Leaf Cutter Single Fungus Pod Heating Box 2024

This is our Leaf Cutter Single Fungus Pod Heating Box 2024 Version. (Heating box only, fungus pod for illustration only)

This is now supplied flat pack with detailed instructions.

This is supplied with 2x 15w, 4m heat cables and one Bluetooth temperature and moisture monitor.

Why might I need this?

Keeping leaf cutter ants is not for a beginner ant keeper and careful thought should be taken before investing in a colony. The species are generally quite hardy, but the fungus generally isn't and requires specific conditions to enable it to grow well. The optimum temperature and humidity level for fungus growth are about 25°c and 95%-100% humidity.

Without this heating box, the easiest way to achieve this is to have the room they are kept in at 25°c and add water to the plaster slowly to achieve 95-100%. In most cases having a room at 25°c all year round isn't possible, practical or desirable. If this is not an option, you are then faced with the issue of heating the pod to 25°c. Our pod is designed to be used with this heating box, as heating it externally is not easy due to its shape. The shape however is great for viewing the colony through a flat surface.

If you do manage to heat the fungus pod to 25°c without this heating box and the room they are in is lower than this temperature, you will run into a condensation problem. Condensation will start to form on the inside of the pod due to the temperature difference between the pod, and the room. Condensation itself isn't a huge problem, it will just obscure the view and if it comes into contact with the fungus, can damage or kill it. We didn't want these issues so we designed and built this heating box for the fungus pod.

If the heating box is kept at 25°c the fungus pod in it is also at roughly the same temperature. This minimises condensation, although you can still get some. In our full setup, if condensation starts to accumulate on the sides of the fungus pod, an optional 40mm USB fan can add cooler air into the feeding pod which then slightly cools the air in the fungus pod and clears the condensation.

This heating box has cable clips for 2x 4meter heat cables, one at the top and one at the bottom. These heat cables should be connected to a thermostat with the probe in the heating box. The thermostat temperature should be set to keep the fungus box at about 24.5-25°c. The heating box comes with its own temperature and moisture monitor for extra environmental management if needed.

Setup of the heating box in conjunction with the fungus pod is relatively simple, and once setup, very little management is required.

Key Features

• Reduces condensation within the fungus pod
• Enables optimal fungus conditions within the fungus pod
  
• Accurately monitor temperature and moisture within the heating box
  
• Cable clips for 2x 4meter heat cables which are included
  
• 32mm holes for expansion of the fungus pod to feeding and dumping pods
• 40mm fans mounts for temperature and humidity control within the heating box
• Wire cutout at the rear for cable and hydration pipe management
• Sent flat-pack with detailed instructions
  
• Base support for heavy fungus pod
• Covers for side holes until needed for expansion
  

Components on Amazon for the Setup

We try to source as many products as we can, but sometimes it's just cheaper to purchase them on Amazon. Optional products we use for the full Leaf Cutter Setup are these. *** Please note, we are not responsible for any defects/issues with these products, these are just what we are using with our setup. Other options are available ***

40mm USB Variable Speed Fan

Digital LED Heating and Cooling Thermostat

4-Port Powered USB Hub with Switches


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