68 replies to this topic

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Nice, you also have some beautiful Camponotous species in your area too

[Boog]

Ugh... these little buggers! I can't keep them in. Any tips on ptfe application? I use a qtip. I don't shake the bottle but turn it upside down once or twice. They just get over it. I had another escape.

They just seem to hate captivity. My camponotus couldn't care less. 90% off my crematogastor s time ISS spent trying to escape.

 

How old is your PTFE? I've read that it can become ineffective after a few years, depending on the storage. Have you tried using a foam brush to apply?

[Wa.Va]

Ugh... these little buggers! I can't keep them in. Any tips on ptfe application? I use a qtip. I don't shake the bottle but turn it upside down once or twice. They just get over it. I had another escape.

They just seem to hate captivity. My camponotus couldn't care less. 90% off my crematogastor s time ISS spent trying to escape.

How old is your PTFE? I've read that it can become ineffective after a few years, depending on the storage. Have you tried using a foam brush to apply?

New or old. My ants just walk over it in a couple of days, i can only contain them with a lid.. (with mesh as ventilation holes). While my other ants cannot cross over the barrier

[Canadant]

Yeah. I got so frustrated because I had another escape. They got out of 100 micronmesh with a lid over it. Lol. They slipped under the mesh and lid. Crazy. Got me all back in.

So... Update: got so sick of these guys trying to escape so I went out and got them a wild piece of wood with holes in it. Looks like an old crematogastor or camponotus colony lived in there. It's about 12 cm x 5cm x 4cm. I dropped it in the outworld and no [censored] within half an hour they moved right in!

They immediately started buzzing, feeling, communicating back to the nest. Its neat to see your ants get excited like that.

Sadly my wife wanted to take the kids out so I didn't get to see the queen go but I'm 98% sure she's in there (you know... ants). I removed the old omninest formicarium.

They love it but it came with a cost. I can't see inside the colony now. But they'll grow out of this.

So question: how hydrate this nest?

Sincerely

Canadant

PS - while out, I caught an Aphenogastor queen! Moved some leaf litter and there she was! Booyah! Got her in a tube for next spring.

[Kaelwizard]

I think if you mist the outworld occasionally or offer a liquid feeder with water they will be fine. Crematogaster need barely any water.

[ANTdrew]

Yeah. I got so frustrated because I had another escape. They got out of 100 micronmesh with a lid over it. Lol. They slipped under the mesh and lid. Crazy. Got me all back in.

So... Update: got so sick of these guys trying to escape so I went out and got them a wild piece of wood with holes in it. Looks like an old crematogastor or camponotus colony lived in there. It's about 12 cm x 5cm x 4cm. I dropped it in the outworld and no [censored] within half an hour they moved right in!

They immediately started buzzing, feeling, communicating back to the nest. Its neat to see your ants get excited like that.

Sadly my wife wanted to take the kids out so I didn't get to see the queen go but I'm 98% sure she's in there (you know... ants). I removed the old omninest formicarium.

They love it but it came with a cost. I can't see inside the colony now. But they'll grow out of this.

So question: how hydrate this nest?

Sincerely

Canadant

PS - while out, I caught an Aphenogastor queen! Moved some leaf litter and there she was! Booyah! Got her in a tube for next spring.

That’s awesome! I’m really intrigued to try this at some point. I think a really beautiful looking set up could be made with a big piece of driftwood in a vertical container. To hydrate, I would just simulate rain by sprinkling water on the wood every so often.

[M_Ants]

Can Crematogaster chew through hydrostone? If so I'm toast. I think mine are. Which means I have to buy a formicarium for them. 

[ANTdrew]

I don’t think they can. If it’s happening in the firebrick mini-hearth you made, I think they are just finding anywhere the hydrostone didn’t coat well.

[M_Ants]

Huh. Not sure what to do then. I guess I could move them out, fix it, and move them back in.