in a testtube inside a container of some kind.. for at least a year.. untill they have like 100+ workers.

[Hauntedhavoc]

i know i just like to build things lol. then at least i have it for when i need it.

would a modifed antworks be suitiable for keep multiple queens (seperated of course) instead of test tubes? as i have a antworks that i descovered was a giant waste of money and want to at least get some use out of it lol.

like this:

[SteveUK28]

Ok.. i dont really understand this.. Are you saying your going to make seperate chambers and fill the bottom with water.. then use cottol wool... and somehow connect it to an out world.. In theory its not a bad idea.. but i think it needs some work.. and you would have to make sure that none of the queens can get each other.

[Hauntedhavoc]

basiacally the tubes would hang from the lid of the antworks and they would be made of the clear tubing used to attach basins to a farm.

the bottom of the ant works would be filled with water and would have a side part (on the outside of the antworks) so that i can refil the water as required

the tubes would be blocked off at the bottom with cotton wool so it can absorb the water and stop the water flooding the tubes.

the tubes would extend through the top of the antworks to individual arenas for feeding.

however i have just seen a potential problem: that the eggs would be laid on top of the cotton wool.

i could fix this with a air-tight breaker in the middle of the antworks to stop the water escaping if i turned the antworks on its side.


i know i am making a rubbish job of describing this, so he is a little diagram of the ant works on its bottom



the tubes would go through the breaker by the way

[SteveUK28]

i get ur idea now.. But im still not sure it will work... i guess ul have to make it and see first.

[highered]

I like your ideas, you're very inventive. I'm sure you have many happy ant keeping years ahead of you.

[Hauntedhavoc]

hehe thanks

i guess it is the only way to see if it would work.

would there be any problems with bacteria transfering from queen to queen through the water. or would this not be a problem as they are the same species and genus. and hopefully they will come from relitavely the same location

thanks for all your help guys

[Hauntedhavoc]

ive started making this thing up here are a few mid-build pics


the setup so far


the blue bits are connected via 6mm aquarium tubing, they lead to a pot which i can refil. the tube with cotton wool has a 1.5mm hole in the bottom so water can soak into the cotton wool.


the tub to refil water

as far i have not tried a full test as the sealer is not dry yet and i have not put the "breaker" in yet. this will come in a few days. will post back with another update