∋The Vivarium Store: Ant Farms!∈

[fuiuki]

⧟Welcome to the Vivarium Store! This particular store you've come to specialises in ant farms, as the name implies. Inspired by ❧ The Arboretum, our store offers ant farms to keep and take care of! With cutting edge technology, we have developed a technique to gain minor control over ants, and thus we can control how they will dig.You can also add decorations to your ant farms which would normally not be possible in normal farms. Pretty neat huh?⧟

This store is the first in The Vivarium Store chain, so if you have any opinions or feedback, please head over to the feedback desk. You can find directions to it further down. You can also ask the shop-keeper fuiuki for help with anything.

Shop's timezone is two hours ahead of ChickenSmoothie

News:
Here all important current news will be displayed.

We will be closing down the store. More info in the latest post.

We are now back from the hiatus!

The store will be temporarily on hiatus while the shop-keeper is away on a trip. See the latest post for more information on what this entails.

Since there has been so little interest in this thread for a while now, no events will be held anymore, and no new items will be made unless requested (or inspired). The thread is still up and running so that you can order farms, but the shop-keeper will not focus on this place anymore unless activity picks up again. Focus will be placed on the new sister store, Aquariums.


A new vivarium store has opened, go check it out!

Shop-keeper:
fuiuki

Record-Keeper and Artist
Snekers

Guest Artists:
None at the moment.

Navigation:
The Vivarium Store Chain Index
Feedback thread⧟Archive thread⧟Discussion thread
Rules⧟Farm Info⧟Adoption and Store⧟Bank and Conversion
Other various things⧟Credits⧟Q&A⧟Staff Applications
Activity Center⧟Gene Research Center
Discord Server⧟TVS Name Tracker

[fuiuki]

A piece of paper is taped up on the wall by the counter



ﻬ We have a Password system here at our store, which means that if you would like some extra security against sabotage, you can PM the shop-keeper a codeword or password. When ordering things, you will be prompted to write the password if you have one, so that no one can order in your name, but if you forget your password or forget to write it in your order, you will simply be asked if you have requested the order. Having a codeword is entirely optional.

ﻬThe shop-keeper is not flawless, so if you happen upon any mistakes, anything offensive, or anything that bothers you, don't be scared of telling them. The Feedback desk is open to all complaints and suggestions of course, but if you have anything you want to say, you can still do so via PM. The shop-keeper is lonely and loves to hear from their customers! You will also not get any strikes for making simple mistakes or not knowing something, so don't be afraid to ask anything either!

ﻬHere at the TVS stores you can get a permanent name to be used when referring to you, ordering, listing bank things etc. This is useful for those who change their usernames a lot, as the stores cannot keep track of users if the names change too often or too drastically.



A second page is taped next to the first one

ﻬ All of Tess' rules applies.
ﻬ By ordering a farm you agree to follow all these rules and accept the consequences of not following them.
ﻬ By ordering a farm, you have the right to display, order edits or otherwise use your farm in a way that does not modify it. You do not own the artwork for the farm, and it may be taken from you at fuiuki's discretion. (This will only happen in extremely rare situations)

ﻬ Do not steal another user's farm, the artwork, or credit for anything not yours.
ﻬ No spam, rudeness or rude impatience.
ﻬ If the store is closed, you may still send in orders. They will be completed as soon as the shop-keeper has time.
ﻬ Please use proper grammar, punctuation and no chat speak to the best of your abilities.
ﻬ You may put your farms on other websites, but it must still link here. If it is not possible to link back to here, you do not have permission to put up your farm.
ﻬ If you change your username, please PM me and tell me who you were. Otherwise you might lose the rights to your farms.
ﻬ You may trade or gift farms, currency or other things with whomever you please.
ﻬ Do not remove the link back to here in your farm's code, or edit the code what-so-ever.
ﻬ Do not mini-mod
(You may help others by answering questions you're sure you know the answer of, but do not mini-mod. Mini-mod in this case means telling others what to do and not to do, but answering questions and showing people to information about their question is fine.)
ﻬ Do not use any farms until they've been codedropped, until they've been dropped they're not yours.
ﻬ Any loop-holes or inconsistencies found must be reported as soon as possible. Exploiting these will result in two strikes.

If you are found breaking the rules, you will get a strike. If it's a major offence, you will get an immediate ban. Otherwise, three strikes and then ban. A strike or ban does not go away, although you may contact the shop-keeper and negotiate whether it was fair or not.

