Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Barrier Ideas for Crematogaster cf. cerasi?

barrier young colony crematogaster help

  • Please log in to reply
9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline CreeperUniverse - Posted April 16 2020 - 4:11 AM

CreeperUniverse

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 23 posts
  • LocationNYC

Hey everyone, recently I've started raising a colony of Crematogaster cf. cerasi. I don't have access to PTFE or talcum powder, but I do have oil and vaseline. However, my vaseline has a strange vanilla scent that might not be too safe, and I've heard that oil is very messy and works very poorly. Is oil fine, and if not, are there any other alternatives? I'm not super worried about them escaping since I have a lid, but rather want to avoid them hanging out on the lid and upper walls while I want to open the container.



#2 Offline Temperateants - Posted April 16 2020 - 6:48 AM

Temperateants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 436 posts

Yeah, I have crematogaster as well and can't get PTFE. If you don't have PTFE, what I like to do for some of my species is attaching a section of vinyl tubing (that fits well) to the tube, to get a bit of extra length to put food on.


Check out my Youtube Channel! https://www.youtube....xh-HaScAuE5CShQ

Check out my Crematogaster Journal! https://www.formicul...e-2#entry141180

 

 


#3 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted April 16 2020 - 3:01 PM

FeedTheAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,238 posts
  • LocationVirginia

Oil does not work for Crematogaster. Your best bet is to buy some baby powder (talc). 

Edit: you claim to not have access to talc, and that might make sense due to the whole world being shut down right now. But when things are back to normal you should be able to buy at nearly any store (again, in the form of baby powder usually).


Edited by FeedTheAnts, April 16 2020 - 3:03 PM.

I accidentally froze all my ants 


#4 Offline Canadant - Posted April 16 2020 - 3:01 PM

Canadant

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 461 posts
  • LocationNova Scotia, Canada
These guys even got past my ptfe. They're impossible to keep in an open outworld for me. I keep a lid too and then they start hanging on the lid. Buggers. Best ants though for me. Active, hungry and interesting. I think they grow fast too! I'll try a lighter coating of ptfe this season.
"You don't get what you want. You get what you deserve".

#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 16 2020 - 3:38 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,376 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
ByFormica fluon is stopping mine, but you need very low humidity in the outworld. Having a taller outworld helps, too.
Couldn’t you order some fluon or baby powder? Grocery stores and pharmacies should have baby powder unless people are hoarding that, too.
  • Da_NewAntOnTheBlock likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted April 16 2020 - 4:18 PM

Da_NewAntOnTheBlock

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,540 posts
  • LocationIllinois

I personally am not as interested in Crematogaster as Pogonomyrmex, but if you want my advice, it would be to by a THA outworld (a simple one, nothing crazy) and hook their nest up to the outworld. However, that's just me, so do what you think is fit, after all, you've gotten them this far (y)


There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike


#7 Offline CreeperUniverse - Posted April 22 2020 - 6:43 PM

CreeperUniverse

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 23 posts
  • LocationNYC

ByFormica fluon is stopping mine, but you need very low humidity in the outworld. Having a taller outworld helps, too.
Couldn’t you order some fluon or baby powder? Grocery stores and pharmacies should have baby powder unless people are hoarding that, too.

Yeah, I ordered some byFormica fluon which arrived and set up my outworld today. I actually don't have a lid for this container, and I'm not sure if the barrier works. I'm worried about leaving it overnight. The colony is still relatively small so any escapees would be pretty major. I think I have #5 plastic which is polypropylene, but my container is also a bit scratched up which I think could inhibit the barrier. Is it most likely safe to leave it overnight? I can put a piece of plastic as a false lid, but it doesn't seal perfectly at all.



#8 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 23 2020 - 5:17 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,376 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA

Can you upload a picture of the set up? Sad to say, but if you really want to contain Crematogaster long term, I think you'll need a pro-grade container designed for ants with a good lid.


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#9 Offline AntsDakota - Posted April 23 2020 - 6:25 AM

AntsDakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,994 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

This is where CrematoMastery becomes a martial art. 


  • ANTdrew and DerkaDoesGaming like this

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#10 Offline CreeperUniverse - Posted April 24 2020 - 4:32 AM

CreeperUniverse

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 23 posts
  • LocationNYC

Can you upload a picture of the set up? Sad to say, but if you really want to contain Crematogaster long term, I think you'll need a pro-grade container designed for ants with a good lid.

Yeah, I probably will. Something like an AntsCanada outworld with the upside down lips might work. So far the barrier is working as I am currently watching a worker fail to climb up, but I did notice one problem. When applying, little bubbles were left behind that made small marks in the final layer. Today I woke up to seeing a worker half way up the barrier holding a piece of mealworm, unable to move. It got stranded on one of those little bubbles. After knocking off the food it was holding, it tried to climb up using the bubbles but gave up and went back down. Only one part of the barrier has this bubble issue. Will it be a problem long term if they possibly find a path they can completely go over?

 

Images:

ooHcmJR.jpgtA0yqhk.jpg







Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: barrier, young colony, crematogaster, help

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users