6 replies to this topic

[toshimoshi]

Hello! I just caught some queens and am thinking about making my own formicarium. Pretty much everyone use plaster as their material for their formicarium (big exception being the omni nest from antscanada). Is there any down side to making a formicarium out of clear resin? Does resin have harmful effect on the ants or is it more susceptible to fungal growth? 

 

thanks in advance! 

[Canadian anter]

How would you hydrate it?

[toshimoshi]

I'm thinking about making a little space for a sponge at the top and make several route to. similar to that of omni-nest antscanada has; except not to the side but on top. 

[drtrmiller]

Many two-part resins are acutely toxic to ants. Aliphatic resins, in particular, will cause death in minutes, while non-aliphatic polyesters and epoxies may not cause death, but do have some smell or other quality which appears to repel ants, compared to more natural materials. Thermoplastics and injection-molded components are generally more biocompatible.

I always conduct small material compatibility tests nowadays, before incrementally moving on to the final intended use, and recommend that others do the same.

Edited by drtrmiller, August 27 2016 - 11:59 AM.

[toshimoshi]

Do you have any recommendations for what materials I could use that's clear? Is it possible to say spray the resin with varnish to seal the smell? Also how's urethane resin? It says no odor etc. Thanks for the inputs

Edited by toshimoshi, August 27 2016 - 1:51 PM.

[toshimoshi]

so there's the answer folks. thanks for putting up with me guys. 

 

http://antfarm.yuku....in#.V8JB85grI1s

[dspdrew]

Epoxy resin is just fine. That's what I make my formicariums out of.