[fuiuki]

You see a book on a stand in the shop. It is rather plain, but a "must-have for ant keepers", according to a sign.

Your own ant farms! A fun and low-maintenance pet, made even more fun with our latest Ant Suggestion Technology, or AST. This guide will walk you through the steps of obtaining, caring for and making changes to your ant farm!

You start reading a section from the book

AST Ants: How they work!

Obtaining
1. To obtain an AST ant farm, you have to contact your local shop keeper. The ant farms are not kept in the store, as they are special and unique. Give the shop-keeper your order and they will send after the required components, as well as set everything up for you. All you have to do is pay, wait and then take your farm home!

2. Occasionally, your local store will have special ant farm offers, such as special items, ants or farms. During these special events, so to speak, the store will have a limited stock of these items.

Ants

1. These ants are under enough control that you can decide how the farm will look. When it comes to rooms and paths, you can have a full set, parts from a set, or random shaped paths and rooms. Specific shapes can also be ordered, but those are custom services and cost extra.
Each room ordered needs somewhere to go, so you have three options. You can choose a general direction, a random direction or a specific point. A specific point means that you choose one of a set of already existing points, specific to each farm.

2. Different species of ants do not mix unless you have a Peace Treaty. A farm can also only have one Queen of each species, and unless a big farm is ordered, you can't have a ton of ants. We like to keep the farms small so that you as customer may fit them wherever you want them, and therefore the amount of ants that can comfortably live in them is low.

3. AST ants do not need to eat as often as normal ants, and require far less maintenance than regular ants would. They won't die, but that doesn't mean they don't need love! Add some decorations to the farm and your ants will be happy ants :3

4. To have food-mold in your farms for your ants, or perhaps a batch of eggs, you need to ask your local shop-keeper. The shop-keeper will use the AST and enable the ants to create either a batch of eggs, or a mold caché.

Changing your farm

Expanding
In your farm, you might feel that your ants are getting cramped. You can fix this either by buying a new farm, or expanding the rooms and paths in your present farm. To expand the paths and rooms, you will once again have to contact your local shop-keeper and turn in your farm. The AST we utilize is highly confidential and can therefore not be used in the presence of customers, but rest assured, your ants are in good hands.

Decorating
Does your farm feel empty, or the ants sad and bored? Then you need some decorations! Go to your nearest Ant Farm Vivarium Store to buy decorations such as tiny furniture, glass-adhesive stickers or perhaps a fancy bow! If you want items inside the farm, turn it in once again. The items will be transported by the ants to where you want them, thanks to the AST.

Modifying
Your farm feels a bit too plain and not very personal... So you need a modified farm! You can modify loads of things about your farm, and the following is a list of some suggestions:

1. Glass colour. Change the colour of the glass in your farm.
2. Frame colour. Change the colour of the frame of your farm. (The standard flat and square farm requires two colours for the frame.)
3. Decoration colour. Order decorations in different colours. (Will not replace old decorations of the same type.)
4. Farm size. Enlarge, shrink, extend or flatten your farm.
5. Background. Get a background for your ant farm.

Your local shop-keeper will have an order form for you with a list of already defined modifications, but you can always send in an order for some other modification.

You think you've read enough now, and close the book

[fuiuki]

Ordering



"Hello, I'm the shop-keeper, fuiuki! I guess you're here to order? We have loads of items and ants for you to order, and I hope you find what you seek!"

You get handed a pamphlet with pictures of ants on it, as well as some order forms

-Ant Farm Pamphlet-
"This is the pamphlet you'll need. If you want to order anything, check the price and names in that pamphlet. Be sure to check both of the tabs too, and if there's anything you don't understand or want to know more about, don't hesitate to ask me!"

Two order forms and some pictures are displayed in front of you

-Royal Ant Shop Order Form-
"This is the form for ordering ordinary farm stuff. It's for ordering farms, decorations and ants. You can also get a free farm if it's your first! To get your free farm you must post here on the Main Thread, or if you're COPPA'd, either state so in your order form or send in a suggestion form stating your name and that you're COPPA'd.

-Royal Ant Shop Custom Order Form-
This is the form for custom services. It's for ordering the things not included in the regular form, as all custom services will be personally tailored to the customer.

