Help on feeding ants in a test tube!
Moderator: ooper01
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- Posts: 8
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Help on feeding ants in a test tube!
I am a brand new ant keeper, and about 6 days ago a caught queen ant. I believe the queen is a black crazy ant (Paratrechina Longicornis). I extracted the queen and 3 workers from a nest under a wood plank, and put them in a classic test tube setup. A few days ago, one of the workers died, but the queen has been laying eggs. I have tried feeding them sugar water, (very sugary) lemonade, and maple syrup (Which I know is not the best for them). For protein I have tried wild caught cockroches and even dry cat food. In all the times i have shown them food, they dont seem to want it. Should I be feeding them at this stage? If yes, then what should I feed them? And how should I feed them? Btw they seem to be drinking water though, i saw one of the workers had his gaster full of what looked like water. All the help is appreciated, thanks!
Attempting: Odontomachus (possibly Brunneus) x1
Re: Help on feeding ants in a test tube!
Hi, when my queen had her first set of workers I attached a small out world to the test tube, it was about 6cm x 6cm with a little bit of substrate in there, just let’s them move about a bit more and mine used to use the substrate to block off part of the test tube. That way I can place a small cricket that I cut up so they could get to the juicy parts on the inside and left it for a couple of days and just keeped replacing it and I gave them a drop on honey every few day. You could always try a small bit of cooked chicken my Camponotus colony love it most of the nest comes out when I feed them that, I hope this helps
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2019 3:12 pm
Re: Help on feeding ants in a test tube!
Thanks! I will definitely try this. I actually have a blue tongue skink (which is a lizard) and she eats chicken, so maybe I can feed a little piece to my ants.
Attempting: Odontomachus (possibly Brunneus) x1
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Help on feeding ants in a test tube!
Here is what I suggest you do. Use a one inch section of drinking straw wedged between the side of the tube and the exit cotton to act as a tunnel for your colony. Then place the whole tube in a tupperware container with a barrier. Then feed them in the outworld.
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2019 3:12 pm
Re: Help on feeding ants in a test tube!
This is my current setup. I put the test tube with the exit cotton removed in a small tupperware container with a baby powder barrier. (Btw i just started it today and the ants seem fine with it. Alteast the queen and 2 workers that i have
Attempting: Odontomachus (possibly Brunneus) x1
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Help on feeding ants in a test tube!
The drinking straw creates a more comfortable tunnel with less wind and light so they are less stressed
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
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