Bark formicarium??

Show us your formicariums and ant setup, ask formicarium-related questions, or share your experiences with building an ant home. Here you will also find formicarium requirements for specific ant species.

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idahoantgirl
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Location: Idaho, USA

Bark formicarium??

Post: # 23136Post idahoantgirl
Thu Jun 15, 2017 9:21 pm

SO, I was looking at pictures of formicaria, And I thought I'd ask you guys about bark formicaria. The pictures look really cool, I was just wondering about hydration, and how to clean the bark to make sure it's safe.
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

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Aquaexploder
Posts: 226
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:55 am
Location: Rhode Island

Re: Bark formicarium??

Post: # 23144Post Aquaexploder
Fri Jun 16, 2017 8:36 am

I have heard that things like bark and cork make great formicariums for Camponotus since that is usually where they tend to make their nests in the wild. I have heard also that hydration is great since the wood sucks up the moister, but you need to be careful not to overwater it in the same area because they are very prone to mold. As to the whether or not the bark is safe I would recommend getting this bark from trees that have minimal sap so it is easier to clean. Also you don't need to but you should collect it from dead trees because they have had more time to dry out. If you happen to collect bark from living trees I would recommend that you leave it out for about the whole summer to let the bark dry out.
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idahoantgirl
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Bark formicarium??

Post: # 23150Post idahoantgirl
Fri Jun 16, 2017 9:59 am

Aquaexploder wrote:
Fri Jun 16, 2017 8:36 am
I have heard that things like bark and cork make great formicariums for Camponotus since that is usually where they tend to make their nests in the wild. I have heard also that hydration is great since the wood sucks up the moister, but you need to be careful not to overwater it in the same area because they are very prone to mold. As to the whether or not the bark is safe I would recommend getting this bark from trees that have minimal sap so it is easier to clean. Also you don't need to but you should collect it from dead trees because they have had more time to dry out. If you happen to collect bark from living trees I would recommend that you leave it out for about the whole summer to let the bark dry out.
So, how would yo hydrate it?
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

User avatar
Aquaexploder
Posts: 226
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:55 am
Location: Rhode Island

Re: Bark formicarium??

Post: # 23156Post Aquaexploder
Fri Jun 16, 2017 2:21 pm

idahoantgirl wrote:
Fri Jun 16, 2017 9:59 am
Aquaexploder wrote:
Fri Jun 16, 2017 8:36 am
I have heard that things like bark and cork make great formicariums for Camponotus since that is usually where they tend to make their nests in the wild. I have heard also that hydration is great since the wood sucks up the moister, but you need to be careful not to overwater it in the same area because they are very prone to mold. As to the whether or not the bark is safe I would recommend getting this bark from trees that have minimal sap so it is easier to clean. Also you don't need to but you should collect it from dead trees because they have had more time to dry out. If you happen to collect bark from living trees I would recommend that you leave it out for about the whole summer to let the bark dry out.
So, how would yo hydrate it?
You could wet a sponge or find some other way to moisten the wood.
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