Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
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Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
I am trying to move my ants to a new test tube because their current test tube is bone-dry. And I can't seem to scare away these -5 workers sitting on the exit-cotton. So I can't open the test tube with these workers there and attach it to a new one. Could anybody help me please?
New to ant keeping, keeping a Messor structor colony. Also I have 2 camponotus queens and what seems, 2 tetramorium queens
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Re: Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
If it's not a species that can cause you a lot of pain then it should be fine. Just grab the cotton and stuff it into the new testtube. Of place the cotton in a glas jar or container so you can add them to the rest of the colony afterwards.
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.
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Currently not keeping any ants anymore.
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Re: Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
Yes, that sounds like a good idea, but won't the escapists die alone if I don't put them back in their home test tube? You know, because there are always little workers in the exit cotton and I won't be able to open it . But I thought, what if I put them in an outworld and made my life easier after doing what you said, or would it be a problem because there are only 10 very tiny workers. What do you thing I should do?AntsLuxembourg wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 5:57 amIf it's not a species that can cause you a lot of pain then it should be fine. Just grab the cotton and stuff it into the new testtube. Of place the cotton in a glas jar or container so you can add them to the rest of the colony afterwards.
New to ant keeping, keeping a Messor structor colony. Also I have 2 camponotus queens and what seems, 2 tetramorium queens
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Re: Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
As I mentioned just throw the cotton with the attached workers into a glass jar for temporary save keeping. You can still catch them and put them back with the rest of the colony. They don't die immediately but they need some food in case they have to live like this for more than a few weeks. Just give it a try and let me / us know how it went.
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.
Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566
Currently not keeping any ants anymore.
Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566
Currently not keeping any ants anymore.
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Re: Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
Ok, thanks. I will try it.AntsLuxembourg wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 1:51 amAs I mentioned just throw the cotton with the attached workers into a glass jar for temporary save keeping. You can still catch them and put them back with the rest of the colony. They don't die immediately but they need some food in case they have to live like this for more than a few weeks. Just give it a try and let me / us know how it went.
New to ant keeping, keeping a Messor structor colony. Also I have 2 camponotus queens and what seems, 2 tetramorium queens
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Re: Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
I tried it and well, the ants never moved to the other test tube. After that I just dip the exit cotton in water so at least they get water from there. Sorry I didn't post sooner, I just forgot to.Alexandros wrote: ↑Tue Jun 08, 2021 6:54 amOk, thanks. I will try it.AntsLuxembourg wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 1:51 amAs I mentioned just throw the cotton with the attached workers into a glass jar for temporary save keeping. You can still catch them and put them back with the rest of the colony. They don't die immediately but they need some food in case they have to live like this for more than a few weeks. Just give it a try and let me / us know how it went.
New to ant keeping, keeping a Messor structor colony. Also I have 2 camponotus queens and what seems, 2 tetramorium queens
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Re: Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
If you have a seringe, you can "refill" the other end a bit. It's a better solution because first making the exit cotton wet, seals of the airflow and the ants may suffocate. And second you can if it is long enough refill some of the water that is supposed to be stored. But in any case you should try to get them moving.
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.
Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566
Currently not keeping any ants anymore.
Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566
Currently not keeping any ants anymore.
Re: Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
when i had a dry test tube, I went to a farm feed store, they will have syringes and long needles.
used syringes and long needles to refill the water in test tube.
when i had mold on the cotton in my teat tube. i used clear tubing that that fit over the test tube about
5 inches long and cut hole in center of the tubing, by squeezing the tubing flat and cutting off a triangle
piece half the width of flat tubing. then use a hot glue gun to glue 2 inch piece of tubing to from a T
and put cotton in the 2 inch piece of tubing.
Bill
used syringes and long needles to refill the water in test tube.
when i had mold on the cotton in my teat tube. i used clear tubing that that fit over the test tube about
5 inches long and cut hole in center of the tubing, by squeezing the tubing flat and cutting off a triangle
piece half the width of flat tubing. then use a hot glue gun to glue 2 inch piece of tubing to from a T
and put cotton in the 2 inch piece of tubing.
Bill
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Re: Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
Did something similar for my starting days because i didn't have testtubes so i made me some DIY ones like this. ^^blackmold wrote: ↑Tue Jul 06, 2021 3:57 pmwhen i had a dry test tube, I went to a farm feed store, they will have syringes and long needles.
used syringes and long needles to refill the water in test tube.
when i had mold on the cotton in my teat tube. i used clear tubing that that fit over the test tube about
5 inches long and cut hole in center of the tubing, by squeezing the tubing flat and cutting off a triangle
piece half the width of flat tubing. then use a hot glue gun to glue 2 inch piece of tubing to from a T
and put cotton in the 2 inch piece of tubing.
Bill
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.
Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566
Currently not keeping any ants anymore.
Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566
Currently not keeping any ants anymore.
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- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2021 3:25 am
- Location: Cyprus
Re: Moving ants from a dry test tube to a new one
Thanks again for the help, I have some syringes and I will try that method. But I really wish they would move. One of the two queens I want to move to a new test tube, is completely dry AND has a lot of black mold. Also some weird fungus started to grow in both test tubes and I am starting to get worried.AntsLuxembourg wrote: ↑Tue Jul 06, 2021 2:40 amIf you have a seringe, you can "refill" the other end a bit. It's a better solution because first making the exit cotton wet, seals of the airflow and the ants may suffocate. And second you can if it is long enough refill some of the water that is supposed to be stored. But in any case you should try to get them moving.
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