The Mini.T

Your complete naturalistic kit

Congratulations on your purchase! The Mini T is everything you need for a desktop terrarium. Ideal for both of the small species like Leptothorax and Temnothorax. Whichever you chose you will enjoy them in your view while you work or study for hours at a time.

Setup instructions

Please note, your Mini T will take a minimum of 4 weeks to be ready for your chosen species to move in. It is vital you wait for the allocated times indicated below. This is because your Mini T will produce mold and micro fungi while it settles and becomes bioactive. After a couple of weeks this will seemingly disappear and become habitable.

Step by step

1) Apply the 4 feet (OLD PLASTIC ONLY)

stick the 4 rubber pads to the base of your Mini T

2) Insert the drainage

use the full pack of expanded clay drainage balls and level them out. Expanded clay will retain moisture and deliver it to the setup over time. it will also prevent rotting by cycling the water.

3) Hydrate

add fresh water to the drainage layer until it is just below the top of the balls. Then wait 5 minutes

4) Apply Membrane

Insert one of the square membranes over the clay. Membrane keeps the layer separate and stops the clay getting clogged with soil.

5) Carbon pellets

pour and level the pack of carbon. This will filter the impurities from the water and reduce algae build-up.

6) Membrane again

use the second membrane sheet here

7) Substrate

using half of the substrate, place into the Mini T and compact it down as tightly as you can with finger force.

8) Hydrate

add 30ml of water. This will sit on the top while it takes and it will take some time to absorb. When it has absorbed continue to step 9

9) Substrate

apply the rest of the substrate and compact it, use this half to begin shaping your Mini T and create a raised rear and lower front for better viewing.

10) Main decor

you can now apply your log into the compacted soil. this will create a place where your ants can nest under. (This will vary depending on our stock)

11) Topsoil

use the full bag of topsoil and gently compact it. The topsoil has bits of wood, leaves and minerals which will all be used to feed your isopods. this forms the shape of your Mini.T

12) decorate

add your stones and plants. moss will need gently pushing on-top of the soil and the plant will need a nice deep root, until the first leaves.

12) Hydrate one more time

appy another 20ml to the surface. it will look slightly waterlogged which is absolutely fine.

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13) WAIT 2 weeks

place your Mini.T to one side, ensure you remove the lid for and replace it every few days to ensure air is moving through

The next 2 weeks

Over the next 2 weeks you will notice mold come and go, it will look like your mini t is a hostile environment, and it is. do not add any life until 14 days pass and it is settled. If it looks to be drying out you can add small amounts of water during this time.

While this is happening, make sure you are feeding your ants and cleanup crew as normal in their pot & tube. your cleanup crew love dead leaves and the off oat flake.

below is some examples of mold growth which is nothing to worry about.

Add the Cleanup Crew

you can now add your cleanup crew and once in, lid them up and leave for a further 2 weeks before adding your ants. Your Mini.T will now be bioactive and you can enjoy seeing your cleanup crew cycling soil, eating and getting the environment ready for your colony

Add the Ants

The wait is over and it is time. It must have felt like a LONG wait too, but it will all be worth it in this moment as you can not add your colony. The tiny test tube they are in is the perfect fit to be placed within the Mini T and they will move out within a few days, as soon as they do you can remove the tube. Placing the exit lower than the water side will also help in their move.

Things to note;

your colony will not need water, simply hydrate the Mini.T once a week with between 5 and 15ml of water, common sense applies here though, don't let it get too wet or dry out completely.
feed your colony as normal but remember to add a little extra protein and sugars (along with a small amount of dead leaf). Your isopods need to eat too and will share with your colony.
DO NOT dig in your mini t or disturb the log / stones. Even if you can not see them your colony may well be underneath and disturbance could cause a tunnel collapse
remember to cut your plants as they overgrow, you can plant the trimmings in your home too and get extra plants for your next project.

If you have any questions at all then please do get in touch.

The final rule... Enjoy your setup.

Care Sheets

Click the image below for your species care guide.

Leptothorax