Test tube face palm of failure?

Questions from those who are just starting or considering getting into the ant keeping hobby. If you’re intimidated or confused by the in-depth posts of the other sections of this forum, feel free to post here, and we'll start from square one!

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AntViking

Test tube face palm of failure?

Post: # 18325Post AntViking
Mon Mar 20, 2017 1:51 pm

So I am a first time ant keeper and my camponotus queen is just about to have her second batch of eggs hatch (Yay!!) But I've ran into a slight problem. I was unaware AntsCanada had so much great stuff for ant keeping when I started ant hunting and placed her in a tube. Easley that tube was not from the AntsCanada store. O.o it is quite a bit larger. It measures too about an inch in diameter while the AntsCanada one is only a half inch. Any advice on moving them from this old tube to an AntsCanada one? Thx

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Batspiderfish
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Location: Maine

Re: Test tube face palm of failure?

Post: # 18327Post Batspiderfish
Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:18 pm

Do not move your colony. They can relocate on their own if their tube is placed in a foraging arena/outworld.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.

AntViking

Re: Test tube face palm of failure?

Post: # 18329Post AntViking
Mon Mar 20, 2017 3:09 pm

Well that should have been obvious to me haha. You're saying I should just set the tube in the already finished outworld and just wait then?

Martialis
Posts: 1576
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 5:30 pm
Location: Indiana

Re: Test tube face palm of failure?

Post: # 18330Post Martialis
Mon Mar 20, 2017 3:15 pm

Yes, that is what you do.
Keeper of

Selliing:

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idahoantgirl
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Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Test tube face palm of failure?

Post: # 18349Post idahoantgirl
Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:46 pm

that size should be fine. No worries!
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

Cale3459

Re: Test tube face palm of failure?

Post: # 18352Post Cale3459
Mon Mar 20, 2017 10:50 pm

+1 for exactly what you should do, but wait until your colony is at least 20-30 strong if you can. I would assume with a test tube that large that space will not be an issue, but water available may become one. When you have enough workers just place the entire tube in the outworld with the nest attached and they will find the nest on their own. If your colony is anything like mine they will be stubborn and not want to move but just have patience and they will eventually.

AntViking

Re: Test tube face palm of failure?

Post: # 18362Post AntViking
Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:28 am

Ok thx guys! Sounds like I have quite awhile to wait then. Guess that gives me time to decor her outworld and get it a little more prep

Serafine

Re: Test tube face palm of failure?

Post: # 18368Post Serafine
Tue Mar 21, 2017 12:15 pm

These are my Campos in their large 30x200mm tube.
Image

It's perfectly fine and they do well.
Image

You can buy various sizes of test tube in shops that sell crafting stuff and lab equipment, there's no need to order them online (I used the smaller ones as sugar tubes before I got the byFormica liquid feeders).
You can directly place the test tube with the ants in an outworld/arena/foraging container which also makes feeding them much easier as you don't have to "invade" their tube every time but can just place food at their front door. When the colony grows bigger you can simply attach any nest you like.

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Nathant
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:57 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Test tube face palm of failure?

Post: # 18382Post Nathant
Tue Mar 21, 2017 6:19 pm

AC's Test tubes are really unnesasarily expensive (not like I'm ranting or anything though) I reccomend buying from here (16 mm x 150 are what most people use, and glass works great)

http://www.lcmlab.com/16mm_Glass_Test_Tubes_Corning_99445_16_p/41a20-w.htm

Super cheap yet nice quality.

jwatson16202

Re: Test tube face palm of failure?

Post: # 18384Post jwatson16202
Tue Mar 21, 2017 6:37 pm

Any 17mm test tube will work with AC products
I bought some plastic ones from amazon for about 10p each

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