Customizable Sand Ant nest

Customizable Vertical Sand Ant Nest (Formicarium)

This is a fully customizable, 3D-printable vertical sand ant nest (formicarium). Designed for ant keeping enthusiasts, this model allows you to create a naturalistic environment where you can observe your colony digging tunnels and chambers just as they would in the wild.

The model features a vertical "sandwich" section for sand/substrate and an integrated foraging area (outworld) on top for feeding and waste management.

🛠 Customizable Parameters

This model is designed to be flexible. You can adjust the following parameters to fit your specific ant species or available acrylic/glass sheets:

• width: The thickness of the vertical acrylic/glass.
• height: The vertical height of the sand-filled section of the nest.
• length: The horizontal length of the nest.
• sandWidth: The internal gap between the two transparent panes. Adjust this based on the size of your ant species (e.g., a narrower gap for smaller ants like Lasius to ensure they remain visible against the glass).
• foragingAcrylicWidth: The thickness of the acrylic/glass panes used for the top foraging box.
• foragingHeight: The height of the top foraging area (outworld) where the ants will feed.
• foragingLength: The length (front-to-back) of the top foraging area.
• foragingWidth: The width (side-to-side) of the top foraging area.

📦 Assembly Tips

1. Transparency: Use high-quality acrylic or glass sheets cut to the dimensions generated by your parameters.
2. Hydration: Ensure you include a method for hydrating the sand (such as a small hole for a pipette or a sponge system) to keep your colony healthy.
3. Substrate: Use a mixture of sand and clay for the best structural integrity of the tunnels.
4. Escape Prevention: Apply a barrier (like fluon or talcum powder) to the upper rim of the foraging area to prevent escapes.
5. Mount: If you are going to use Glue gun, do not use so much glue or the panes wont fit. I recommend super-glue instead, but its up to you.