A white formicarium built around a humid nest

ANTMART Flow White 220x110 Variant B is a triangular ant farm intended for moisture-loving and tropical species. Its glossy snow-white background produces strong visual contrast, making workers, brood development, and everyday colony activity easier to observe through the transparent components. The flowing chamber layout has no sharp corners and is designed with the queen and brood area in mind.

Full-coverage G-23 gypsum

The entire residential zone is covered by a 6 mm slab of G-23 dental gypsum. Unlike a layout that uses isolated gypsum inserts, this version places the moisture-absorbing material across the full nest floor. Water is taken up and spread through the chamber system, supporting a humid environment without pronounced dry sections.

Dense G-23 gypsum is intended to resist crumbling during normal use. Full-area humidification is particularly relevant to species whose brood requires a consistently moist nest. This also makes Variant B a specialized enclosure: its wet configuration is not suitable for dry-adapted ants or seed-storing harvester colonies.

Materials selected for damp conditions

The body combines 3 mm white and clear acrylic with PETG plastic. White nylon bolts hold the assembly together. Because nylon does not rust, regular hydration of the gypsum does not expose the nest to the corrosion associated with conventional metal fasteners.

This choice is especially relevant in Variant B. A continuous gypsum slab retains moisture throughout the residential area, so the structural hardware works in a persistently damp microclimate. The white fasteners also follow the visual language of the enclosure and keep contrasting components from distracting from the colony.

An 80 mm arena with a double lid

The 80 mm-high arena is covered by a two-layer acrylic lid. The paired layers form a stiffer plane that is less susceptible to warping under humid evaporation. Mechanical sliders press the cover against the body and help maintain close contact along its edges.

This construction is useful with small, active workers that readily investigate narrow openings. Securing the cover also reduces the likelihood of accidental displacement while the enclosure is being moved. A populated formicarium should nevertheless be transported carefully and with the behavior of its particular colony in mind.

Two-stage nest expansion

Removable partitions divide the nest into two independent sections. A young colony can initially receive access to only one part of the chamber system, with the remaining space opened as its population grows. Gradual expansion avoids giving a small colony an unnecessarily large empty area and makes chamber use easier to supervise.

Species compatibility

The enclosure is positioned for moisture-loving predatory and tropical ants. The source recommendations specifically include Pachycondyla, Odontoponera, Pheidole, and tropical Camponotus. The actual hydration routine must still be adjusted to the biology of the selected species and the observed condition of the colony.

Variant B is not recommended for Messor or other harvester ants. Its continuously moist gypsum zone conflicts with the drier environment required for storing seeds. A partially gypsum-lined configuration, such as Variant A, should be considered for those colonies.

Key construction details

• overall size: 220x110 mm;
• arena height: 80 mm;
• acrylic thickness: 3 mm;
• G-23 gypsum slab thickness: 6 mm;
• two residential sections with removable dividers;
• full-floor nest humidification;
• white nylon rather than metal fasteners;
• intended for humid, not dry, husbandry conditions.

Questions and answers

• What does the triangular Flow layout contribute?

The winding chamber geometry is intended to carry moisture through the residential area while reducing sharp corners where air could stagnate. Together with the continuous G-23 gypsum floor, it helps retain a humid nest environment between hydration cycles. Watering frequency must be determined from the needs of the species and current nest conditions.

• Why are nylon bolts important in this version?

Variant B operates under sustained high humidity. Nylon does not rust or produce metal corrosion by-products, making it appropriate beside a continuously damp gypsum slab. This is a particularly relevant distinction between the full-gypsum model and designs in which only a limited part of the nest is hydrated.

• How does the double lid help contain very small workers?

Two acrylic layers create a more rigid cover that resists moisture-related bending better than a single sheet. The mechanical sliders hold the edges down and reduce the chance that accessible gaps will develop. All joints and the final lid fit should still be inspected before introducing ants, especially when the chosen species has very small workers.