69 replies to this topic

[antsriondel]

Vaseline is the worst barrier used by ant keepers. Do not use it.

it is terrible for small species not Camponotus.

[ANTdrew]

Don’t waste time with vaseline. Figure out the humidity level in the container. It may need more ventilation for fluon to be effective.

[PaigeX]

and if you have high temps and humidity where you live like me, throw the fluon out, it won't work xD Just use olive oil.

[NicholasP]

Don’t waste time with vaseline. Figure out the humidity level in the container. It may need more ventilation for fluon to be effective.

The fluon has tons of ventilation. I leave the container open because the nest mate sticks up too high in the nest. So I have to fix the nest mate but also it's fairly dry in there. So I don't know what's wrong with the fluon.

Maybe because I diluted it with water or that I've had the fluon for over a year?

[bmb1bee]

I've heard that olive oil is actually a good barrier against ants, especially extra virgin. Do they dry out quickly though? I'm thinking of trying it out because it looks more transparent and unnoticable than Fluon or talcum powder.

Edited by bmb1bee, February 1 2022 - 1:22 PM.

[bmb1bee]

 

Don’t waste time with vaseline. Figure out the humidity level in the container. It may need more ventilation for fluon to be effective.

The fluon has tons of ventilation. I leave the container open because the nest mate sticks up too high in the nest. So I have to fix the nest mate but also it's fairly dry in there. So I don't know what's wrong with the fluon.

Maybe because I diluted it with water or that I've had the fluon for over a year?

 

Yeah, I think you have to apply a new layer once every few months. It might've dried out after a year 

[PaigeX]

I've heard that olive oil is actually a good barrier against ants, especially extra virgin. Do they dry out quickly though? I'm thinking of trying it out because it looks more transparent and unnoticable than Fluon or talcum powder.

yea i use the best olive oil that's like $20 a bottle. its good stuff but it does run if you use too much. it lasts a month or more before it dries out in some places

[OiledOlives]

I used to use olive oil for 3 years. After you get larger or aggressive colonies, they will break out. Olive oil is not a barrier like fluon or talcum baby powder, as it does not make the ants fall off. I have noticed that ants will go up to it and leave it alone, unless they are aggressive. After talking to many experienced keepers, many have had olive oil just not work at all. It is also a pain to clean off, though not as horrible as vaseline. Stay away from olive oil and vaseline as barriers and stay with talcum baby powder and fluon. There is a reason that they are the best barriers.

[bmb1bee]

I used to use olive oil for 3 years. After you get larger or aggressive colonies, they will break out. Olive oil is not a barrier like fluon or talcum baby powder, as it does not make the ants fall off. I have noticed that ants will go up to it and leave it alone, unless they are aggressive. After talking to many experienced keepers, many have had olive oil just not work at all. It is also a pain to clean off, though not as horrible as vaseline. Stay away from olive oil and vaseline as barriers and stay with talcum baby powder and fluon. There is a reason that they are the best barriers.

Agreed, Vaseline does NOT come off well. It also smears and fogs the glass if you touch it after applying it.

[PaigeX]

I used to use olive oil for 3 years. After you get larger or aggressive colonies, they will break out. Olive oil is not a barrier like fluon or talcum baby powder, as it does not make the ants fall off. I have noticed that ants will go up to it and leave it alone, unless they are aggressive. After talking to many experienced keepers, many have had olive oil just not work at all. It is also a pain to clean off, though not as horrible as vaseline. Stay away from olive oil and vaseline as barriers and stay with talcum baby powder and fluon. There is a reason that they are the best barriers.

I think this is best for over seas ants. As baby power and fluon just simply not work for me 90% of the time. Olive oil has keep in all my ants. While other can climb on fluon or even upside down on it. 

[NicholasP]

 

 

Don’t waste time with vaseline. Figure out the humidity level in the container. It may need more ventilation for fluon to be effective.

The fluon has tons of ventilation. I leave the container open because the nest mate sticks up too high in the nest. So I have to fix the nest mate but also it's fairly dry in there. So I don't know what's wrong with the fluon.

Maybe because I diluted it with water or that I've had the fluon for over a year?

 

Yeah, I think you have to apply a new layer once every few months. It might've dried out after a year 

 

Well what I meant is that the barrier is only a few days old. But the bottle of fluon that's diluted with water I've had for around a year. Maybe fluon expires if not used after a year?

[OiledOlives]

 

I used to use olive oil for 3 years. After you get larger or aggressive colonies, they will break out. Olive oil is not a barrier like fluon or talcum baby powder, as it does not make the ants fall off. I have noticed that ants will go up to it and leave it alone, unless they are aggressive. After talking to many experienced keepers, many have had olive oil just not work at all. It is also a pain to clean off, though not as horrible as vaseline. Stay away from olive oil and vaseline as barriers and stay with talcum baby powder and fluon. There is a reason that they are the best barriers.

