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So today i chose to check up on my Odontomachus Sp. and Brachymyrmex Sp. i found both of them already have a batch of eggs, which is good and i think that my Odontomachus queen even has larvae. Well my Odontomachus queen seems to be doing just fine in her test tube attached to the outworld, and so does my Brachymyrmex, but my Brachymyrmex keeps her brood very close to the cotton, which i growing mold. i am fearing that the mold might get the eggs so i cleaned a test tube for her and i have it ready for action, i know how to keep the test tubes. She is 5mm in total length which makes me think if she will be able to squish between the gap of the test tubes? Is she able to squish through them? Also how can i make her move? Do i cover 1 test tube with very dark cloth and keep the other one under a lamp? How can i put light over the test tube without harming her?

UPDATE!!!!
i joined the test tubes and she just grabbed her batch of eggs and moved it on to the mold in the cotton. it makes me worry because ive heard that the mold can damage the eggs. HELP ME WHAT DO I DO??? should i put a light on top of her? should i just leave her there? please help i dont want her to die nor her brood to die. help me!!!

My suggestion is to leave her to her own devices, in other words: she will move the brood as she sees fit. I had a similar experience and she and her nanitics were fine, I eventually attached a test tube to hers and she didn't move in right away. It took her another day inside it to move. But DO NOT LEAVE THEM ATTACHED FOR MORE THAN 6 HOURS. either make it so that they can breath with both test tubes attached, or unattach them every 6 hours to let fresh air in, then reattach them.

actually if your tube is small make it 4-5 hours, or vise-versa for larger tubes, but if you're not sure do it for less time just to be safe.

Theantguy13 wrote: ↑

Wed May 24, 2017 1:04 pm

actually if your tube is small make it 4-5 hours, or vise-versa for larger tubes, but if you're not sure do it for less time just to be safe.

the test tubes are attached in a way that there is a very tiny gap between the test tubes which provides her with air. she already explored the dark new test tube but is still clung to the mold and her eggs too... i put her under light for 15 min but with breakes after 5 mins. i am worried for her brood so i use the outside light and the main lamp of my room to provide the light but not to a high level. I found out that leaving a small gap between the test tubes as a tutorial i saw stated.

Most molds are not going to be any concern to an ant colony. You are doing the best thing possible by giving your queens the option to move if they have to. I wouldn't make it too difficult for your semi-claustral Odontomachus queen to forage, however. Stop feeding your Brachymyrmex queen, if that is the source of the mold.

Batspiderfish wrote: ↑

Wed May 24, 2017 1:26 pm

Most molds are not going to be any concern to an ant colony. You are doing the best thing possible by giving your queens the option to move if they have to. I wouldn't make it too difficult for your semi-claustral Odontomachus queen to forage, however. Stop feeding your Brachymyrmex queen, if that is the source of the mold.

my Odontomachus queen has a small outworld which i made from a plastic chinese food container. but should i leave my Brachymyrmex in her test tube with mold or give her a couple of days to move from her test tube? and to move her do i need to use a lamp?

Yestordsd287 wrote: ↑

Wed May 24, 2017 1:29 pm

Batspiderfish wrote: ↑

Wed May 24, 2017 1:26 pm

Most molds are not going to be any concern to an ant colony. You are doing the best thing possible by giving your queens the option to move if they have to. I wouldn't make it too difficult for your semi-claustral Odontomachus queen to forage, however. Stop feeding your Brachymyrmex queen, if that is the source of the mold.

my Odontomachus queen has a small outworld which i made from a plastic chinese food container. but should i leave my Brachymyrmex in her test tube with mold or give her a couple of days to move from her test tube? and to move her do i need to use a lamp?

my brachymyrmex has not been fed... im waiting for her first worker to eclose to start feeding her

when do i know that the queen needs to move because of the mold? will she show any sings or something like that?