Skippy: (27. Apr 2007 09:13)

Thanks Jimmy

4mykids: (14. Mai 2007 20:28)

Hello Skippy,

Great shots!!!

What do you have them housed in; Plaster of Paris?

Skippy: (14. Mai 2007 20:57)

Hi 4mykids

What is Plaster of Paris? It something from Paris Hilton breasts :lol: or osmethink ,I don´t know but in Europe we cannot useing words like that ,please write specification of that ,but I think ,you want say ,what it is material ,it is ytong :)

Greetings Skippy

Eaglesword: (14. Mai 2007 21:09)

it is F. "rufibarba" or "frufibarba"?

4mykids: (14. Mai 2007 21:15)

Plaster of Paris is used for many aplications however it is also used to make ant formicariums. I have descovered the best combination to mix with this Plaster of Paris and the ants love it. I have had several old formicariums made from sand that my colonies have been well established in and when I attached a tube to a new formicarium made of this combination mixture, they move in right away. It is easy to keep moise and holds in moisture longer.

Skippy: (15. Mai 2007 07:24)

It is Formica rufibarbis :)

Skippy: (15. Mai 2007 07:29)

Havu you recept or photos of it? It could be good material. But I normally prefer ytong.

Greetings Skippy

Werty: (15. Mai 2007 10:59)

Very nice photos! :]

Skippy he means this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaster . It's made from gypsum powder. Large part of Europe including Finland calls Plaster of Paris "building gypsum" or just gypsum.

4mykids: (15. Mai 2007 14:55)

Hello,

That is correct however I mix the Paris of France at a ratio of 25% Plaster of Paris 25% sand and 50% coconut fibre. The coco fibre was my secret mixture and that is a strong attraction for the ants. They move out of what ever I have them housed in and head directly towards the coco fibre. The reason I mix it with the Paris of France is because it prevents collapse when moving the Formicarium.

I have used the coco fibre itself with incredible results but just wanted to try something different. I have started keeping a heat pad under the Formicarium and the responce was incredible. The Queen produced much more eggs after I provided this heat.

I love the pics - good stuff -

I'll figure out how to send some myself - the Queens: they are LARGE & can not really move around in the test tubes I have them in.

JimmyVe: (15. Mai 2007 16:30)

looks like the Plaster of Paris thing works well for you, maybe you can put it in a topic here at the forum.

(for my larger queens i use bigger tubes. ;) )