need help !

[guillaumebesner]

hi guys

I need help with id my queen ant in my test tube ..

https://postimg.cc/image/aw9ha271x/
https://postimg.cc/image/g7odus0ud/
https://postimg.cc/image/5kukpd84l/
https://postimg.cc/image/9tzarj3o5/


it must be a week now that I have 3 workers .. should I feed them something ? like a cricket leg or a bit of honey ? Can I move them to a formicarium ? I purchased the starter kit, its quite huge for such a small colony hahha .. how long should they stay in the test tube .. and when to feed them is what I need to know the most !

I saw a video that Mikey mentioned only moving them at 40 workers, but is that for all species ?

Im super exited,this is my first colony and I captured those queens weeks ago. Im really thrill, I watched all the AntsCanada video, but I want to make sure I do everything correct for this first colony.

[Boomdale]

So in my opinion, they look like some type of Paratrechina. I would guess Paratrechina Longicornis but I am by no means an expert or good at this lol.

As far as your colony goes, feel free to feed them any time. I personally set my colony up in a container and kept them in the test tube where they still live. I put a straw in the cotton to allow them to move in and out at will and let them forage when they are ready to. I started with honey and set a piece of protien out a day or two after and then just keep rotating them as i feel the need. I probably over feed my colony for it’s species and size of only 9 workers but I would rather it be present than not when they need it. Since it’s so small the amount of food I may or may not be wasting is extremely small. I clean it out daily so no room for bacteria or mold to grow.

I advice against feeding them inside the tube as it makes it harder to clean and has more of a chance for mold and such. If the ants themselves bring it inside, they will more than likely also take out what they don’t want once they are finished with dinner.

The typical time frame for moving a colony into a formicarium is around 20 or so workers. Your species seems larger so it may be a bit earlier for you as they get cramped. If you feel it’s getting too crowded in there, don’t manually move them into the formicarium yourself, let them do it by either leaving the tube in the outworld or attaching it to the formicarium itself and continue to let them live there until they want to move.

[guillaumebesner]

Thank you so much for your reply. I was thinking of connecting my test tube to second tube with a straw, where I would put the food, instead of a container, I would make sure they cant escape with cotton and I would allow them to forage for food on the other tube ..

Do you think its a good idea ?

What protein you give them ? does it need to be insect ? can it be cooked chicken ?

thanks a lot !

Gui

[guillaumebesner]

https://postimg.cc/image/9ud2x0flx/
https://postimg.cc/image/6ar576xgl/
https://postimg.cc/image/466s643jp/

another queen, no workers. Must be same specie

https://postimg.cc/image/ktya8mdqt/

[TheRealAntMan]

Please give us a general location and a measurement in millimeters for a proper ID.

[idahoantgirl]

Thank you so much for your reply. I was thinking of connecting my test tube to second tube with a straw, where I would put the food, instead of a container, I would make sure they cant escape with cotton and I would allow them to forage for food on the other tube ..

Do you think its a good idea ?

What protein you give them ? does it need to be insect ? can it be cooked chicken ?

thanks a lot !

Gui

I wouldn't connect them to another tube, as it takes away all the advantages of the straw method. You have to disturb the colony every time you go to feed them. Just grab a tupperware container with rounded edges and dab some dry babypowder around the top with a cotton ball. Its best to give your colonies insects. For young colonies fruit flies are great, but sections of mealworm also work. NEVER feed your colony insects from outside, or your house. If you cannot give them insects, you can try little tiny shreds of cooked meat. It isn't ideal, but you could use it just as a *****