ANTSTORE World of Ants

[damondeionno]

Hi people. I have carved a Ytong (aerated concrete) block and am looking to cover both sides with acrylic. It's a vertical setup and I want it to be wall mounted. It's to house my Messor barbarus.

Does anyone have experience using acrylic rather than glass? What thickness do people think is best? Thickness ranges from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

[miszt]

it can be used, but u need to make sure it doesnt absorb water, many plastics do

[JimmyVe]

Acrylic is the same as plexi (not ?). Than i use it often. I always use the 4mm. You can stick in to the y-tong with silicone, make sure you don't use silicone that spread toxic gases into the y-tong.

Don't forget, Messor barbarus can dig trough y-tong.

[damondeionno]

"You can stick in to the y-tong with silicone, make sure you don't use silicone that spread toxic gases into the y-tong."

I thought all silicon released acetic acid while curing. Are you referring to aquarium safe silicon which doesn't contain fungicide?

"Don't forget, Messor barbarus can dig trough y-tong."

I've seen mixed reports on this. How easily do they dig through? I was going to fully enclose the ytong in acrylic - leaving some gaps for air. So even if they dig through, they won't break out. Will that work?

[ratgreen]

yep i use perspex, plexiglass, clear acrylic whatever you want to call it in all of my ytongs, mine is about 3mm i think, it works fine, but i dont recommend using anything thinner than 3mm

[miszt]

"You can stick in to the y-tong with silicone, make sure you don't use silicone that spread toxic gases into the y-tong."

I thought all silicon released acetic acid while curing. Are you referring to aquarium safe silicon which doesn't contain fungicide?

you can buy silicon sealant that is suitable for use in live terriums/aquariums, I dont recomend it tho as it can be expensive, aquarium safe silicon is fine, as long as its left at least 48hrs before adding animals

"Don't forget, Messor barbarus can dig trough y-tong."

I've seen mixed reports on this. How easily do they dig through? I was going to fully enclose the ytong in acrylic - leaving some gaps for air. So even if they dig through, they won't break out. Will that work?

Messor will make short work of Y-tong and Acrylic, not the workers particuly, but the Majors have only one roll, to crush hard seeds, and they will do the same thing to the ytong and acrylic, I highly recomend you use Glass and have it fully sealed all around the ytong, or put it in a basin with some kind of escape prevention

[damondeionno]

Thanks Miszt

Are there any issues with fully sealing the ytong? I am aware that ants don't need massive ventilation for their respiration.

[miszt]

fully sealed never really means fully sealed, you will need connecting tubes for basins, pherhaps holes for tempreture probs etc, and often a hole with a fan, depending on the humidity and tempreture needed inside the nest

but they are less likly to reach a small hole randomly digging than a long gap in the edge

but they might, however, as long as you use the right sealant on the holes, you should have at least 12-24 hours warning before they get thru it, and you can top it up or figure out a way to stop them getting out