Remember YouTuber Mikey Bustos and his hilarious parodies, comedic sketches, and hilariously accurate tutorials on Filipino culture, food, and accents? His talents go beyond humor. Before the viral videos, Mikey was a musician (yes, the same guy who once competed on Canadian Idol) and a longtime nature and science enthusiast. Just how much of an “enthusiast”, you ask? Well…

Mikey Bustos is AntsCanada

For years, AntsCanada was an anonymous channel documenting the fascinating world of ant-keeping. With over 6 million subscribers today, the channel dives deep into the hidden lives of ants, reptiles, birds, and other creatures living inside its meticulously maintained vivariums — revealing a tiny universe that functions just like the wild. ICYDK, the voice behind the channel was Mikey all along.

Over the years, Mikey’s passion for studying tiny creatures grew. His home in the Philippines, built after the pandemic, isn’t just a house—it’s part nature sanctuary. Inside, there are multiple ecosystem vivariums, and he has even transformed a section of his property into a three-storey aviary.

On social media, he often shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of this massive setup: feeding routines, new species additions, intricate maintenance, and yes—even breakdowns of his electricity bill (spoiler: solar panels help a lot).

What are ecosystem vivariums?

Ecosystem vivariums are enclosed, self-sustaining miniature enclosures that mimic natural ecosystems to support plants, animals, and microorganisms. There are no limits to what you can achieve with ecosystem vivariums, as long as you have the passion and resources to maintain them. Mikey’s vivarium is so detailed and complex that he can even make it rain whenever he wants to. Which brings us to our next point…

A dream that continues to take flight

Aside from ecosystem vivariums, Mikey has his own three-storey aviary, built in 2021, which provides a home to a variety of rescued and adopted birds, quails, lizards, fish, and tree frogs. And if the details and features of his aviary are any indication, Mikey spares no expense in creating thriving, diverse habitats for his animals.

“It brings such peace, relaxation, and tranquility to my home,” read Mikey’s Facebook post. “This home aviary was a dream realized, and keeps the spirit of my home positive.”

In an interview with Karen Davila, Mikey explained his fascination with ants: “They live in large societies and are very structured. They’re actually like people.” 

AntsCanada truly exploded about seven years into his YouTube journey, after he had already moved to the Philippines. Since then, Mikey has even discovered several new ant species right in his own backyard—species now recorded in Philippine scientific documentation.

If Mikey’s story tells us anything, it’s that hobbies aren’t just distractions. They’re spaces where we pause, breathe, and reconnect with the parts of ourselves that don’t always get attention.

And in Mikey’s case, those passions grew into a thriving ecosystem, and a life filled with meaning, discovery, and countless tiny inhabitants.

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