Thank you cosby. I was hoping to section off part of the main tree branch going up the center of the tank. I would have sealed it off completely (in the wood as well by removing the section, and putting acrylic between the two sections so the ants cant burrow through) so the ants can enjoy part of the vivarium as well. I was thinking of hiding the edges/seems with moss which will also block parts of the view. But if the mantis is still intrigued or stressed, i'll have to figure out an alternative.
The goal is to make it look like they're together, but really they're completely separate.
I guess i could run that experiment to see how they react while my ants colonize in a container. I still have to catch my de-virginized queens and start my colonies. It wouldn't be hard to just keep their containers around my mantids. Hopefully this unlocks some new information regarding housing mantids.
Your welcome for any help I can provide. It does sounds like a interesting build that could be great if proper care is given they can't mix with each other.
By the sound of things it seems you have a handle on that portion of the project.
I doubt it would take any considerable time to tell if your mantid(s) are stressed by the ants beside them, likely you would know in 5 minutes. Of course if the mantids don't seem to react negatively in minutes, a bit more time would be a good idea.
Here's the idea im thinking. Bear with me since this is a quick sketch. This isn't the exact layout, but just a rough cut. Also, the enclosure is a rimless 20g set on it's small side. Formicarium being the front Viewing side.
This center divide is a troth, just for visual aspect. The highlighted sections are the only areas the ants will be able to get to. They would be completely sealed off.
They would have access to the tree via a "Root" that will go across the troth and will have an acrylic tube completely around it. All these sections will be connected via a short series of tunnels that will be buried under the substrate.
Okay the center divide is a trough (trench/ditch/gutter) right? If so I am with you so far.
It sounds like a impressive setup with many interesting design elements - the tree "root" above ground sounds like that would be the main trouble spot for the mantids though. I understand the mantids and ants will be completely separated by the acrylic, so my question comes in about the access doors/panels. For the mantid portion of the tank will you have a top or side access, and for the ants will you access them by the opposite side of the mantids?
I'm curious of that point, the access, as it will likely be the weak link in your setup. After all you will have to access both species to add feeders/food, add new specimens, cleaning, and what not. Of course you could use the "ant gel" to supply the ants their needs, but you still will have to access them.
My worry of the access is possible ant escapes trying to get to the mantid access, or waiting till you open it. In life you just never know what might happen.
If the mantids are found from the simple test though that they can't be kept in your setup, you could build it anyway and use another species in their place. Perhaps some death feigning beetles, some of the larger millipedes, or whatever you prefer. As it sounds like a impressive build, mantids or not.