You'll also need the pictures for specific ant farm room points:




The forms are for our providers, since all we really do here in the store is assemble the stuff you've ordered. That's why they don't share our store's name, and why this store is pretty empty... Anyway, if you don't understand which form is for what, just ask! Oh yeah, if you happen to order, please tell me here on the Main Thread so that I can check your form and send it!"




Pre-made Farms

You take a look at a table near the shop-keeper, seeing some farms standing around, some with ants and some without. The farms have a piece of paper beneath them.

"Oh, those things! Those are farms left here for various reasons. Sometimes people don't want their farms, or some farms could be left over from various events. In rare cases, our providers bring us the wrong parts, so we assemble them into whatever we can with them. This means we sometimes have unique farms you wouldn't normally be able to buy on display.

The pieces of paper here describe the farms, and what you have to do to get them. Some are raffled off, some will be contest prices, and on occasion, you can just buy one.


Currently we have no farms up for grabs! Come back soon though, and I bet there will be more!"


You leave the shop-keeper to herself and take a look around the store, and the pamphlet in your hands. What will you order?

[fuiuki]

$ Currency, conversion and bank $

Currency and conversion

Royal Ant Coins
Here in our store we use Royal Ant Coins as currency. Since this is exclusive to our store, we also provide conversion services for our customers. These are our conversion rates:

OMG So common: 0.5
Very Common: 1
Common: 5
Uncommon: 15
Rare: 45
Very Rare: 500
OMG So Rare: 3000 + Unlimited when buying farms (Max 500 per day may be used)*

*The unlimited amount cannot be used for limited time offers such as auctions and premade farms. It can only be used for buying farms and items.

These are the year bonuses:
2017: 0
2016: 2
2015: 5
2014: 7
2013: 10
2012: 15
2011: 20
2010: 35
2009: 100
2008: 200

Other bonuses or rates:

Store bought items: Their equivalent in C$
ChickenDollars (C$): 20 per C$
Store Pets: +40
Free Items: 15 per item
List Pet: +400
Wishlist Pets: +20 (once per pet, duplicates do not receive a wishlist bonus)
RFT: 1 RAC to 1 RFT

We also have a few rules when it comes to conversion. You may only trade in two of the same pets at the same time. You may also only trade in 30 pets at one time in one trade. Absolutely no trade suggestions when trading in, the trade will be cancelled. As a last note, please state that you are trading for currency, as it will otherwise be considered a gift.

If you're COPPA'd, go to the group This Is Temporary and add the pet "I want RAC" to trade in pets.

Special offers

To cash in special offers, please mention in your trade what offer will be applicable. The shop-keeper sometimes forgets to check what offers are applicable.

Art Trade-in

If you don't have any pets to trade in, you can trade in some art you've made instead. The amount of RAC you get depends on how much shop-keeper fuiuki likes the piece, and how much effort they think has gone into it. All pieces submitted and accepted will get at least 10 RAC.

Accepted art:

-Art relating to this store.
-Art with non-specific themes, such as scenery, coloured shapes, random animals etc.
-Art of the shop-keeper/shop-keeper's characters.
-Art of random ChickenSmoothie pets.
-Art of any quality, as long as you've put effort into it.

Denied art:

-Copyrighted characters, scenes and themes, such as Doctor Who, Supernatural, My Little Pony etc.
-Art not drawn by you.
-Art not owned by you.
-Art of characters, items and themes you do not have permission to draw.
-Art sloppily drawn in MS Paint for the sole purpose of getting RAC.
-Minimalistic Abstract art.
-Inaccurate art of the shop-keeper/shop-keeper's characters.


All art submitted for RAC and accepted will no longer be yours, and will go to the shop-keeper's ownership. By submitting your art you agree to this condition. If you submit art of characters, the ownership of that character will go to shop-keeper fuiuki. If this is not an acceptable condition, the art-piece will not be accepted. Exception is made when it's a piece of art featuring one of shop-keeper fuiuki's characters interacting with one of yours.

Art not expressively said to be for RAC will not gain you any RAC. If you want to know the specifics of the conditions, just ask!

Event Deals
Applies during events and a short while after.
Tokens: 20 RAC
Other items: 30 RAC
Event wishlist pets: 100 RAC
Event pets: 50 RAC
Once event pets get their rarities, they are no longer applicable for these deals.

Pet Deals

= +75
No set time for offer.

= +75
No set time for offer.

