17 replies to this topic

[OhNoNotAgain]

I checked on my P. imparis and one tube has the cotton and water turning purple.

I've seen black spots in cotton before, but have never seen things turning purple before.

Do I need to change tubes?

 

EDIT: Okay it's pink in full spectrum sunlight. A nice pretty watermelon pink. 

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, May 28 2020 - 5:11 PM.

[Thunder_Birds]

I have had the same thing, but I’m not sure what it is. You might want to change it out though, because it might be some sort of mold:)

[TheMicroPlanet]

I think another user reported a similar problem (their water turned pink). Could be some bacterial growth, but i'd move them into a new tube asap.

[AmazingAnts]

It is probably some form of mold, although the purple color would be a bit off putting, definitely switch them out.

[Pumpkin_Loves_Ants]

I've had P. Imparis colonies cotton turn pink but never purple. How much water was left in the tube when the the purple plague started? Best thing you can do is just to move them out as soon as possible.

Edited by Pumpkin_Loves_Ants, May 28 2020 - 1:41 PM.

[Canadant]

I have some water that is reddish/pinkish. I'm not too concerned about it. The ants don't seem to mind.

[MinigunL5]

https://www.youtube....h?v=7XBTv2EX7YQ

Might help

 

EDIT: trash

Edited by MinigunL5, May 29 2020 - 7:19 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

My Pheidole and Pogonomyrmex colonies also had purple water. After a while workers started dying at an alarming rate, and the deaths stopped once in a new setup. I would move them quickly.

[Thunder_Birds]

There’s the answer right there. @Ant_Dude

[OhNoNotAgain]

I brought the tube out into sunlight and the water is actually pink.

A very pretty disturbing scary pink.

 

Operation Move the Prenos has begun.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Stuck the poor gals in sunlight to try to get them to move....

[OhNoNotAgain]

Unfortunately now it's getting dark and they still haven't moved. 

On the plus side I see one of the larvae is pupating. Just one, but still.

[Thunder_Birds]

Yeah, moving queens from one test tube to another is kinda hard. A quick tip would be to tip the moldy test tube up, so the opening part is fasting down into the new test tube. That might help:) Once you have workers in there that might help as well. There’s some tips if you need any Good luck.

[FSTP]

Considering the anaerobic condition of the water stuck behind the cotton and the color it is likely a bloom of some form of Cyanobacteria. I’ve had this happen as well and I’ve never had ants die because of it. But typically I’ve had it happen when the test tubes water is nearly gone so I end up moving them anyways.

Edited by FSTP, May 28 2020 - 6:53 PM.

[Temperateants]

https://www.youtube....h?v=7XBTv2EX7YQ

Might help

not really lol.

[Pumpkin_Loves_Ants]

I’ve had this happen as well and I’ve never had ants die because of it. But typically I’ve had it happen when the test tubes water is nearly gone so I end up moving them anyways

This sums up my experience with pink Prenolepis water very well. It only started occurring when the water was about half or a little less than half empty, but never when it was close to full.

[RushmoreAnts]

Yeah, definitely not mold.

[MinigunL5]

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=7XBTv2EX7YQ

Might help

not really lol.

 

I know, I rewatched the video