The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

hi guys need some more help from the pros thanks for the help on the last thread wee update still trying to get my queen to move to fresh test tube shes having none of it also she seems to be killing my nanotics when new ones arrive any help with that would be great its a lasius niger queen right now shes got fresh water supply and im dropping spots of honey to the tube for food she has a good stack of brood im concerned with the mold growing in her setup she has a fresh tube attached at the end of the other test tube trying to get her to move but also not to kill her nanotics to let the colony grow any advice and help is greatly apriciated you guys are super patient lasius isnt exactly a hard ant to keep for you but for a novice its like climing everest im learning so much and the help is very much apriciated

Wrap the new tube in paper to make it dark and leave the old test tube open to the light. She should want to move into the darkness.

thanks cale for the responce ive got that in process now i have old tube exposed to light and the other half in like a closed box so its really dark hopefully that does the trick how long would you suggest leaving it like that also any advice on the queen eating her nanotics ? thanks again for the responce

It's nanitics just so you know just leave it like that until she moves. When she decides that the old test tube isn't as comfortable as the new one she will move. Just be patient and don't try to force her.

i will remember thanks and yes im trying to be as patient as possible thanks for the help il give update as i progress just trying to do as much as i can to give my colony the best chance to thrive but i understand that takes time thanks again for the support

If you are going to feed your ants in the tube, you need to do it with some kind of little tray so you can remove it all. Honey droplets are risky because small workers can fall into it. Try little wads of honey-soaked cotton.

thanks bats i shall do that from now on the honey is being consumed by the queen very quickly so i didnt see the need but i understand now why i should use something to put the honey on i will use a small piece of cotton thats poosibly the reason the nanitics are not surviving maybe there simply getting stuck on the honey residue i will clean the tube with q tips and use only small cotton balls to feed honey very good advice thanks again obvisly making sure to stay well away from brood and queen in the process of trying to get her to a fresh tube anyways but shes refusing to move but from now i wont feed her direct to the tube any little helps thanks again for the superb advice