14 replies to this topic

[MichiganAnts]

**ADVICE NEEDED**

ok so i tried to give my colony in my tackle box a little snack since they are nocturnal. and a worker manged to get over my extra virgin olive oil barrier. i got her back in, but i think i mangled her right rear leg. did i just not apply enough? or did i not make the barrier wide enough? i put a thin layer about 1/2 an inch wide (the walls are only about an inch high). should i just cover the entire wall in oil so they can't walk on it?

they are camponotus pennsylvanicus if that helps

[Enderz]

I'm not that knowledge able with this, but i would put some more on for safety

 

 Also, did the box idea go well?

[dspdrew]

Fluon.

[Reacker]

Temporary barrier: tight sheet of plastic wrap with a few tooth pick holes. 

[NightsWebs]

Fluon works best

[Crystals]

Camponotus can climb over olive oil on a vertical surface (but not upside down).

Fluon works well if you have it, if not a talcum barrier will also work short term.

I tend to create an upside down lip on my foraging area and line that with olive oil and it prevents escapees easily since I have not yet found a species able to cross an inch wide section of olive oil while upside down.

[andSocks]

Pictures? Are you feeding them in the formicaria? An "out world" with taller walls/ upside down lip, would give you the access you need for feeding and keep you from disturbing the whole colony during meal time.

[Crystals]

I just used a clear page protector that I cut out here -

 

 

used fluon on a thicker plastic here

[CamponotusLover]

Use some vaselin. Or maybe order PTFE.

[kudofo]

Fluon.

 

I tried some of this I got from THA and it works wonders...

[sgheaton]

PTFE = PolyTetraFluoroEthylene. Obmitting the incredibly interesting FTRP process - it's used in making Teflon and other things with low coefficients of friction (THINGS WITH A SLICK SURFACE). 

TetraFluoroethylene is a gas and the polymeric derivative is, go figure, a grease cube. Finding out that PTFE is hydrophobic (meaning it repels water) means its non-polar, thus preferring other non-polar solvents. Essentially....it's poorly soluble across the board though water is the universal world solvent, was used. Water is a polar molecule -- It doesn't care for the PTFE molecules either. It's used to dilute the grease-like solid into an emulsion of sorts...that when shaken, envelope on itself!

 

that's why I've been told not to shake it! You'd make lil' micelles. It's an emulsion! Dahah!!!!!! Suck it Chemistry -- I'm goin' on break!

 

Provided an educational youtube video to describe emulsifcation - 

[LegiN]

my crematogaster sp. walks right over fluon...not even olive oil works.

[CallMeCraven]

Like everyone has already suggested, fluon is the preferred barrier. I have read and listened to other sources that have suggested a thin, even layer of Vaseline, or a mixture of rubbing alcohol and talcum powder will also work as a barrier. Just apply them in the same manner as the olive oil, maybe in a little thicker band. Do you best to reduce any ridges when applying with whatever method you choose. You don't want to give those little suckers even a chance to grab on to something .

[MichiganAnts]

this topic can be locked 

[drtrmiller]

this topic can be locked

Informational topics are not generally locked, because others may have follow-up questions or want to contribute additional information.