19 replies to this topic

[Dry_Twig]

what's the best way to contain large colonies without spending too much? I know fluon is generally considered the 'best' but I've heard of ants that walk right over it, so I didn't want to spend too much before looking at any alternatives. Right now, I'm using olive oil and it works, but they will cross it when they are more determined. They(Solenopsis xyloni) are in an aquarium, so the silicone edes might be a problem. I'm on a sorta tight budget, so I would like to spend the least amount possible.

Thanks in advance!

[AntPhycho]

I have kept S. xyloni contained with the old baby powder and alcohol mixture. S. xyloni have trouble passing through vaseline as well.

Edited by AntPhycho, September 29 2020 - 5:50 PM.

[M_Ants]

Ant world USA Fluon

[Ants_Dakota]

tarheelant fluon is 10 plus 6 of shipping for me. probably would cover an aquarium once.

[Dry_Twig]

Thank you all for the help! I'll look into each of your answers.

Ant world USA Fluon

For some reason, I couldn't find the website for that company, could you give me a link? 

[AntsBC]

Olive oil works like a charm.  I use it for all my ants and have never had a problem.  Just be careful not to apply too much.

[Kaelwizard]

Thank you all for the help! I'll look into each of your answers.

Ant world USA Fluon

For some reason, I couldn't find the website for that company, could you give me a link? 

I think they only sell thru Etsy

[Nanahira]

Thank you all for the help! I'll look into each of your answers.

Ant world USA Fluon

For some reason, I couldn't find the website for that company, could you give me a link? 

you can purchase AntWorldUSA fluon from here https://www.etsy.com...h_click=1&frs=1

[Ants_Dakota]

i might have to buy that, actually. does anyone know the size difference between that and byformica fluon?

[Nanahira]

i might have to buy that, actually. does anyone know the size difference between that and byformica fluon?

The Byformica fluon on Amazon is around $32 + free shipping for 0.96 fl oz (3 containers of 0.32 fl oz, you also get a few tools + a spray bottle)

 https://www.amazon.c...01494007&sr=8-1

 

The AntWorldUSA fluon on Etsy is $13 + free shipping in the US for 1 fl oz

https://www.etsy.com...h_click=1&frs=1

 

Bioquip fluon is $25.41 + varied shipping costs ($9 for my state) for 4 fl oz

https://www.bioquip....t.asp?pid=2871A

Edited by 500miles, September 30 2020 - 11:37 AM.

[CheetoLord02]

Personally I don't trust any barrier but fluon. I get mine from bioquip, where you get 4oz for 25 dollars + shipping. It's almost always the cheapest option, just that you get a pretty large amount even with the smallest bottle. Still, I prefer to pay a little more upfront and then have enough to last me for at least a year (and I have a lot of barriers to maintain) rather than spending less to get less and having to buy more all the time. I suppose it depends on how much you're going to go through, though.

[Vendayn]

I found extra virgin olive oil works well, and lasts for months (but if it gets wet, then gotta re-apply it and it doesn't work if its humid). Other oil can work okay, but the former is vastly more effective and some oils don't work at all.

 

Personally I use a multi-defense approach. Fluon (I get it from amazon since its convenient to order things on amazon and free shipping. The fluon also lasts a long time so its not like have to buy it all the time since a tiny bit goes a long way), extra virgin olive oil, and another type of oil (whatever is on hand).

 

Tried vaseline once on solenopsis invicta decades ago and they walked on it like it was concrete. In fact, it made them have an easier time to escape. I posted it before, but that was the biggest disaster I ever had of ants and it took all day to clean the vaseline. Never will use it again.

 

Don't like antscanada baby powder approach. It is not a longterm solution and too messy, extra virgin olive oil is a vastly better "cheap" method. Granted AC lives in a tropical area, so it wouldn't work for him like it does for me. But baby powder is still too much management required having to re-apply it all the time.

[M_Ants]

https://www.ebay.com...FxoCzVgQAvD_BwE

I think it was this one. 

[Ants_Dakota]

i was going to buy the byformica, but these are a much better deal! Thanks guys!

[Kaelwizard]

I found extra virgin olive oil works well, and lasts for months (but if it gets wet, then gotta re-apply it and it doesn't work if its humid). Other oil can work okay, but the former is vastly more effective and some oils don't work at all.

Personally I use a multi-defense approach. Fluon (I get it from amazon since its convenient to order things on amazon and free shipping. The fluon also lasts a long time so its not like have to buy it all the time since a tiny bit goes a long way), extra virgin olive oil, and another type of oil (whatever is on hand).

