ant-o-sphere

[arcfyre]

What is a ant-o-sphere? And why doesn't it work?

[Deleted]

They could work but in my opinion they are flimsy and break easily and you cannot get I to the pots once it has been set up unless you take the whole thing apart.

[shane]

Sept 12, 2014 22:13:26 GMT @joshjw said:

They could work but in my opinion they are flimsy and break easily and you cannot get I to the pots once it has been set up unless you take the whole thing apart.

And I like to add on that as they cannot hold moisture for long cos of the holes at the top, So keeping them damp can be hard.

[Wood~Ant]

Sept 12, 2014 21:52:48 GMT arcfyre said:

What is a ant-o-sphere? And why doesn't it work?

This is the set up, which I was asked to test for the same company that make Ant Worlds (Interplay). The set up was made to emulate a leaf cutter ant nest, not by Interplay but by an Australian toy company I believe; but it has too many faults and is not suitable for keeping any kind of ants in from my experience testing it out for 3 months. Ant-O-Sphere Link

[arcfyre]

Looks cool tho. Still would prefer normal formica over that...I mean ants aren't clown.

Anyways...I got worried coz I'm busy building a sphere shaped formica...but just one big sphere, with tubes towards foraging ect. Hope it works...don't see it on google anywhere...geuss there's a reason for that, but I have to give it a go unless strong advice against it...

[Jenny]

The ant o sphere, spheres were difficult from a pratical side. The ants would use them for their rubbish, some they would hide in and wouldn't come out. But, worst of all, once the two halves were put together fixed to the legs, it was difficult for feeding purposes. You virtually had to dismantle the whole thing to take food in and out of it. It was not thought out for a serious ant keeper, but rather aimed at kids as a toy for just a few workers. Once sealed some  with elastic bands, the spheres had no air holes either, so lots of negatives on the whole.

[Deleted]

I have found out the hard way this answer. For a five year old child wanting to watch worker Lasius Niger, great. For a colony as long term, don't bother. The don't hold moisture, you can't get to the nest and break easily. I'm remaking my leafcutter set up because of this!

[arcfyre]

So any sphere shaped formicarium is basicly not a good idea? How did yours look like? Same as the ant-o-sphere? I'm thinking of using only one large round fish bowl for it...is this more or less what you used or how yours looked like. I'm not really bothered at seeing their nest underground...at least not now...

[Deleted]

Sphere ideas are fine as long as there is air and easy access. I used a fishbowl half full of soil connected to a box via tubing for my old pheidole colony

[arcfyre]

Great!!! That's what I wanted to hear...thanks mate.

[Deleted]

Sure thing, if you can out a layer of clay pebbles at the bottom, it soaks up moisture and keeps humidity nice. And have an extra hole in the nest for expansion, you just need to plug it with cotton wool or something.

[arcfyre]

Great I will do that...does pets shops sell clay pebbles? Or where do I get it? Or do I make them myself? Oh I thought about stuffing it with a cotton...wasn't sure it they would eventually pull the cotton apart and escape...oh and did you leave the top open...what did you use to cover it? Or prevent them from escape?

[Deleted]

I used olive oil around the rim, it's too slippy for them to climb over. You can get clay pebbles of ebay or in garden centres

[Deleted]

Wouldn't the oil drip down the sides leaving unsightly smears.

[Deleted]

 Just have to use a thin layer then blast it with a hair dryer.