New Queen Messor Barbarus help
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Re: New Queen Messor Barbarus help
Thanks for the relies, could you tell me which of those nests would be good to use (I have both of them), and when I should transfer them?
Kind regards
Kind regards
- UnrealSparks
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
- Location: Turin - Italy
Re: New Queen Messor Barbarus help
Personally I would go for the smaller one, since ants don't need much space at first. Then when the colony will grow some more you could add the bigger one as an expansion if you'd want.
I transferred mine when there were about 30 workers back a year ago (they moved from a test tube to a sand formicarium), but for yours, considering the smaller module size, I'd say wait for 10+ workers. Oh, and while they were in the test tube I started providing seeds already.
I used to feed them grass seeds when workers were still pretty tiny, then I "upgraded" to canary seeds when I started noticing bigger workers, and now (after 1 year) I just test seeds of any kind considering they have no problem cutting open anything I give them.
I transferred mine when there were about 30 workers back a year ago (they moved from a test tube to a sand formicarium), but for yours, considering the smaller module size, I'd say wait for 10+ workers. Oh, and while they were in the test tube I started providing seeds already.
I used to feed them grass seeds when workers were still pretty tiny, then I "upgraded" to canary seeds when I started noticing bigger workers, and now (after 1 year) I just test seeds of any kind considering they have no problem cutting open anything I give them.
Keeping the following colonies:
- [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
- [2x] Lasius Flavus
Re: New Queen Messor Barbarus help
Thanks for your reply. If I leave them in the test tube how can I change or add water without moving them into the smaller module?
- UnrealSparks
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
- Location: Turin - Italy
Re: New Queen Messor Barbarus help
Avoid adding water to the current test tube, it will just flood. The best thing is to prepare a new test tube and attach it to the old one. Then cover the new one making it darker and more suitable for the colony while shining a bright light on the other one, where the colony is located. This will encourage them to move to the new test tube. And don't worry if it won't happen right away, some colonies take even more than a week to move.
Hope I've been clear enough. If you still have doubts just ask.
Keeping the following colonies:
- [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
- [2x] Lasius Flavus
Re: New Queen Messor Barbarus help
So I attached the test tube to a fresh one. I put some honey in the new one and covered it to make it dark while the current one is exposed to light. The queen is going "mad" and is pulling on the cotton of the current tube like crazy. Now what?
Kind regards
Kind regards
- UnrealSparks
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
- Location: Turin - Italy
Re: New Queen Messor Barbarus help
How did you attached the two? (Keep in mind that a bit of oxygen needs to get through).
What I would personally recommend is to never put food in the new test tube while transferring. That's because they'll tend to cover it with trash and use that area as a garbage site. Also, I never feed Messor with sugary foods (since they're often reluctant towards them), seeds are more than enough.
Other than that it all comes down to a waiting game unfortunately. An additional thing you could do would be to expose the old test tube to direct sun light. It has always worked for me.
Good luck!
Keeping the following colonies:
- [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
- [2x] Lasius Flavus
Re: New Queen Messor Barbarus help
Thanks for your replies, to clarify, connected test tubes wer placed about 1.5 feet under a regular night table light. New tube covered with foil and had a piece of tinfoil with some honey on it as well as a few small seeds. After a few hours, queen started pulling the cotton over herself and the eggs and literally curled up as if dead. I took this as a bad sign so covered both in foil and have decided to wait until she decides to move herself to the second tube.
kind regards
kind regards
- WillWithAnts
- Posts: 263
- Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:22 pm
- Location: South Dakota
Re: New Queen Messor Barbarus help
Oxygen doesn't seem to be an issue for ants. They can be kept in airtight containers for weeks at a time, according to the experiences of other antkeepers on the forum. Now do I know personally? No. . .
Love the updates, btw. Keep them coming!
Love the updates, btw. Keep them coming!
Patiently awaiting nuptial flights
2015 Journal: http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=169
2016 Journal: http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=821
2015 Journal: http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=169
2016 Journal: http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=821
- UnrealSparks
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
- Location: Turin - Italy
Re: New Queen Messor Barbarus help
I see, she must have been bothered by the light. I don't think it's anything serious about her curling up. Maybe she was just trying to hide.GGUUNN wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2019 12:44 pmThanks for your replies, to clarify, connected test tubes wer placed about 1.5 feet under a regular night table light. New tube covered with foil and had a piece of tinfoil with some honey on it as well as a few small seeds. After a few hours, queen started pulling the cotton over herself and the eggs and literally curled up as if dead. I took this as a bad sign so covered both in foil and have decided to wait until she decides to move herself to the second tube.
kind regards
Anyway, if it makes you feel more relieved give her as much time as she needs.
Also, I usually place the uncovered test tube closer to the light source, almost by touching it. But be careful about the lamp heat. Just a day ago I moved a Lasius Flavus colony placing my phone directly against the test tube and by shining its light on them. They moved within a couple of hours.
Keeping the following colonies:
- [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
- [2x] Lasius Flavus
- UnrealSparks
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
- Location: Turin - Italy
Re: New Queen Messor Barbarus help
They actually need a very little amount. That's why airtight containers can be used but not for extremely long periods.WillWithAnts wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2019 3:58 pmOxygen doesn't seem to be an issue for ants. They can be kept in airtight containers for weeks at a time, according to the experiences of other antkeepers on the forum. Now do I know personally? No. . .
Love the updates, btw. Keep them coming!
Moving a colony could be done with the absence of oxygen, sure, but it's always uncertain how much time they'll require for the move. This is why I'd rather be cautious and provide a small gap between the test tubes other than completely sealing them together.
Keeping the following colonies:
- [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
- [2x] Lasius Flavus
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