The Zoolab Tropical Themed Zoo

[Magic]

wow . Big project looking good , can't wait to seeing it finished

[Acromyrmexbob]

Fantastic to see you post, Magic. Thanks for the comments. I should have more tonight. Things will go very quickly from now on. We are right now starting the polythene sheeting for the rockwork. These projects can be transferred to smaller enclosures, the techniques are much the same. Looking forward to sharing this kind of job on this forum for the first time.

[Acromyrmexbob]

Today we moved things forward. The display to the right of the stage will be where the Leaf Cutting Ants feeding table will be located. Infront of this there will be columns and beams, made from Aztec stone.



The column on the other side of the stage is covered with polythene ready for the mesh to be added.



And the big, zoo style exhibits have polythene shaped over the offcuts of wood to start giving the appearance of rock shapes. This will become more apparent when we add the metal mesh, next.

[RichardP]

Fantastic! the CAD designs are intetesting to see prior to the construction, looks like it will be great for kids party's, maybe mine
Your build threads must be hard to beat anywhere.
As amazing as it is I'd rather do the ant collecting Richard lol.

As I understand it's building all these great displays AND going off ant collecting.. Win Win...

[Magic]

I would love to see it live when is finished .
Seeing it in progress encourages me to move forward faster with my own project and finally get my colony

[Acromyrmexbob]

Fantastic! the CAD designs are intetesting to see prior to the construction, looks like it will be great for kids party's, maybe mine
Your build threads must be hard to beat anywhere.
As amazing as it is I'd rather do the ant collecting Richard lol.

As I understand it's building all these great displays AND going off ant collecting.. Win Win...

Richard, actually these builds are not so much to do with animals as they are with building. Most of the jobs we do end just as the animals (the fun part) arrive. We generally do not get to see much of them in their new homes. And the ant collecting mainly involves travelling for ages and then stressing over customs, agents, security, permits, logistics etc etc. On each trip I'd say it is roughly 40% collecting and 60% admin, organisation and hassle. Not trying to play it down, I wouldnt do anything else but I am going to Australia and Korea first two weeks in March to collect green weaver ants and the trip will be defined not by whether I can find and collect the ants but whether I can get them shipped to the client. It is very exhausting and not at all easy. And.... like an assassin, you are only as good as your last job. I get used by clients around the world because I can always get the animals, design and build the enclosures and NEVER let them down. One bad job and the industry is so small that everyone knows and suddenly theres no work!

[RichardP]

Well, I admire your wholehearted commitment to the cause and, of course, dealing with all the downsides so that I don't have to in order to have a colony of one of the world's most fascinating species

[Deansie26]

Andrew where is this place? Sorry if its on the thread

[Acromyrmexbob]

Its in Larbert, at Torwood Garden Centre. We have a huge new building there and we are moving our head office there end March. I will also be moving my other company, Tropical House Ltd there.

[Acromyrmexbob]

Trying to upload todays pictures but Photobucket appears to be in maintenance mode so cant get access. Will check later and post what I've got.