I think this is best for over seas ants. As baby power and fluon just simply not work for me 90% of the time. Olive oil has keep in all my ants. While other can climb on fluon or even upside down on it. 

 

I used to think that olive oil was a great barrier as well. This was before I got larger colonies which could easily bypass the barrier. I will never use oil again unless I cannot find fluon or talcum powder.

Edit: Nicholas, fluon gets worse when it is not disturbed (shaken) every month or so. I usually shake my 2 dram bottle every week or so to ensure that it works.

Edited by OiledOlives, February 1 2022 - 4:31 PM.

[NicholasP]

Queen scarlet is doing everything in her power to retaliate against me! I come back after a 4-day vacation to more escaped workers!!! Why Scarlet!!! Why do you have to put me through this pain and suffering! I give you all you can eat buffets whenever you're hungry, but you still find the need to torture me like this!? What do I have to give you to stop! Is it mealworms 10 times a day? Or... Ooh maybe aphids?! Stolen brood from Queen Tourmaline for you to rule over!? What must I give you to stop!! So... I've been having some issues with Queen Scarlet as of late... She keeps having escaped workers or everything... Well, I just wanted to update you guys about the madness Queen Scarlet is putting me through while Queen Tourmaline is being extremely kind... If anything, else goes wrong or good... Which probably won't happen. I will let you guys know! So buh bye for now!

[antsriondel]

Queen scarlet is doing everything in her power to retaliate against me! I come back after a 4-day vacation to more escaped workers!!! Why Scarlet!!! Why do you have to put me through this pain and suffering! I give you all you can eat buffets whenever you're hungry, but you still find the need to torture me like this!? What do I have to give you to stop! Is it mealworms 10 times a day? Or... Ooh maybe aphids?! Stolen brood from Queen Tourmaline for you to rule over!? What must I give you to stop!! So... I've been having some issues with Queen Scarlet as of late... She keeps having escaped workers or everything... Well, I just wanted to update you guys about the madness Queen Scarlet is putting me through while Queen Tourmaline is being extremely kind... If anything, else goes wrong or good... Which probably won't happen. I will let you guys know! So buh bye for now!

wow, that's crazy, I love how these queens are just like their characters in wings of fire.

Edited by antsriondel, February 5 2022 - 6:50 PM.

[bmb1bee]

 

Queen scarlet is doing everything in her power to retaliate against me! I come back after a 4-day vacation to more escaped workers!!! Why Scarlet!!! Why do you have to put me through this pain and suffering! I give you all you can eat buffets whenever you're hungry, but you still find the need to torture me like this!? What do I have to give you to stop! Is it mealworms 10 times a day? Or... Ooh maybe aphids?! Stolen brood from Queen Tourmaline for you to rule over!? What must I give you to stop!! So... I've been having some issues with Queen Scarlet as of late... She keeps having escaped workers or everything... Well, I just wanted to update you guys about the madness Queen Scarlet is putting me through while Queen Tourmaline is being extremely kind... If anything, else goes wrong or good... Which probably won't happen. I will let you guys know! So buh bye for now!

wow, that's crazy, I love how these queens are just like their characters in wings of fire.

 

Agreed, wish you luck on Queen Scarlet!

[NicholasP]

At this point I feel like collecting these queens was an utter mistake. Now even tourmaline's workers managed to escape, and several died. I don't know how much more of this I can take. I need a way to prevent them from getting out of the outworld. I'm going to apply 2 more layers of fluon and if that doesn't work then I'm putting the nest inside of another container because this is getting ridiculous. I keep finding workers everywhere. Who knows if I've swallowed a worker in my sleep? Tourmaline seems to be getting physogastric at least. So hopefully she lays quickly to replenish the dead workers of the colony since they're down to around 25-30 workers now and because my patience is being stretched really thin now. no matter what though I must get them through to maturity as these 2 colonies are the only ones of the Camponotus pudorosus species I'll have when I move to Michigan.

Edited by NicholasP, February 7 2022 - 11:59 PM.

[OiledOlives]

A lid will be helpful in your attempts to prevent escapees.

[bmb1bee]

Plot twist, the escaped ants were not from either colony... Yes, a lid would pretty much prevent all the workers from leaving, and will be even more effective if you apply Fluon underneath it. A lid with a hatch to drop food in would work well, and something like mesh to allow air in.

[NicholasP]

So, here's a quick little update. I am on a short little vacation and forget to refill my pudorosus's nest mate! I hope they remain alive until I get back. They do have a water test tube though so they can probably nest in there if they can't stand so little water.

[bmb1bee]

It depends on how long you're going to be out for. I think a couple days should be alright, they'll survive it.