5 replies to this topic

[Steveboy777]

Anyone had a formicarium with cork? How well did it go?

 

 

One I've ordered for my Lasius Niger colony has a vertical cork nesting area.

I'm not sure how well I'll be able to keep it moist.

 

Do you think I should just take the cork out and let them build their own nesting area instead? Currently in the test tube rather than move out they've build some kind of wall of soil so I guess they're satisfied doing their own thing.

 

I'm just worried they'll move in to the cork and either it won't be moist enough or they'll bring food in and it will get mouldy, not recieved it yet so not quite sure it's removable.

On the bright side if it's not going to be moist it probably won't get as mouldy if at all.

 

I've got a foraging box coming too so food will go in there, hopefully they won't drag things back home through the tubing.

[dspdrew]

PogoQueen made this one (http://www.formicult...=cork#entry1195) a while back, but she unfortunately never comes on here. I do still talk to her so if you have a question I an probably get an answer.

 

 

 

 

Also, I just made one of my ant farm boxes out of rotted wood that's about as soft as cork. I'll be posting it later.

[Foogoo]

My fear with cork is how easily it molds. And does it retain/transmit moisture all that well? 

[dspdrew]

I would think it probably doesn't hold moisture very well, because I thought cork is a material that is used to make floats.

 

Edit: Oh yeah, here's what Wikipedia says:

 

"Cork's elasticity combined with its near-impermeability makes it suitable as a material for bottle stoppers, especially for wine bottles."

 

So I was basically right. I would NOT use cork as a nest material. I didn't think about that until Foogoo mentioned it.

Edited by dspdrew, April 22 2015 - 7:36 AM.

[Ants4fun]

I think it might work for ants that like drier climates... In fact I might try it for my Tapinoma sessile,as they are commonly found under dry bark. If you had a chamber or two where you had a sponge or cotton ball, it should be enough moisture. In fact my Tapinoma Sessile don't even go by the wet cotton ball in their test tube...

[Steveboy777]

Hmm...

 

I guess I should maybe take out the cork nesting area then not sure what I could use for one instead so far they seem to love the test tube they've built a huge wall of dirt so only they can get in and out.

It's kind of stupid having a big test tube in the formicarium though it's almost as long as the thing

 

Only problem is I'm not sure how to get the cork out since it's kind of slanted covered by walls of acryllic, doesn't seem like it's one you can just pull out.

 

I have a plastic lid used for a small box in their current tank which has red acetate over it should provide them with enough space to store stuff hopefully they accept it can't stay in that tube forever...