QBIK ONE

€17.99
Tax included

This anthill is designed for small, continuously growing colonies. It only has a central humidity point that supplies humidity to the entire room.

Be especially careful with large colonies of Messor sp, as they can become very destructive with any type of material if they lack space, contact us if your colony is very large to offer you better solutions.

QBIK

Qbik

 

What is Qbik?

QBIK is the definitive system to keep your ants in captivity in a comfortable, ergonomic and visual way.

These anthills provide the best conditions from the foundation of the colony (with just the queen) to the development of a full-fledged anthill with thousands of workers.

The progressive scaling of the QBIK avoids moving and allows you to expand the space of your ants according to their needs without stress and with an easy docking system.

From queen to great colony

QBIK is a modular anthill system that allows you to select the size from the start and expand as much as you want.

This system allows you to modify the ecosystem as you wish, adapting it to the needs of your ants according to species and size. There are no limits for the QBIK as its modularity makes it possible to expand the anthill in the direction you want and up to the limits your colony wants.

The QBIK simulates the living conditions of ants inside a natural anthill thanks to total humidity control, working at rates between 0% and 100% humidity depending on the species that inhabits it.

It also has emergency systems to prevent problems such as flooding or leaks.

Of course we ship all our QBIKs fully assembled so that when they arrive you can enjoy them without hassle.

Unique modular system

QBIK is a modular system designed so that you can expand your anthill in the easiest way, being able to choose the layout of the modules completely and allowing you to change the distribution whenever you wish.

The diversity of sizes, as well as the types of galleries and foraging rooms allow you to scale the system in a very intuitive way, facilitating the growth of your colony.

The connections are operated by a system of rotating gates, allowing you to open and close them as you wish, either to connect modules to each other, block entrances to change the layout or open more exits to the foraging room.

The waterwheel provides full visibility when opening and closing gates, and can avoid harming our ants.

The robust and resistant design of the QBIK allows for safe mobility. In addition, its square shape allows you to make the best use of space wherever you place your QBIK.

It has a completely flat base with no legs to avoid instability or vibrations that could disturb our ants.

GALLERY MODULES

6,78x6,78x5 cm

Ideal for queens or mini colonies with very few workers.

It has galleries and a humidity system in a small space and also includes a mini foraging room where they can be fed.

It has 3 different galleries made exclusively for this anthill.

6,78x6,78x5 cm

This anthill is designed for small, continuously growing colonies. It has only one central humidity point that supplies humidity to the whole room.

6,78x12,78x5 cm

This anthill is designed for medium-sized colonies, ideal for the first stages of the colonies in their first year.

They have a moisture point on the side, thus helping to focus the moisture in one area and the rest is used to accumulate food and workers.

12,78x12,78x5 cm

Ideal for mature colonies over one year old. It consists of two humidity points which feed the entire gallery module.

This module is the perfect size for already relatively large colonies. Connecting more than one makes it possible to have huge colonies in these anthills.

FORAGING MODULES

6,78x6,78x10 cm

6,78x12,78x10 cm

12,78x12,78x12,70 cm

12,78x18,78x16,70 cm

18,78x18,78x16,70 cm

24,78x24,78x16,70 cm

30,78x30,78x16,70 cm

HUMIDITY SYSTEM

At Anthouse we know how important humidity is in your colony, that's why the QBIK system is designed with the number of humidity zones in mind, as well as their arrangement, in order to achieve the maximum humidity gradient in all your galleries in case your ants require it.

As an emergency system, the humidity zone of your anthill has a lid under the sponges that allows the water to seep out in case the surface tension of the water is lost. This can be caused by the wrong placement of the tube or by squeezing the sponge dry, which can happen the first few times you handle your QBIK.

If your ant colony does not require high levels of humidity, you can remove the tubes you want and place our piece that plugs the entrance of humidity, making it more comfortable and aesthetic.

Remember that it is important to always keep the tubes straight, if our QBIKS are on an inclined surface the surface tension will be lost causing leaks in the emergency system.

It is essential that our tubes are filled only with water, any other liquid or nectar will severely damage the humidity system.

Be sure to refill the tubes without removing the red part as they are coupled with specific machinery to make the system work properly.

How does it work?

We have created a refillable vertical tube that fits perfectly with the humidity hole where we find two PVA sponges (a wide one at the bottom and a thinner one at the top) millimetrically measured to create surface tension, allowing the sponges to get wet but the water does not overflow. This surface tension is produced because the saturation of the water in the sponges limits the outflow, so make sure that the tube is straight and tightly fitted.

These sponges are in contact with 4 grids which in turn are in contact with the galleries. Allowing the ants to drink from them and making this humidity system also the function of a drinking trough.

Our humidity system allows you to block the water outlets if the need for humidity is lower when the anthill is assembled. For this you have a special piece that acts as a cover between the PVA sponges and the anthill. This allows you to control the humidity by allowing a maximum gradient, a medium humidity gradient or no humidity at all.

HUMIDITY SYSTEM

At Anthouse we know how important humidity is in your colony, that's why the QBIK system is designed with the number of humidity zones in mind, as well as their arrangement, in order to achieve the maximum humidity gradient in all your galleries in case your ants require it.

As an emergency system, the humidity zone of your anthill has a lid under the sponges that allows the water to seep out in case the surface tension of the water is lost. This can be caused by the wrong placement of the tube or by squeezing the sponge dry, which can happen the first few times you handle your QBIK.

If your ant colony does not require high levels of humidity, you can remove the tubes you want and place our piece that plugs the entrance of humidity, making it more comfortable and aesthetic.

Remember that it is important to always keep the tubes straight, if our QBIKS are on an inclined surface the surface tension will be lost causing leaks in the emergency system.

