ANTMART Labyrinth Black 220x110, Variant A: a branching nest with controlled expansion

This black formicarium from the Labyrinth Series combines a compact 220x110 mm footprint, a complex chamber layout and partial plaster hydration. Its winding passages provide an engaging view of colony activity, while the dark body creates a strong visual contrast with the ants. Variant A is intended for species that need humid living areas alongside dry chambers for storing food.

Construction and materials

The body is assembled from multiple 3 mm acrylic layers and components made from impact-resistant PETG. Black nylon fasteners hold the structure together, matching the Black design while remaining unaffected by corrosion in a humid environment. This is particularly relevant in a partially plastered farm, where regular hydration is an expected part of operation.

Specified features include:

• series — Labyrinth Series;
• base size — 220x110 mm;
• nest layout — a complex branching network of chambers and passages;
• hydration — Variant A with a partial replaceable G-23 plaster insert;
• plaster plate thickness — 6 mm;
• acrylic layer thickness — 3 mm;
• arena height — 80 mm;
• passage height — up to 21 mm;
• fastening material — black nylon;
• stated capacity — up to 1,200 ants, depending on species.

A moisture gradient within the nest

The living block contains a 6 mm plate made from G-23 plaster. The supplied description characterizes this material as dense and resistant to the mandibles of active species. Because plaster occupies only part of the nest, the formicarium can develop areas with different moisture levels. Ants can place brood nearer the hydrated section and move grain or other moisture-sensitive stores into adjacent dry chambers.

This division is particularly relevant for Messor and other harvester ants. If every chamber remains uniformly damp, seeds may germinate or become mouldy. The partial plaster insert lets the colony choose between more humid and drier areas. The keeper must still monitor actual conditions and avoid adding excessive water; a gradient does not remove the need for careful hydration.

Four sections for gradual occupation

Removable dividers split the living area into four independent parts. A small colony can initially receive a limited amount of room, with further sections opened as its population grows. This arrangement helps prevent a young family from gaining access to more empty chambers than it can occupy and potentially using those spaces for internal waste.

Four-way division provides finer control than opening one large extension. Each additional quarter can be connected after the preceding area has been occupied. The source does not prescribe a universal schedule, so decisions about expansion should be based on the size and behaviour of the individual colony rather than a fixed date.

Tall arena and double acrylic lid

The 80 mm arena is covered by a lid constructed from two acrylic layers. This layered design adds stiffness and reduces the likelihood of the acrylic bending as humidity changes. Mechanical sliding latches press the lid against the body and keep it in the closed position.

The system is designed to restrict escapes and preserve the lid’s geometry. Safe use nevertheless requires routine checks of the fit, latches and connections after maintenance or transport. The supplied material contains no test results supporting a claim of absolute airtightness for ants of every size.

How the Labyrinth layout works

Winding architecture produces numerous passages, dead ends and separate chambers. These spaces allow a colony to organize brood, food stores and the queen’s resting area in different parts of the nest. Deeper sections also let the queen move farther away from arena light and external vibration.

Passages reaching up to 21 mm in height accommodate the movement of large queens. The branching design increases usable internal area, but the amount of opened space still needs to match colony population. Small families can remain within one or more sections behind the removable dividers instead of receiving all four parts at once.

Species compatibility and limits

Variant A is listed as suitable for Messor, Camponotus and Pogonomyrmex. Seed-eating Messor benefit from the combination of dry storage chambers and a hydrated living area, while passages up to 21 mm high provide room for larger individuals. Compatibility does not mean that every listed genus requires identical care: hydration, feeding and the pace of nest expansion must be adjusted to the actual species.

The original description also mentions 200x200 farms as alternatives when a different size is required. Those products are separate systems and are not part of the supplied Labyrinth Black 220x110 package.

Questions and answers

• What is the purpose of the complex passage network?

The branching geometry provides multiple chambers and sheltered routes for functional zoning. Ants can separate brood from stored food, while the queen can settle in a deeper area away from arena light.

• Why is the nest divided into four parts?

The sections allow living space to be expanded in smaller stages. A young colony receives a limited area, and more chambers become available as it grows. This can reduce the likelihood of waste accumulating in unused rooms, although it cannot guarantee how a particular colony will behave.

• How does partial hydration create a gradient?

The replaceable 6 mm G-23 plaster plate hydrates one section of the nest. Conditions become drier with distance from that plate, giving the ants a choice of chambers for brood or food reserves.

• What does the double lid add?

Two acrylic layers increase stiffness, while mechanical latches hold the cover against the body. Together they reduce deformation and the risk of ants leaving through a loose edge. The fit and latches should still be inspected whenever the farm is serviced.

• How many ants can the farm hold?

The specifications state a capacity of up to 1,200 ants depending on species. This is an upper reference rather than a recommended starting population. The four sections should be opened in line with the colony’s actual development.