= +80
No set time for offer.

Wishlist Trade

If your entire trade-in consist of wishlist pets, an extra 5 will be added. This does not apply if there are duplicates of pets.

Current Month Wishlist

10 per wishlist pet of unknown rarity. For pets not possible to add on wishlists, contact shop-keeper fuiuki directly by PM.

Full Set Offer

20 C$: 450

Full set of free items: 20 per item

Full store pet set: +45 per pet

Full species set (any month): 20 extra per set

Adoptable Currency Exchange

1. Currently we have an offer for owners of other private-owned adoptable agencies and stores with their own unique currencies. Once a month, you can decide on a pet to use as base, and you will receive the currency that pet is worth. However, in return, this store's shop-keeper will receive the equivalent amount of your currency as well.
For more information on this offer, contact shop-keeper fuiuki.

2. In case you're a regular customer who wants currency transferred between this store and other agencies or stores, speak with this store's shop-keeper and they will contact the owner of the agency or store, to see if a deal can be worked out.

Bank
Link to off-site bank tracker and ant storage (second tab)
In event of minus RAC, you have a month to pay it back.

[fuiuki]

* "A vivarium (Latin, literally for "place of life"; plural: vivaria or vivariums) is an area, usually enclosed, for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research. Often, a portion of the ecosystem for a particular species is simulated on a smaller scale, with controls for environmental conditions." - Wikipedia


* An ant farm is also known as a formicarium, a type of vivarium.


* Typically, when keeping a professional formicarium, you also have what's called an outworld attached to your farm. That's where your ants will look for food and dispose of garbage and dead ants. There are hybrid formicariums which functions as both nest and outworld as well. Information mainly taken from HERE.

[fuiuki]

Credits and big thanks to:

The Arboretum for inspiration, as well as its owner Tubla for help with this thread in the form of feedback, encouragement and inspiration.

Affiliates:
Playful Puppies

Do you want to support the ant farm store? Feel free to use these banners!

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[fuiuki]

Q&A

Do I have to order a free first farm?
No of course not! You can order a regular paid for farm whenever you wish! You can also order a farm and redeem your free farm later, or just not at all, if that's what you want.

Will the ants die?
No, the ants won't die.

Can we be affiliates?
Of course, I'm very open to affiliates! In any case, there will be free banners for anyone to use.

Can you make my farm animated?
Sure thing! Just include that when ordering or tell me afterwards, and I'll do my best! It now costs to have it animated though, since it turned out to be a pain in the behind to do... It might also not be possible if the farm is too complicated or crowded.

Are the farms breed-able?
...No. They're not. Generally, inanimate objects cannot create offspring. You CAN breed ants however, just head over to the Gene Research Center!

What if the ants escape?
These ants are bred to be harmless to humans. If they happen to escape, just put a plate with honey near them and they will flock to it.

Are you scared of ants?
Yes. I'm really scared of ants... ;_; That's why I've made these ones, for anyone who doesn't like regular ants.

[fuiuki]

Staff applications

Moderator positions currently closed


Artist positions currently closed


Guest artist positions OPEN

As a guest artist, you would be on the team for a month. This position will allow you to create ant species' and decoration items. If anything else is needed, the shop-keeper will let you know. All art submitted will undergo a quality check, and edited if necessary. You will be credited for your work regardless if it got edited or not.

Guest artists will receive 10 Royal Ant Coins for every accepted ant species, and 8 for every accepted decoration item.

All art needs to be PM'd to shop-keeper fuiuki to be approved.


You are allowed to:

*Make ants of any kind you feel like, based on a template you will be given. You may deviate from this template, as long as it is still recognisable as an ant.

*Make decoration items of any kind you feel like, inside or outside farms.

*Download the pamphlet farm images to use when making and showing decoration items.

*Use an ant to display sizes of items made.


You are NOT allowed to:

*Upload any of your work to any of the threads before approval of the art.

*Show the template to anyone that is not the shop-keeper.

*Use the template after your time as guest artist is up.

*Keep any images (you've used for making items or ants) for your own gain.

*Make new farms or edit already existing ones.

*Make or edit farms for other users.

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[center][size=150]I want to be a guest artist![/size]
[b]Username:[/b]
[b]Example of art:[/b]
[b]Why do you want to be a guest artist? (Silly and serious reasons welcome):[/b]
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[fuiuki]

Nothing here right now!