Help on feeding ants in a test tube!

[MaxWilldernessKids]

I am a brand new ant keeper, and about 6 days ago a caught queen ant. I believe the queen is a black crazy ant (Paratrechina Longicornis). I extracted the queen and 3 workers from a nest under a wood plank, and put them in a classic test tube setup. A few days ago, one of the workers died, but the queen has been laying eggs. I have tried feeding them sugar water, (very sugary) lemonade, and maple syrup (Which I know is not the best for them). For protein I have tried wild caught cockroches and even dry cat food. In all the times i have shown them food, they dont seem to want it. Should I be feeding them at this stage? If yes, then what should I feed them? And how should I feed them? Btw they seem to be drinking water though, i saw one of the workers had his gaster full of what looked like water. All the help is appreciated, thanks!

[MattsAnts]

Hi, when my queen had her first set of workers I attached a small out world to the test tube, it was about 6cm x 6cm with a little bit of substrate in there, just let’s them move about a bit more and mine used to use the substrate to block off part of the test tube. That way I can place a small cricket that I cut up so they could get to the juicy parts on the inside and left it for a couple of days and just keeped replacing it and I gave them a drop on honey every few day. You could always try a small bit of cooked chicken my Camponotus colony love it most of the nest comes out when I feed them that, I hope this helps

[MaxWilldernessKids]

Thanks! I will definitely try this. I actually have a blue tongue skink (which is a lizard) and she eats chicken, so maybe I can feed a little piece to my ants.

[idahoantgirl]

Here is what I suggest you do. Use a one inch section of drinking straw wedged between the side of the tube and the exit cotton to act as a tunnel for your colony. Then place the whole tube in a tupperware container with a barrier. Then feed them in the outworld.

[MaxWilldernessKids]

This is my current setup. I put the test tube with the exit cotton removed in a small tupperware container with a baby powder barrier. (Btw i just started it today and the ants seem fine with it. Alteast the queen and 2 workers that i have

[idahoantgirl]

The drinking straw creates a more comfortable tunnel with less wind and light so they are less stressed