9 replies to this topic

[AntPerson]

all in the title

[KBant]

What kind of clay? Moldable clay? Baked in a kiln? Used to just form chambers or used as a nesting material? You see how your question is vague and perhaps “all in the title” is not sufficient? Try putting in more of an effort if you want to get back serious replies please.

[StopSpazzing]

https://www.antkeepi...lding_Materials

 

Non-drying modeling clay can't be used.

[Klassien]

Are you talking about the whole formicarium? What kind of clay? What did you have in mind?

Stay away from modeling clay that you can pick up at the store.

[ken14400]

Are you talking about the whole formicarium? What kind of clay? What did you have in mind?

Stay away from modeling clay that you can pick up at the store.

what about air dry clay?

[antnest8]

i once did that. the colony never moved in plus air-dry will crumble into a muddy powder when touching water. maybe kiln clay would work

[dspdrew]

Clay will work great, if it's fired in a kiln. In my opinion it's probably the best material you could make the typical naturalistic formicarium out of. Just making a formicarium out of it will probably be more difficult than any other material. I can't think of any other nest making material that absorbs water, is rock hard, and doesn't dissolve or break down.

[nurbs]

all in the title

 

I always do my best to help and answer questions, especially to new users. 

 

But when you don't even put the effort to ask a question, I don't respond. I've seen so many posts like this. Some of you kids of the current generation so entitled. Seriously, how are your parents raising you?  

[StopSpazzing]

Clay will work great, if it's fired in a kiln. In my opinion it's probably the best material you could make the typical naturalistic formicarium out of. Just making a formicarium out of it will probably be more difficult than any other material. I can't think of any other nest making material that absorbs water, is rock hard, and doesn't dissolve or break down.

Gives me an idea, why not make modular clay formicariums/sections with your kiln?

[dspdrew]

 

Clay will work great, if it's fired in a kiln. In my opinion it's probably the best material you could make the typical naturalistic formicarium out of. Just making a formicarium out of it will probably be more difficult than any other material. I can't think of any other nest making material that absorbs water, is rock hard, and doesn't dissolve or break down.

Gives me an idea, why not make modular clay formicariums/sections with your kiln?

 

 

I would probably only make ceramic formicariums for myself because they would take a lot of manual fabricating. Ceramics shrink and distort when fired, so there would be a lot of post sanding and working to get things to fit together properly. I mainly only use ceramics for parts of formicariums.