Best way to feed ants in test tubes (without escapes)

Posts and questions relating to ant diet & nutrition. Let us know what you’re feeding your ants.

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Idahoantguy
Posts: 136
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:48 am
Location: Idaho

Best way to feed ants in test tubes (without escapes)

Post: # 31178Post Idahoantguy
Sun Sep 10, 2017 4:43 pm

Hello everyone,
I have four newish tetramorium colonies living in nest tubes, with workers ranging from about 5-20 members. I feed them by just taking out the cotton on the end of their test tubes and giving them a bee larvae, but recently I have had some problems.
The last time I fed them I had a couple of workers clinging to one of the pieces of cotton and they fell out when I opened the test tube :cry: . Usually they seem scared enough and they don't run past the food I put in there though. I have one test tube portal I could use, but it would be weird feeding four colonies somehow with one test tube portal.
I have also considered sticking a straw through the cotton and shoving he larvae into the tube, but I would still have problems removing food. I guess I could just kind of nudge the cotton away until I can get the food in and out... Let me know if any of these ideas sound good. Please tell me if you have anything that works well for you though!
Thanks!
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans x2

Anything but tetramorium please :cry:

YSTheAnt
Posts: 145
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:53 am
Location: Bay Area

Re: Best way to feed ants in test tubes (without escapes)

Post: # 31188Post YSTheAnt
Sun Sep 10, 2017 7:58 pm

Put each test tube in a larger outworld, make it dark in the test tube by covering it up with something, then drop the food in the outworld. Make sure to add an ant barrier as well! :D
Check out my blog: bayareaants.blogspot.com
Keeper of:
Camponotus Modoc(6 workers)
Pheidole Spp (2 queens, about 10 workers)
Possibly parasitic Formica (further ID required)
Novomessor Cockerelli (10+ workers)

Idahoantguy
Posts: 136
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:48 am
Location: Idaho

Re: Best way to feed ants in test tubes (without escapes)

Post: # 31190Post Idahoantguy
Sun Sep 10, 2017 8:17 pm

YSTheAnt wrote:
Sun Sep 10, 2017 7:58 pm
Put each test tube in a larger outworld, make it dark in the test tube by covering it up with something, then drop the food in the outworld. Make sure to add an ant barrier as well! :D
Ok cool! What would work well for covering the test tube? I have tried putting duct tape around it but they end up getting stuck and dying on the tape... what do you do? Also what do you use for the outworld?
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans x2

Anything but tetramorium please :cry:

YSTheAnt
Posts: 145
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:53 am
Location: Bay Area

Re: Best way to feed ants in test tubes (without escapes)

Post: # 31192Post YSTheAnt
Sun Sep 10, 2017 8:49 pm

You can use almost any container, like plastic food boxes. For the test tubes, I would make a canopy from cardboard or paper, and use it like a tent. Or, you could cover it with some substrate. Good Luck!
Check out my blog: bayareaants.blogspot.com
Keeper of:
Camponotus Modoc(6 workers)
Pheidole Spp (2 queens, about 10 workers)
Possibly parasitic Formica (further ID required)
Novomessor Cockerelli (10+ workers)

Idahoantguy
Posts: 136
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:48 am
Location: Idaho

Re: Best way to feed ants in test tubes (without escapes)

Post: # 31193Post Idahoantguy
Sun Sep 10, 2017 9:42 pm

YSTheAnt wrote:
Sun Sep 10, 2017 8:49 pm
You can use almost any container, like plastic food boxes. For the test tubes, I would make a canopy from cardboard or paper, and use it like a tent. Or, you could cover it with some substrate. Good Luck!
Ok I'll give it a try!
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans x2

Anything but tetramorium please :cry:

User avatar
idahoantgirl
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Best way to feed ants in test tubes (without escapes)

Post: # 31219Post idahoantgirl
Mon Sep 11, 2017 1:08 pm

It is better to do it this way instead of just leaving the tube wide open: block the exit with cotton, then take a one inch section of drinking straw and ram it between the exit cotton and the side of the tube. this creates a tunnel for them to go in and out of, more like tin the wild.
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

Idahoantguy
Posts: 136
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:48 am
Location: Idaho

Re: Best way to feed ants in test tubes (without escapes)

Post: # 31227Post Idahoantguy
Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:31 pm

idahoantgirl wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2017 1:08 pm
It is better to do it this way instead of just leaving the tube wide open: block the exit with cotton, then take a one inch section of drinking straw and ram it between the exit cotton and the side of the tube. this creates a tunnel for them to go in and out of, more like tin the wild.
Ok, that sounds good.
PS: I just got contacted about selling one of my colonies on the GAN!
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans x2

Anything but tetramorium please :cry:

User avatar
idahoantgirl
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Best way to feed ants in test tubes (without escapes)

Post: # 31233Post idahoantgirl
Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:50 pm

Idahoantguy wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:31 pm
idahoantgirl wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2017 1:08 pm
It is better to do it this way instead of just leaving the tube wide open: block the exit with cotton, then take a one inch section of drinking straw and ram it between the exit cotton and the side of the tube. this creates a tunnel for them to go in and out of, more like tin the wild.
Ok, that sounds good.
PS: I just got contacted about selling one of my colonies on the GAN!
Oh cool! I didn't know there were that many ant keepers in idaho
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

Idahoantguy
Posts: 136
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:48 am
Location: Idaho

Re: Best way to feed ants in test tubes (without escapes)

Post: # 31234Post Idahoantguy
Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:52 pm

idahoantgirl wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:50 pm
Idahoantguy wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:31 pm
idahoantgirl wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2017 1:08 pm
It is better to do it this way instead of just leaving the tube wide open: block the exit with cotton, then take a one inch section of drinking straw and ram it between the exit cotton and the side of the tube. this creates a tunnel for them to go in and out of, more like tin the wild.
Ok, that sounds good.
PS: I just got contacted about selling one of my colonies on the GAN!
Oh cool! I didn't know there were that many ant keepers in idaho
Yea me too! :lol:
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans x2

Anything but tetramorium please :cry:

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