Pistol shrimp ant farm?

[Fatjim]

So I had this crazy idea of siliconing two peices of plexy glass together to make the "uncle milton" ant farm and place it in the front of my tank and fill with sand for a pistol shrimp my question is how plausible is this? Should I be consered with any thing while trying this?

 

[Fatjim]

On top of being a reefer I keep alot of ant colonies and once I discovered the pistol shrimp it was game over... Another idea is putting somthimg very similar to this up againts the glass. This one is 3d printed (ik some 3d material is dangerous to a reef) or there are acrylic options

 

[Sailfin11]

That would be cool! I'm not sure I completely understand your plan, but I like the idea of combining your hobbies.

The first thing that comes to mind would be to divide a 10-gallon aquarium lengthwise with the shrimp and water in front and the ants behind. You would use a clear piece of glass, so you can see the ants.

Best of luck with the project

 

[Phildago]

I think it could work. It'd probably be hard to get the shrimp to make his borrow there. And he may avoid it further because it doesn't effectively hide him if he can see you

 

[Fatjim]

Gotcha... This is just sample for the idea in regards to him feeling secure in the farm... We use a red film or plastic that blocks alot of light (ants are very light sensitive as well)

 

[Fatjim]

And im thinking if I add him directly to the farm before putting him in the tank and putting some black paper or somthing to block all light till he feels secure then adding the red film for regular viewing might have the best luck for getting him to stay

 

[Brad Waddell Wrath's Reef]

On top of being a reefer I keep alot of ant colonies and once I discovered the pistol shrimp it was game over... Another idea is putting somthimg very similar to this up againts the glass. This one is 3d printed (ik some 3d material is dangerous to a reef) or there are acrylic options

I am a 3D printer hobbiest and I can tell you that ABS is reef safe. PLA is also but it is biodegradable so that will break down over time.

 

[KrisReef]

Lack of flow in the sand between two pieces of plexi might create an anoxic area so the sand turns black. I would suspect the shrimp would exit from that environment if it can.

Also, you might get into legal issues with Uncle Milton .

 

[Fatjim]

You probably cant see it in the photo but half the nest has pores at bottom (so when you place the nest on wet cotton it humidifies the nest) I was thinking/ hoping that could alow some water exchange

 

[Fatjim]

So I think I'm definitely going to go with a 3d printed nest so the next bit of info I need is how the pistol shrimp typically design there nest so I can buy a nest accordingly

 

[TriggerFinger]

So basically, you want to be able to watch a pistol shrimp burrow like you can see the ant colonies in an ant farm? No ideas how to accomplish that and I agree about the sand not getting any flow could cause an issue. Maybe a better viewing angle would be from the bottom of a tank??

 

[Fatjim]

If I go with the 3d printed nest with vents still be an issue or maybe not putting sand in the nest would be best... If he feels secure in a burrow would he still want to dig... My current tank doesnt have a deep sand bed so he lives in my rock and the only "burrowing" I see is him taking sand and stacking it around the entrance to his rock

 

[Fatjim]

This isnt exactly what id use but very simular

 

[TriggerFinger]

Honestly I don’t know. I have a hitchhiker pistol that I’ve never seen and it’s in a bare bottom tank. I’m not familiar with their typical burrowing habits. You may have to try a couple different designs and see if it takes to any of them?

 

[TriggerFinger]

Is there some type of material that is “breathable” and would allow water flow but keep the sand in?

 

[Fatjim]

Is there some type of material that is “breathable” and would allow water flow but keep the sand in?

Yea the design that I have has mesh on the bottom

 

[Fatjim]

But starting to think the sand won't be nessicary I'm sure he'll grab sand and bring it in at his own descresion. Thats how we do it in the ant hobby as well

 

[TriggerFinger]

Only one way to find out right?? Would be really cool to see it in action! Good luck!

 

[Fatjim]

That would be cool! I'm not sure I completely understand your plan, but I like the idea of combining your hobbies.

The first thing that comes to mind would be to divide a 10-gallon aquarium lengthwise with the shrimp and water in front and the ants behind. You would use a clear piece of glass, so you can see the ants.

Best of luck with the project

My plan is to use either a 3d printed or acrylic ant farm for a pistol shrimp