Lasius Niger behaving in a strange way

[boreynorthwind]

Hi! I recently got a colony of Lasius Niger. They currently have around 20 workers. I keep them in a test tube placed into an outworld. The thing is, they are behaving in a very strange way... They built a thick layer of sand in the test tube. It's basically a wall that seperates them from the outworld... They also never come out. I have placed honey and small insects in the outworld but most of the time they never eat them. Sometimes one ant walks past, touches it, and comes back to the test tube. I don't think the worker was laying down pheromones because none of the others came outside. Is this normal for ants?

[JoeHostile1]

As long as you’re offering them enough food they eat exactly the amount of food that they want to. They built the wall because the test tube opening is too large for them.

Try giving them sugar water. Honey is pretty dangerous for tiny Lasius.

[AntsDakota]

Hi! I recently got a colony of Lasius Niger. They currently have around 20 workers. I keep them in a test tube placed into an outworld. The thing is, they are behaving in a very strange way... They built a thick layer of sand in the test tube. It's basically a wall that seperates them from the outworld... They also never come out. I have placed honey and small insects in the outworld but most of the time they never eat them. Sometimes one ant walks past, touches it, and comes back to the test tube. I don't think the worker was laying down pheromones because none of the others came outside. Is this normal for ants?

A colony that small can gorge themselves with food, and not need to eat again for quite a while. And the smaller the colony, the more timid the workers, for every worker at this stage is precious to the survival of the colony.

[boreynorthwind]

So are they okay?

[boreynorthwind]

As long as you’re offering them enough food they eat exactly the amount of food that they want to. They built the wall because the test tube opening is too large for them.

Try giving them sugar water. Honey is pretty dangerous for tiny Lasius.

Ok I'll try that. Thanks! Also can I feed them fruits like small pieces of apple?

[WillWithAnts]

Yes, you can!