3 replies to this topic

[Ameise]

I'm looking into materials which Camponotus won't be able to chew to line/build formicaria out of. I'm curious what experience people have with various materials?

 

• Dense Wood (Oak, Walnut, Maple): They can dig through it, but prefer not to. If wet, more likely.
• Light Wood (Balsa): Dig with ease.
• Foam: Absolutely no difficulty digging.
• PVC: Unsure. PVC is relatively soft for a plastic.
• Cellular PVC: Also unsure. Less dense than regular PVC.
• ABS: Unsure.
• PLA: Unsure.
• PVA: Unsure.
• Acrylic: I've never seen them make any headway on acrylic.
• Polycarbonate: I've never seen them damage polycarbonate.
• PTFE: Unsure.
• Vinyl: They can chew through vinyl.
• Glass: Maybe really, really, really thin glass?
• Plaster: They can chew through plaster.
• Hydrocal: Unsure? So far, mine have made no attempt at it.
• Hydrostone: Unsure.
• Labstone: Unsure.
• Grout: Unsure.
• Dense metals (IE steel): I highly doubt that they can make any headway.
• Soft metals (IE aluminum): Unsure, though I doubt that they can damage it.
• Silicone: AFAIK, they can chew away silicone.
• Epoxy Resin: AFAIK, they can chew through most epoxy resins given time.
• Nylon: Unsure, but I suspect that they can chew through it.

[Californian Anter]

Recommendation: Use a diamond formicarium, I hear those are hard to chew through 

 

Anyway, I'd recommend maybe an acrylic box lined on the inside with either wood or grout. If you give up building a nest, I'd recommend a  type II nest from tarheelants.

Edited by Californian Anter, August 19 2017 - 8:37 PM.

[Barristan]

I keep my Camponotus nicobarensis colony in a nest made out of concrete. It is quite safe I think

[Serafine]

Camponotus (and Messor) majors only chew on vinyl tubing when they have a point to start from, like tubing hanging into the nest or the outworld.
Apparently they can also chew through thin metal filaments (like mosquito nets) or at least bend openings into them.

Edited by Serafine, August 20 2017 - 4:30 AM.