Need some help with test tube

[ZantKeeper]

My queen and her first workers are still in the test tube, and I have connected them to a small container for food but none have come out yet, the test tube is nearly out of water and the cotton ball absorbing the water is full of black bacteria, I tried putting a light on the test tube to get them to move out, but there is still a lot of eggs in the test tube, might be the reason they won't leave. I'm new to ant keeping so any help would be much appreciated.

[antnest8]

you should take the test tube and tape it to another one make sure air can get in. they will eventually move. even if they don't the water from the new test tube should humidify the old one.

[ZantKeeper]

Thanks, will definitely need to try that, nearly out of water, and still can't get them to move out.