8 replies to this topic

[AntJohnny]

Hello everyone. I decided that I needed a cheaper and easier way of making ant nests and will be needing bigger houseing for most of my colonies in spring. I know it is not the greatest thing to use and was wondering if there were any negative effects on colonies using that material. So far a made a few small nest. I liked the idea of plaster after seeing some on YouTube. It's really simple to design the nest and you can basically do any type of design you want. And I liked how you can pull the plaster out to clean it if it's in a bowl shaped frame. I got the plaster and reusable modeling clay for $10 and I have enough to make new homes for all my colonies 5 times over. If there are negative effects from using it is there ways to make it safer. I looked it up online and found different opinions so I decided to ask it here.

[ponerinecat]

They do work, and professionals use them for lab colonies sometimes. Not too sure on anything else though.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I think Hydrostone is basically the same as plaster, but much better. This brand was recommended to me: https://www.ebay.com...S-/400869836272

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, November 9 2019 - 8:20 PM.

[AntJohnny]

I think Hydrostone is basically the same as plaster, but much better. This brand was recommended to me: https://www.ebay.com...S-/400869836272

Thanks for the link. I think I'll get that for the next nests I make. I think I could try to use that for the tunnels and pits and plaster of Paris for a filler. That way I can hydrate the nest. I was worried about the plaster of Paris staying moist I wasn't sure if any chemicals would come out.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

You can also use grout, that's what I'm going to be using for my formicarium

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

They do work, and professionals use them for lab colonies sometimes. Not too sure on anything else though.

Plaster of Paris also molds Incredibly fast, just saying... 

[Antennal_Scrobe]

 

I think Hydrostone is basically the same as plaster, but much better. This brand was recommended to me: https://www.ebay.com...S-/400869836272

Thanks for the link. I think I'll get that for the next nests I make. I think I could try to use that for the tunnels and pits and plaster of Paris for a filler. That way I can hydrate the nest. I was worried about the plaster of Paris staying moist I wasn't sure if any chemicals would come out.

 

You don't need plaster at all, Hydrostone absorbs water just fine. The product claims not to absorb much water, but this statement is aimed at sculptors who want their artwork not to be ruined by rain, rather than antkeepers who only need a little water in their formicaria.

[AntJohnny]

I would have used grout but every store around me didn't have any even Walmart. The plaster of Paris was only 4 dollars for 4 lbs so I am able to make dozens of nests for a few cents each.

I also experimented with some of the nests I already made,some I gave a lot of opens for better air flow so I'm hoping they won't mold to bad. And a few nests I made I designed for island style nests. I also tried some with alot of sterile sand. After using the clay to make the tunnels and rooms I covered the clay in olive oil then covered the oil in sand before adding the plaster. I'm hoping the walls of the rooms and tunnels will have a thin coating of sand and I roughed up the clay to give the walls a rougher look instead of smooth.

I am ordering hydro stone sometime soon hopefully and next purchase I make is going to be a few sheets of plexi glass for outworlds and a few nests to.

[ponerinecat]

 

They do work, and professionals use them for lab colonies sometimes. Not too sure on anything else though.

Plaster of Paris also molds Incredibly fast, just saying... 

 

I did not know that, would clean up crews help?