10 replies to this topic

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I am planning on making a bead container formicarium with a sponge hydration system, but I have no idea which sponges are safe for ants. Can anyone with experience name a sponge they have used safely in a formicarium?

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, July 14 2019 - 10:19 AM.

[ANTdrew]

I made one of these earlier this year and just used a regular kitchen sponge. If you design it well, the ants should have no access to the sponge, so it almost doesn’t matter what you use.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Or would perlite perhaps work better?

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Though vermiculite is used in the Dirt Box formicarium, so I think that might be even better.

[Serafine]

Perlite has the adavantage that it usually doesn't mold, so I'd prefer that. Sponges are breeding grounds for bacteria, even the medical ones can get problems at some point.
I'd also recommend to design the hydration chamber in a way that it's contents (being it perlite, a sponge or whatever) can be replaced easily.

[ANTdrew]

Definitely go perlite.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

So perlite, rather than vermiculite? I heard perlite expands, so I would be worried it might burst my cheap bead container. Do either of these ever have fertilizer or pesticide on them? because if they don't, I don't see why I would ever choose a sponge.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Would I want to crush up the perlite before I use it? I know that's what you're supposed to do if you mix it with grout.

[ANTdrew]

Don’t crush it.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Ok. Thanks.

[ANTdrew]

I’m planning to make one of these for my Crematogaster colony that are HELL BENT on escaping. It’s going to be a wierd inverted style sunk into hydrostone to prevent Houdini tactics.