swellgel (water storing crystals) question

[ghost_tomb]

heard about people using these to give their roachs water, is this kind safe?

phostrogen swellgel "may be harmful if swallowed" is the only warning but still thought it best to check here since its taken me 2 months to get all 9 (LOL) of my roachs and since i'm going to have some babies soon i don't want to wipe them all out.

 

[Mister Internet]

Look at the ingredients... if it is "Polyacrymalide", then yes, it's the same stuff dozens of people on here have been using for their roaches and crickets for years...

 

[Lochala]

I use a jiffy peanut butter lid and so far no one has drown, not even the babies.

 

[JohnxII]

Hmm... I was gona ask the same thing. Do they actually consume the gel or do they just suck the water out?

 

[Mister Internet]

Hmm... I was gona ask the same thing. Do they actually consume the gel or do they just suck the water out?

The crystals become not like a sponge, but like a gelatinous solid. The insects can't suck out the moisture in the classical sense, they basically chew on it and ingest it like we would eat Jell-O.

 

[Wade]

I think the "harmful if swallowed" part may refer to the dry form, which (presumably) could expand inside you and cause some problems. Once hydrated, it seems to be pretty safe. I had a friend who would eat a hand full to demonstrate this! Not that I'd recomend such a thing.

Wade

 

[Malhavoc's]

perhaps not as much of expanding in you but the absorbing of your moisture aswell? lol

 

[Wade]

perhaps not as much of expanding in you but the absorbing of your moisture aswell? lol

I'm thinking that by rapidly absorbing moisture from inside your mouth or throat it could cause some sort of burn. I've gotten this sort of chemical burn from handling dry plaster and concrete.

Wade

 

[JohnxII]

Thanks people, I'll take a look at this Polyacrymalide thing...