4 replies to this topic

[OhNoNotAgain]

So I have 2 tubes, each with 3 queens, 1 nanitic, and brood, bought locally (I believe they all came from the same flight). Both tubes are in separate small tubs with Fluon and no lid.

One tube's cotton/water has turned pink, the other is going horribly black. (All in my journal.)

Anyway, I've since learned that:

 

• Prenos hate hate hate hate HATE to move. Moving can even stress them out to the point of them dying. (I tried to get pink tube colony to move out and failed.)
• Prenos can cross Fluon easily.
• Prenos MIGHT tolerate other Preno colonies.

 

We also know Prenos don't keep laying through most of the year - though what happens the first year is a bit unclear.

 

So all this considered, I'm THINKING of either:

 

1. Moving the Prenos into 2 mini-hearths

OR

2. Moving BOTH groups into the SAME THA Casita formicarium (3 tiers in the nest, and a 4x4 inch outworld).

 

I'd actually like to do #2 as they would have tons of room to grow and would not have to move again (at least not for a lonnnnng time). Plus, I'm short on space and combining them would be cool.

Downside is I know you're not supposed to put a colony in a nest that's too big.

 

But this would only work if the two colonies got along and could merge into one.

It would also only work if I could somehow feed them inside a Casita's bottom level of the nest (I think?).

It would also only work if I can find a way to move them OUT of the test tube WITHOUT losing brood.

 

Any thoughts? Am I crazy?

I'd like to wait until they have more workers, too, but the black tube is getting blacker and the pink tube is possibly getting pinker.

 

 

[TechAnt]

I mean, you may accidentally fuse their colonies if you move them in the same set-up. They will probably tolerate each other if they don’t fuse, as Prenos are highly polygonus as you know. If your fine with that chance of fusing, then I say move into the same setup.

You can manually use featherweight forceps to move each workers, brood, and the queen. Or try and push the cotton ball from the back forwards to push them out?

Personally, I would do one test tube at a time with the forceps above the Castia outworld slowly moving them all out and gently placing them on the ground. If I had to do either of the two. Or as TarHeel has shown in is Ant Desk Series, shaking them out into the outworld.

Edited by TechAnt, June 16 2020 - 8:24 PM.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Thanks! I thought of pulling the cotton ball, but the cotton is SO gross, either pink or black, that I sort of am hesitant to move it toward the precious brood piles, let alone touch the brood to it. I mean I've had other tubes get black-ish, but these two are probably the most disgusting I've seen.

I've never used featherweight forceps before. They won't crush brood?

If they were closer to the tube exit I would do my usual wet paper towel trick, but they're way in the back.

 

And finally, if I put them in the Casita outworld, would they actually move into the nest? I was thinking I'd have to move them directly into the bottom of the Casita manually... somehow.

 

Yeah I don't mind them fusing (I guess) as long as they don't fight or something.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, June 16 2020 - 8:44 PM.

[TechAnt]

Thanks! I thought of pulling the cotton ball, but the cotton is SO gross, either pink or black, that I sort of am hesitant to move it toward the precious brood piles, let alone touch the brood to it. I mean I've had other tubes get black-ish, but these two are probably the most disgusting I've seen.
I've never used featherweight forceps before. They won't crush brood?
If they were closer to the tube exit I would do my usual wet paper towel trick, but they're way in the back.
 
And finally, if I put them in the Casita outworld, would they actually move into the nest? I was thinking I'd have to move them directly into the bottom of the Casita manually... somehow.
 
Yeah I don't mind them fusing (I guess) as long as they don't fight or something.

Featherweight forceps are actually sold on TarHeel Ants website in Accessories section. They are designed to hold ants (and food if you want, I use them for food too) with proper handling. You can read more on the forceps page here: https://tarheelants....rweight-forceps

[TechAnt]

Thanks! I thought of pulling the cotton ball, but the cotton is SO gross, either pink or black, that I sort of am hesitant to move it toward the precious brood piles, let alone touch the brood to it. I mean I've had other tubes get black-ish, but these two are probably the most disgusting I've seen.
I've never used featherweight forceps before. They won't crush brood?
If they were closer to the tube exit I would do my usual wet paper towel trick, but they're way in the back.

And finally, if I put them in the Casita outworld, would they actually move into the nest? I was thinking I'd have to move them directly into the bottom of the Casita manually... somehow.

Yeah I don't mind them fusing (I guess) as long as they don't fight or something.

Featherweight forceps are actually sold on TarHeel Ants website in Accessories section. They are designed to hold ants (and food if you want, I use them for food too) with proper handling. You can read more on the forceps page here: https://tarheelants....rweight-forceps

Oh, and about moving them, they probably will seek shelter. Just hydrate the nest and drop them by the entrance of the Castia. If they are still out there after a whole day, you may have to put them back in a new fresh test tube. Just my thoughts, but always consult more people then just me.

Edited by TechAnt, June 16 2020 - 9:10 PM.