11 replies to this topic

[paddockweeder]

Hey guys!

 

I move to Italy recently and want to go on ant keeping, but I don't know any shop that sales any DIY equipment. I bought some ant keeping equipments and free ants from Anthouse but they are quite not enough for me and shipping is insanely expansive! So I'm looking fo some where to buy something like gypsum and acrylic plate or acrylic cutting service both online or offline in Italy.Also I do want to know what kind of gypsum you guys use for formicarium and how much a piece of acrylic sheet should be in Europe as an reference. I did search for laser cutter on Amazon, but it seems a bit expansive for me since I'm only going to live here for about 2 years and half.

 

Any advice would be very appreciated!

[T.C.]

Well something like acyrilic you could replace with glass from a picture frame. And I don't use gypsum, as grout Is my favorite. That should be available there?

[paddockweeder]

Well something like acyrilic you could replace with glass from a picture frame. And I don't use gypsum, as grout Is my favorite. That should be available there?

Speaking of glass, It's probably better to use fish tank to make an All In One fomicarium rather than making my own acrylic frame for nest and out world.

Grout is good for out world as I know, but maybe it is too liquid to construct nest chamber?I never used grout before,only in video. Please, let me know if it's good for nest chamber.

[T.C.]

Well something like acyrilic you could replace with glass from a picture frame. And I don't use gypsum, as grout Is my favorite. That should be available there?

Speaking of glass, It's probably better to use fish tank to make an All In One fomicarium rather than making my own acrylic frame for nest and out world.
Grout is good for out world as I know, but maybe it is too liquid to construct nest chamber?I never used grout before,only in video. Please, let me know if it's good for nest chamber.

Grout works fine for nest chambers, but build in a water tower for hydration. And you can build it in a aquarium as long as you know ants can easily climb silicone edges.

[ANTdrew]

I think Ikea Godmorgon boxes are a good place to start. You could order acrylic and hydrostone from eBay I bet. Hydrostone is superior to grout. In Europe, though, I’d try to find ytong or AAC blocks to carve nests out of.

[T.C.]

I think Ikea Godmorgon boxes are a good place to start. You could order acrylic and hydrostone from eBay I bet. Hydrostone is superior to grout. In Europe, though, I’d try to find ytong or AAC blocks to carve nests out of.

Hydrostone vs Grout both have downfalls. I just threw out a hydrostone setup that was to be "mold proof" but it turned Grey with mold. I've never had grout do that.

[ANTdrew]

Another reason to try Ytong. I’d be all about that stuff if it were available here in the US.

[T.C.]

Another reason to try Ytong. I’d be all about that stuff if it were available here in the US.

I tried to get a pallet imported. It would of cost about 1600 and I couldn't find anyone to go half and half. Even at half, not sure it would of been worth it.

[paddockweeder]

Another reason to try Ytong. I’d be all about that stuff if it were available here in the US.

Fortunately,there is a building material maket near my place,I'll take a look if there is any Ytong.Thank you for all these advise!

[paddockweeder]

Well something like acyrilic you could replace with glass from a picture frame. And I don't use gypsum, as grout Is my favorite. That should be available there?

Could grout be toxic for ant?It's probably not a non-toxic material since I found a warnning of "harmful to aquatic organism and have long lasting effects" from the grout I was going to buy, although it didn't mention ant or any insect(it probably won't mention even it is harmful to insect).

[ANTdrew]

Fully cured standard grout is non-toxic. Some grout may have anti-mold chemicals mixed in, which you should avoid. Read labels carefully.

[T.C.]

 

Well something like acyrilic you could replace with glass from a picture frame. And I don't use gypsum, as grout Is my favorite. That should be available there?

Could grout be toxic for ant?It's probably not a non-toxic material since I found a warnning of "harmful to aquatic organism and have long lasting effects" from the grout I was going to buy, although it didn't mention ant or any insect(it probably won't mention even it is harmful to insect).

 

 

Like AntDrew said, read it careful. But 90% percent are safe. The best brand you can buy is the TEC® AccuColor®  brand. I've used it for almost a decade now.

Edited by T.C., November 14 2022 - 9:16 PM.