What these nests are made of.

The nest bodies are printed in PETG. They are made in the US.

PETG can warp if it gets hot. Keep nests out of direct sun and away from heat lamps. The heating guide shows the safe way to add warmth.

Lids are clear acrylic. You can see in without opening the nest.

Clean acrylic with a soft cloth and lukewarm water. Solvents and ammonia glass cleaners can cloud or crack it.

Founder, Homestead and Four Corners have one-piece bodies with built-in reservoirs. Moisture rises through a printed mesh floor; there are no removable water inserts or cotton cups.

Fill until water returns from the side hole, fit the Fill Plug and check for leaks before adding ants. Drinking water stays separate. The watering guide has the steps.

A gypsum nest holds water in the block itself. Our one-piece PETG nests instead hold humidity water beneath printed mesh floors, topped up through a side fill/overflow hole. Scout still uses a cotton-plugged tube.

An all-acrylic nest is cut and joined from sheet. Ours use acrylic only for the viewing lid. Printed AA-01 ports connect at standard height; Scouts use lower ports.

We do not publish test numbers for material strength or water use. If you want to know whether a piece fits your setup, ask on the contact page or read the FAQ.

The Founder, $42, is a good place to see all of this in one piece. The whole range is on the formicarium page.