Pixel Black A is a dark, clean-lined formicarium designed around separate humid and dry areas within the same nest. Its construction combines PETG, a partial G23 gypsum insert, and a transparent acrylic top. This arrangement gives a colony a moisture-bearing area for brood while retaining smooth plastic-bottomed chambers for food stores.

A black PETG body with a flat base

The main colored components use deep-black PETG instead of conventional colored acrylic. The bottom is made from a solid sheet of PETG, concealing the fasteners and leaving a smooth, level underside. This makes the farm suitable for placement on a desk, shelf, or other furniture surface without exposed hardware underneath.

Black nylon bolts hold the structure together. Nylon will not rust, while the matching dark fasteners preserve the unified appearance of the enclosure. The black body also provides a strong visual background for the chamber layout and the lighter gypsum section.

Partial gypsum for distinct moisture zones

Variant A contains a 6 mm layer of G23 gypsum across only part of the living area. The remaining chambers keep their smooth PETG floor. This creates functionally different spaces inside one nest:

• a moisture-bearing gypsum section that can be used for brood;
• dry plastic chambers intended for stored food;
• four independent humidification zones for distributing moisture;
• separated sections that can be opened as the colony grows.

This division is particularly relevant to harvester ants because seed stores need to remain away from excess moisture. The actual watering routine should still be adjusted to the species, colony size, and observed condition of the nest rather than treated as a fixed setting.

A five-section 200 × 200 mm nest

The nest area measures 200 × 200 mm and is divided into five individual sections. Solid partitions make it possible to give a young colony access to a limited area first, then introduce additional sections as its population increases. The colony therefore does not need to occupy the entire nest immediately after relocation.

Internal height varies according to the floor material. Clearance above the gypsum layer is 15 mm, while the dry chambers without gypsum provide 21 mm. These dimensions are intended to accommodate movement by larger compatible workers and queens as well as the rest of the colony.

An 83 mm arena with a sliding door

The arena has an overall height of 83 mm. A sliding side door provides access for routine feeding and removal of waste, reducing the need to take off the entire upper cover for every small maintenance task. The door should still be handled carefully, with the speed and size of the resident ants taken into account whenever it is opened.

The arena is covered by two transparent 3 mm acrylic sheets. Using a paired cover increases rigidity and helps reduce moisture-related warping. Mechanical latches hold the top closed. Before introducing ants, after maintenance, and before moving the farm, check the seating of the cover, the position of every latch, and all possible exits.

Species named for this configuration

Pixel Black A is described as suitable for Messor, Pogonomyrmex, and Camponotus. The source also identifies the following species:

• Camponotus japonicus — Japanese carpenter ant;
• Camponotus fedtschenkoi — golden desert ant;
• Camponotus nicobarensis — reddish carpenter ant;
• Camponotus pseudoirritans — Asian ground ant.

This list is a construction-oriented compatibility guide, not a substitute for researching husbandry. Before relocation, compare the ants’ body size, the species’ moisture requirements, and the present colony population with the dimensions and zoning of the formicarium.

How the elements work together

The enclosure combines five nest sections, four separately managed humidification areas, a partial gypsum floor, and dry PETG chambers. The sliding door supports day-to-day access to the arena. A double acrylic cover and mechanical latches close the upper opening, while the one-piece PETG bottom forms a neat base and hides the lower fasteners.

This configuration is aimed at keepers who want to control how much nest space is available and maintain a practical separation between humid brood areas and dry storage chambers. That architecture is especially useful for seed-storing colonies. It does not remove the need to select an appropriate watering, feeding, and expansion routine for the particular ants being kept.

Questions and answers

What distinguishes Variant A from a fully gypsum-lined nest?
The 6 mm G23 gypsum insert covers only part of the living area. Adjacent chambers retain a dry PETG floor, allowing brood and food stores to occupy areas with different moisture conditions.

Can this formicarium be used for harvester ants?
The layout is intended to support Messor and Pogonomyrmex among other named genera. Brood can occupy the humidified gypsum area, while seed stores can be kept in the 21 mm-high dry chambers. Watering must be matched to the selected species.

How is the arena accessed?
A sliding door is provided for feeding and routine cleaning. The top consists of two transparent 3 mm acrylic sheets secured by mechanical latches.

What should be checked before introducing a colony?
Open only an appropriate amount of nest space, confirm that the cover, door, and latches are seated correctly, and prepare the humid and dry sections according to the requirements of the resident species.