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Queen ant arrived without much water -- New ant keeper
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 2:42 pm
by pdxant199
Hello,
I recently bought a queen mini ruby ant for my son's 10th birthday (today!) and it arrived last night without much water in the water reservoir and some loose cotton in the chamber. It looks like there are some eggs in the loose cotton but I can't quite tell.
Can't get pics to upload so here are pics on dropbox.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uprkqvt21syr4wf/IMG_4033.jpeg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/eeezz669ozu9f7i/IMG_4032.jpeg?dl=0
I don't want to disturb the queen, but am wondering if we need to address:
1/ the lack of water - the cotton next to the water reservoir is not saturated all the way through and there's just a tiny bit of water on that side of the tube
2/ the loose cotton, especially if those are eggs in the loose cotton where she's facing.
Any advice on what we should do?
Thanks for your help! My son just got into ants and is pretty nervous about her wellbeing.
Re: Queen ant arrived without much water -- New ant keeper
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 8:59 pm
by SolenopsisKeeper
pdxant199 wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 2:42 pm
Hello,
I recently bought a queen mini ruby ant for my son's 10th birthday (today!) and it arrived last night without much water in the water reservoir and some loose cotton in the chamber. It looks like there are some eggs in the loose cotton but I can't quite tell.
Can't get pics to upload so here are pics on dropbox.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uprkqvt21syr4wf/IMG_4033.jpeg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/eeezz669ozu9f7i/IMG_4032.jpeg?dl=0
I don't want to disturb the queen, but am wondering if we need to address:
1/ the lack of water - the cotton next to the water reservoir is not saturated all the way through and there's just a tiny bit of water on that side of the tube
2/ the loose cotton, especially if those are eggs in the loose cotton where she's facing.
Any advice on what we should do?
Thanks for your help! My son just got into ants and is pretty nervous about her wellbeing.
Nice
Camponotus discolor/decipeins queen. The water shouldn’t be too big of an issue unless it completely runs out. Leave her in dim light and do not roll or pick up the tube much. The “eggs” look like a cocoon. Once this cocoon hatches you can move her into a new tube. Do you have more tubes? She looks like a boosted queen, a typical thing for a GAN farmer or any ant seller to begin with. What state are you in, if you do y mind me asking? If you are southern it could just be the queen ate some brood in shipping. You and your son shouldn’t worry too much, she should be fine.
Re: Queen ant arrived without much water -- New ant keeper
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 2:14 pm
by antperson24
pdxant199 wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 2:42 pm
Hello,
I recently bought a queen mini ruby ant for my son's 10th birthday (today!) and it arrived last night without much water in the water reservoir and some loose cotton in the chamber. It looks like there are some eggs in the loose cotton but I can't quite tell.
Can't get pics to upload so here are pics on dropbox.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uprkqvt21syr4wf/IMG_4033.jpeg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/eeezz669ozu9f7i/IMG_4032.jpeg?dl=0
I don't want to disturb the queen, but am wondering if we need to address:
1/ the lack of water - the cotton next to the water reservoir is not saturated all the way through and there's just a tiny bit of water on that side of the tube
2/ the loose cotton, especially if those are eggs in the loose cotton where she's facing.
Any advice on what we should do?
Thanks for your help! My son just got into ants and is pretty nervous about her wellbeing.
Camponotus like dry environments anyway, so don't worry too much. Also, the cotton will be fine. The queen will keep her brood in a little pile and will be able to keep track of it.