Project Dakara for Pogonomyrmex

[Skippy]

Hello,

I´ve made today new formicary called "Dakara" what is in style of Arizona desert. I will not translate here how I made it exactly , you can use google and translate this page if you want ( http://forum.mravce.info/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=321 ).


I´ve made it in style of these photos from locale:



Pogonomyrmex nests:







Specification:

- 8 chambers , 3 enters
- used with heatcable 20W and Exoterra lamp 50W desert spectrum
- price of material 4€ + aquarium 40x20x20cm (here in Slovakia cca 10-12€ ) ...... so price of this all is max 14-16€

It is heavy formicarium but designed and made to be not so heavy in weight (max 5kg ). I am using this type of formicary many years and no problem , there is watering system for bottom chambers by plaster.

Enjoy some photos from making ... .... some photos were made by flashlight , because outside is fog and it was bad light for taking photos on window

[mn]

Verry nice! I like it!

[Beffie]

It is looking very nice! Good luck with this project!

Off topic: How are your Oecophylla doing it?

[Skippy]

Thanks , I think that is not a project , just a new formicary on my shelf , now I have some free days (holiday) so I have to make new formicaries.

Off topic respond: my Oecophylla doing fine. I have a video on youtube what I uploaded some days ago

these old workers slowly dying , but new born and there is brood.That is why my population stay on same number + - , it will grow probably when most of old workers will be death. New workers are a bit smaller.

[Phantom]

Did you try to plaster your keyboard?

[Skippy]

Yes of course, I still can´t type "Shift" button , but it is some low-end keyboard , it survives everything. My HTC phone also got some drops of plaster , but it is alive too

[Skippy]

Sorry for double post , but I´ve made video about to better imagination

[ProXi]

Awesome!!!

[Elan]

That looks great Skippy The movie is very informative as well!

Could you explain your watering system? I can't really see what's going on.

Also, what kind of breakout protection do you intend to use?



in other news, I think I would cry if my HTC got plaster on it

[Skippy]

It is very simple. Same effect like is used in mrowkoyad acryllic formicary.

Point of this all is in watering bottom chambers. You know , in nature are also wet only bottom chambers and on top are dry. Second think is about power of construction. You can´t do this all by plaster - ants will destroy it. So you use ytong (ok , messor or pheidole destroy it too lol) , what you just sink into plaster , and make plaster to be btw glass and ytong

I have made a picture

[Elan]

I get it, thanks

[jeffrey432]

Very nice formicarium!
I lolled at the Troll face, it reminds me at 4chan

[Dumdidum]

Awesome formicarium you made Skippy.
For a beginning colony it should be perfect.

With the proper care your colony will prosper and grow fast, needing more and more storage for grains and larvae. How do you plan to expand ?

[Skippy]

Ants are in and they really enjoy it. They grabbed sand from arena and they´ve put it into nest on glass - however it is a bit wet I can´t see well. However they have full stomach and also like to hunt Drosophila in arena
I usually move ants by bridge ... ... I will probably stop to heat it and start heat that new one. I think they will move to new more confortable warm nest . By Messor it works.

[Lvet]

Maybe you can prevent the ants bringing sand into their nest by sticking the sand to the plaster next time. However, they still might be able to cut the sand off.