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Tar Heel Ants Formicariums and Ant Supplies
(www.tarheelants.com)

I have gone to great lengths through research and testing to combine many features I have found necessary for easy management of ants in captivity for ant keepers into several products.These features benefit the ants as they allow them to carry on a naturalistic existence in captivity.Just a few of them are as follows: protection versus escape (certainly a mutual benefit for us also), proper hydration (again, a mutual benefit asthe system is easy for us to use and necessary for them), a naturalistic setting using eco-friendly materials, and so on.It has become my goal to transform everyone I meet into an ant lover on some level through education and awareness. Finding the angle from which to do so has been my biggest challenge, and hopefully allowing ant keeping to be easy and fun will be a start!

The Tar Heel Ant videos can be found here http://www.youtube.com/tarheelants. More will come in the near future covering more of the "how to's" on basic ant keeping from my perspective. I do other videos as well on almost anything regarding ants, so please if you are interested in ants there is sure to be something there for you, also.

I keep over twenty colonies in formicariums in my home, as well as dozens of other ant colonies in test tubes and other various habitats. I also work in a lab where I am learning the more technical aspects of ants (how to identify, classify, etc)

Many ask when they first talk to me about ants, "How did you get into ant keeping?"I have always been fascinated by ants, like many of us, but more on their terms for most of my life watching them outside. My daughter, at a very young age, loved to watch them so I wanted to bring that enjoyment to her full-time and from there things have "snowballed". We started with the store-bought ant farms, and it has slowly evolved into what you see here.

I am always open to suggestions, so please feel free to message me with new design suggestions or comments about products.� Most of the foricariums pictured here are custom made per customer request, but if you would like me to design something for you just ask!

Mack

Tar Heel Ants


ps - I do not sell ants, so please do not ask. I feel it is an ecological risk none of us are qualified to take, including experienced hobbyists. You may think you are ordering species "x" but how do you REALLY know? It is hard enough for those in the field to identify all ants with certainty, do you really think those who you purchase them from are going to take care to have this done with the same amount of certainty that is needed?� Follow a good common sense attitude about where and how you obtain your ant colonies at all times, please.� The future of ant keeping and it's the reputation of those who participate in the hobby are in your hands, also.


(read on below)




About Tarheel Ants products:

100% mold resistant materials go into making every nest. They are made using carved aerated concrete (AAC) as a mold.� Some�are filled with our trademark mixture that forms an adhesive bond to the surfaces (the mixture is eco-friendly and this is what the ants wil come in contact with). Once cured, the mixture forms a highly absorbent surface which enables our formicariums to hold moisture far longer than would be possible using the vast majority of other materials. The surface is also adept at wicking moisture throughout the nest, though it is best to leave your nest� and foraging arenas (outworlds) dry in some spots to provide a moisture gradient. This will help the ants maintain their nest (and help you in the process as well). The coating mixture�is not sand, but a type of rock that is very lightweight and heat conductive.

Hydration of the nests is performed via use of our specially designed tube network. A video showing this can be found at this link.���        

In order to ease concerns of escaping ants, please keep in mind the water entrances are no larger than the diameter of a needle.
Most of the time,we make custom designed nests. Some typical designs can be found at the bottom of this post and at www.facebook.com/tarheelants but most anything is possible(within reason,we do noot employee Michelangelo!) as far as carving patterns etc. If you are an artist or want to attempt your own design, send a .jpeg or other similar file and we will consider if the likeness can be made into a formicarium or not(see our imagery gallery on the www.tarheelants.com). Simple designs are free of charge but for the more complicated we will�ask an add-on price($10-$50). In the past I made a lot of designs using map drawing programs (you can find some free on the internet) so I suggest starting there if you are looking to design your own. This program is not bad at coming up with designs that will work if you have the patience. (http://www.gozzys.com/article.php?cm_id=11)

We also make foraging arenas(outworlds). All of them are made from 100% see through plastic.� All provide 360 degree viewing without obstruction for those of you who like to take pictures. Custom vents are added using high quality stainless steel screening. This improves airflow throughout the nest. Artificial plants, rocks, and dry-hardened and heat-treated wood are added to the outworlds to make them look as natural and aestheically pleasing as possible.�The artificial flora and other decor vary from nest to nest.