Test Tube Water Changes
Moderator: ooper01
Test Tube Water Changes
Alright so i know how to do the test tube set up, no issues. And i get the idea of how to transfer the queen to a new test tube if the water runs out/cotton gets moldy. But the thing is, in all the views it appeared that there was no eggs so the transfer is easy to complete.
So my question is, how do i change test tubes if the queen has eggs, roughly 10+? i made the mistake of using a shorter test tube(still has plenty of water), but it appears that the cotton holding the water back is getting moldy, so i need to put the queen and eggs in a new tube(will be a longer tube this time LOL).
Any advice how to move both the queen and eggs without too much stress? the ant species is camponotus penn.
So my question is, how do i change test tubes if the queen has eggs, roughly 10+? i made the mistake of using a shorter test tube(still has plenty of water), but it appears that the cotton holding the water back is getting moldy, so i need to put the queen and eggs in a new tube(will be a longer tube this time LOL).
Any advice how to move both the queen and eggs without too much stress? the ant species is camponotus penn.
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Test Tube Water Changes
well, there is two methods that I know of. number one is to tape the new test tube to the old test tube and just put some little pinholes in the tape so that she has air. then over the new one so it is dark and possibly shine a light on the old test tube. she will just pick up her eggs and migrate to the new test tube. the other method is to cut a small piece of a drinking straw and wedge it between the cotton covering the old test tube and between the cotton covering the new test tube. then cover the new one, shine a light on the old one, and she will move. keep in mind though that it can take several days for her to move if she is stubborn.
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
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
Re: Test Tube Water Changes
Thanks i'm giving this a try right now. Im surprised this topic wasn't covered in the test tube videos (or was it? )idahoantgirl wrote:well, there is two methods that I know of. number one is to tape the new test tube to the old test tube and just put some little pinholes in the tape so that she has air. then over the new one so it is dark and possibly shine a light on the old test tube.
Re: Test Tube Water Changes
idahoantgirl wrote:well, there is two methods that I know of. number one is to tape the new test tube to the old test tube and just put some little pinholes in the tape so that she has air. then over the new one so it is dark and possibly shine a light on the old test tube. she will just pick up her eggs and migrate to the new test tube. the other method is to cut a small piece of a drinking straw and wedge it between the cotton covering the old test tube and between the cotton covering the new test tube. then cover the new one, shine a light on the old one, and she will move. keep in mind though that it can take several days for her to move if she is stubborn.
to be honest i wouldn't worry about a little mold. it shouldn't cause a problem until it starts to get "out of control", so to speak. ants deal with small amounts of mold in nature, and are fine. but if she must be moved then antgirls methods are correct. you just want to be very careful and watch how she is acting and such.techno2560 wrote:Thanks i'm giving this a try right now. Im surprised this topic wasn't covered in the test tube videos (or was it? )idahoantgirl wrote:well, there is two methods that I know of. number one is to tape the new test tube to the old test tube and just put some little pinholes in the tape so that she has air. then over the new one so it is dark and possibly shine a light on the old test tube.
the workers are usually the ones that make the decision to move the queen and brood, so she may be a little reluctant to do this on her own, but should.
videos and such on this subject are mostly in the "ant Journals, Videos, and Blogs section", also randomly in other sections like "ant care and ant keeping" section.
here is a video i did last year of one of my first colony moves.
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=513
Forum Moderator
AntsCanada GAN Farmer
Re: Test Tube Water Changes
Thanks i was wondering this my self actually as i am debating on if i will keep a recently caught Queen i put into a test tube set up...
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:18 pm
- Location: Colorado USA
Re: Test Tube Water Changes
My Pogonomyrmex Calafornicus queen has run out of water in her test tube setup. She has roughly 5 eggs and no workers. I don't have any other test tubes to transfer her into, so how do I give her more water? If I try to transfer her will she bring her eggs? She had about 17 eggs earlier, but she ate most of them out of stress. I don't want her to lose her remaining eggs or die.
Please help!
Please help!
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Test Tube Water Changes
you are going to have to buy some test tubes. If you don't have anywhere to get them, try a local flora shop and ask for water piks.
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
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
Re: Test Tube Water Changes
Hi i caught a camponotus ant queen quite a while ago and she has laid 4 eggs but her water is kinda running out. (It was a small test tube) Is there a way to add more water?
-
- Posts: 620
- Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:59 pm
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
Re: Test Tube Water Changes
You can use a syringe to inject water.
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Test Tube Water Changes
This will most likely cause flooding.
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
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
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