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Test tubes feeders (For our 150mm and 100mm tubes).
Our test tube feeders work in our 100mm and 150mm clear plastic tubes and should work in many clear plastic tubes, but we can’t guarantee this, as we only have tested with our test tubes. Each Test tube feeder has two feeding dishes to maximise its use. We recommend ordering two feeders so you can simply swap out and clean the replaced feeder. The best way to remove our feeders is twist clockwise or anticlockwise and pull out which minimises the effort needed to pull them out but it is not too difficult as its a snug fit.
Our feeders at the bottom have a label 100 for our 100mm long test tubes and 150 for our 150mm long tubes. They also come in two forms. One is cotton filled breathing hole in the middled, this can be used for small and large ants without issues after each change just check the cotton is all ok, we plug this for you before sending.
Our second form of feeders have air holes and has 3x1.5mm air holes and more suited to big ants like camponotus, formica species but not suitable for smaller species like lasius niger and smaller. We recommend the cotton plugged type feeder as its suited for a wider range of species, but the choice is yours.
In addition, the feeders have a flat bottom, so they prevent the test tube from rolling around reducing your ants stress level. Our test tube feeders are designed for a snug fit which easily allows removal but will not easily fall out.
You also have the option of purchasing test tubes and extra cotton if needed to meet your needs which can be found in our store under the same catergory accessories.
Feeder dimensions are in millimetres(mm) and include the following information:
Inner diameter (ID), Outer diameter (OD), insert length (IL), Total length excluding insert length (TL).
100mm feeders: ID: 12mm, OD: 13.75mm IL:34.7mm TL:35mm
150mm feeders: ID: 12.5mm, OD: 14.65mm IL:36.7mm TL:37mm
For additional information please contact us.
Read below about our ethos and 3D printing process and understanding our behind-the-scenes process!
If you can fit the size into your outworld we recommend getting the biggest size or at least a medium to make sure you get the most value for money. Each size is a 50 percent increase in the size from the previous size. If you want an even bigger size its possible for us to make it but please contact us directly. In addition, any colour suggestions let us know and we will take this into consideration. Our products are made with a high-quality plastic which has superior properties to competitors using our high-end 3D printers as well as our extensive research and development process.
What makes our 3D printing process so different?
We have obtained the highest performing 3D printers in terms of price to performance and often rated top in terms performance at the higher end of the market. This insures we have the very best and latest 3D printing technology at our disposal ensuring the best possible quality of 3D printing.
What sets us apart from the competition?
3D printed products for ant keeping we believe are not up to standard in terms of durability as pretty much every company uses a product called PLA which is also known as poly lactic acid a “biodegradable” plastic. This polymer absorbs moisture over time after printing which can degrade its structure and make it more fragile and brittle which makes it less reusable, and it also can degrade and melt with warm water from a tap which we think it is unacceptable and the industry needs to change so here we are.
PLA is not recyclable in local recycling facilities in the UK currently via domestic recycling and the only way PLA would breakdown in months is if you personally compost it and in landfill this product can last decades or even 100s of years potentially before its breakdown, so conditions have to be met for this product to biodegrade which we think is misleading to consumers in general.
We do not use PLA in our 3D printed products in any form, this means that we use a higher quality plastic that requires a higher quality printer and this plastic costs more and is harder to work with as well as requiring a higher temperature to manufacture increasing our costs of production.
How we plan to be more environmentally friendly?
Our aim is to use this plastic to create higher quality and much more durable 3D printed products targeting reusability. We are talking products that would be good to use years down the line and avoiding you having to put them into landfill in the first place by doing this we are hoping to lower yours and our carbon footprint over the long term and means you spend less money on poor quality products that do not last long.
Our product testing?
As we are new to the 3D printing market, we have done tons of research and development. We do inhouse testing over weeks and in some cases months with our colonies before we release the products to independent testers, they are experienced ant keepers with many colonies and different species types in which we gain their honest feedback. If there are issues with our products in the second stage, we will revise our products and then we will test them once more. This process insures you only get the very best quality. IF there are issues with your products you can always contact us, and we are happy to find a solution. Just like we helped revolutionise ant keeping making it more accessible with much better customer service and quality of ants we are going to do the same to 3D printed products related to ant keeping.