Tried vaseline once on solenopsis invicta decades ago and they walked on it like it was concrete. In fact, it made them have an easier time to escape. I posted it before, but that was the biggest disaster I ever had of ants and it took all day to clean the vaseline. Never will use it again.

Don't like antscanada baby powder approach. It is not a longterm solution and too messy, extra virgin olive oil is a vastly better "cheap" method. Granted AC lives in a tropical area, so it wouldn't work for him like it does for me. But baby powder is still too much management required having to re-apply it all the time.

Do you think olive oil would stop Crematogaster?

[KitsAntVa]

 

i might have to buy that, actually. does anyone know the size difference between that and byformica fluon?

The Byformica fluon on Amazon is around $32 + free shipping for 0.96 fl oz (3 containers of 0.32 fl oz, you also get a few tools + a spray bottle)

 https://www.amazon.c...01494007&sr=8-1

 

The AntWorldUSA fluon on Etsy is $13 + free shipping in the US for 1 fl oz

https://www.etsy.com...h_click=1&frs=1

 

Bioquip fluon is $25.41 + varied shipping costs ($9 for my state) for 4 fl oz

https://www.bioquip....t.asp?pid=2871A

 

this is off topic but very nice anime show me how you made it like that on your signature

[Nanahira]

 

 

i might have to buy that, actually. does anyone know the size difference between that and byformica fluon?

The Byformica fluon on Amazon is around $32 + free shipping for 0.96 fl oz (3 containers of 0.32 fl oz, you also get a few tools + a spray bottle)

 https://www.amazon.c...01494007&sr=8-1

 

The AntWorldUSA fluon on Etsy is $13 + free shipping in the US for 1 fl oz

https://www.etsy.com...h_click=1&frs=1

 

Bioquip fluon is $25.41 + varied shipping costs ($9 for my state) for 4 fl oz

https://www.bioquip....t.asp?pid=2871A

 

this is off topic but very nice anime show me how you made it like that on your signature

 

My banner is 650 x 150 in size, you can use a program like paint.net, photoshop, or an online program like Pixlr. You can import something to use as a background (or make your own as I did for the image below), and add drop shadows to make layers/text blend into the image. You can use custom fonts for text, which you can find here - https://www.dafont.com/

 

You can also do something simple like drtrmiller's Byformica signature and put your custom logo and text over a transparent background 

https://drive.google...j-vJA3zlE7OAIhG

Edited by Nanahira, October 1 2020 - 8:45 AM.

[ANTdrew]

I found extra virgin olive oil works well, and lasts for months (but if it gets wet, then gotta re-apply it and it doesn't work if its humid). Other oil can work okay, but the former is vastly more effective and some oils don't work at all.

Personally I use a multi-defense approach. Fluon (I get it from amazon since its convenient to order things on amazon and free shipping. The fluon also lasts a long time so its not like have to buy it all the time since a tiny bit goes a long way), extra virgin olive oil, and another type of oil (whatever is on hand).

Tried vaseline once on solenopsis invicta decades ago and they walked on it like it was concrete. In fact, it made them have an easier time to escape. I posted it before, but that was the biggest disaster I ever had of ants and it took all day to clean the vaseline. Never will use it again.

Don't like antscanada baby powder approach. It is not a longterm solution and too messy, extra virgin olive oil is a vastly better "cheap" method. Granted AC lives in a tropical area, so it wouldn't work for him like it does for me. But baby powder is still too much management required having to re-apply it all the time.

Do you think olive oil would stop Crematogaster?

No way.

[Ants_Dakota]

 

 

I found extra virgin olive oil works well, and lasts for months (but if it gets wet, then gotta re-apply it and it doesn't work if its humid). Other oil can work okay, but the former is vastly more effective and some oils don't work at all.

Personally I use a multi-defense approach. Fluon (I get it from amazon since its convenient to order things on amazon and free shipping. The fluon also lasts a long time so its not like have to buy it all the time since a tiny bit goes a long way), extra virgin olive oil, and another type of oil (whatever is on hand).

Tried vaseline once on solenopsis invicta decades ago and they walked on it like it was concrete. In fact, it made them have an easier time to escape. I posted it before, but that was the biggest disaster I ever had of ants and it took all day to clean the vaseline. Never will use it again.

Don't like antscanada baby powder approach. It is not a longterm solution and too messy, extra virgin olive oil is a vastly better "cheap" method. Granted AC lives in a tropical area, so it wouldn't work for him like it does for me. But baby powder is still too much management required having to re-apply it all the time.

Do you think olive oil would stop Crematogaster?

No way.

 

this is where you would need drews crematogaster proof outworld.

[Dry_Twig]

Wow, thanks for all the help everyone! I think I'm going just going to use fluon and oil at the same time, just to be safe!