It is essential that our tubes are filled only with water, any other liquid or nectar will severely damage the humidity system.

Be sure to refill the tubes without removing the red part as they are coupled with specific machinery to make the system work properly.

How does it work?

We have created a refillable vertical tube that fits perfectly with the humidity hole where we find two PVA sponges (a wide one at the bottom and a thinner one at the top) millimetrically measured to create surface tension, allowing the sponges to get wet but the water does not overflow. This surface tension is produced because the saturation of the water in the sponges limits the outflow, so make sure that the tube is straight and tightly fitted.

These sponges are in contact with 4 grids which in turn are in contact with the galleries. Allowing the ants to drink from them and making this humidity system also the function of a drinking trough.

Our humidity system allows you to block the water outlets if the need for humidity is lower when the anthill is assembled. For this you have a special piece that acts as a cover between the PVA sponges and the anthill. This allows you to control the humidity by allowing a maximum gradient, a medium humidity gradient or no humidity at all.

TOTAL ANTI-LEAKAGE

Millimetrically designed to prevent any escape of even the smallest ants.

Make sure to always lock the wheels with the T-pieces, as sometimes a small movement when moving the wheel can partially move them.

It has a special ring-shaped piece, designed to be placed between the modules when connecting them to prevent 100% leakage.

If you want to secure the modules completely, do not hesitate to use the screws. With them you will be able to fix the modules and move your anthill without fear of them coming apart.

HIGH VISIBILITY

For us it is a priority that the ants are perfectly visible, avoiding blind spots where the ants can hide.

The galleries of the QBIK system are completely white so that you can see your colony even with a red lid.

These red caps are included with the purchase of your complete QBIK module. In addition, we make sure you have the anthill assembled and ready to use when it arrives.

EASY CLEANING

In order to make it easier to clean your anthill, we have designed galleries with rounded edges, which will prevent dirt from becoming encrusted.

The system is fully removable for more thorough cleaning. The best way to clean your QBIK is with lukewarm water that does not exceed 50ºC, avoiding chemicals so as not to damage the anthill or the colony.

When cleaning foraging rooms we recommend the use of mineral oil to avoid leaks, as well as our special tweezers to pick up insects and small debris without being intrusive to our colony.

PARTS INCLUDED IN QBIK

  • Red lid: This lid keeps the ants calm and you can observe them, the ants do not see the red spectrum correctly.
  • Norias: These are the revolving doors, allowing you to open or close the anthill as you wish.
  • T-pieces: These pieces block the waterwheels and close the nest tightly at the corners, they are absolutely vital for the Qbik ecosystem.
  • Long T-pieces: These pieces are connected only in the foraging rooms, adjust the base and allow all layers to be connected.
  • Housing: This black part is the outer part of the Qbik, it is the part that allows the modules to be fitted together.
  • Height skeleton: It goes on the bottom of the Qbik, holds the galleries and places them at the correct height for the system to fit together.
  • Moisture tube: The tube consists of the coupling and the tube itself, the water refillable part designed to fit perfectly with the Qbik's moisture hole, causing the surface tension to make the system work properly.
  • Total humidity blocking caps: If you don't need humidity at any point and you have an empty tube, we have designed some caps so that you can remove it and close the humidity hole, giving a more aesthetic touch to the anthill.
  • Grids: There are 4 grids per humidity system , they serve to allow the humidity to reach the ants.
  • Millimetric anti-leakage piece: placed between the shells, it prevents ants such as Solenopsis, Plagiolepis or Monomorium from escaping through a slot.
  • Moisture blocking piece: This is used to plug the grids when the anthill is assembled, make sure that the tab is facing upwards towards the PVA sponge.
  • Emergency drainage piece: This red piece goes under the humidity room, it is used to prevent flooding in the galleries. If there is a problem with the humidity, water will come out from underneath. Be careful at first and do not put the Qbik on surfaces that will be damaged by water when you first get it and understand how the humidity system works.
  • Foraging room and foundation lids: These are lids with grips so that you can open and close the foraging room.
  • Fixing screws: Black screws with nut to be tightened with Allen key to fix the modules. *Included only if required
  • Allen key: fits perfectly with the fixing screws. *Included only if necessary

FAQ's

Can I put any species of ant in a Qbik?

Thanks to the versatility of conditions provided by the QBIK you can introduce virtually any species into it.

Can I put my queen directly into a QBIK?

Yes, the Foundation is specially designed, as its name suggests, for queens. Its reduced space will make her extremely comfortable in it.

Are there other colours?

The colours of the Qbik are its identity, for the moment we only produce this combination.

My anthill has too much humidity inside, what can I do?

You can block humidity without any problems with the humidity limiting parts, use it in relation to the humidity you need.

My ants don't want to go into the galleries, what should I do?

Sometimes ants will prefer to stay in the foraging room if the humidity in the gallery area is too high, this happens a lot with Camponotus in the early stages. Leave the galleries with little or no humidity and they will pass through without a problem.

The water pipe empties quickly, even the water leaks out from underneath. What happens?

If the water comes out from underneath, it is because the Qbik's emergency system is specially designed for this purpose, otherwise it would flood the galleries and kill the ants.

The tube is probably not positioned correctly or the PVA sponges have shifted preventing surface tension, align them and the problem will be solved.

The wheels are a bit stiff, is this normal?

Yes, sometimes some wheels are a little stiff at first, the Qbik is millimetrically made so a small piece of filament can make it go stiff at first. Roll it continuously and it will soften up quickly.

The blocking T's do not fit in the wheel. What can I do?

In very rare cases this happens at first, put a little bit of mineral oil on the part and it will go in much easier.

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