26 replies to this topic

[NPLT]

Hello, I've recently been buying the things I need for keeping ants, and my first package arrived, and, well, I've bought some fancy test-tubes that seem to be new on Polish market.

 

 

Photo: 

 

I wanted to ask if anybody had any experience with those types of tubes? ( I mainly bought them for the funnel that I could use for refilling water, honestly not realising that the red plaster was not an insert ).

Edited by NPLT, April 28 2021 - 12:22 PM.

[ZTYguy]

i just buy test tubes cause i figuire they are cheaper but those should be great!

[ReignofRage]

They work fine, I've seen a few people use them and have really nice colonies in them.

[NPLT]

i just buy test tubes cause i figuire they are cheaper but those should be great!

I've also bought 10 normal test tubes, but I've never seen these previously and that piqued my curiosity, but good to know these test tubes work!

 

 

They work fine, I've seen a few people use them and have really nice colonies in them.

That's great!

[Manitobant]

I absolutely love these, one of the best nests available in my opinion (besides tar heel ants of course). They have a lot of space and can hold more ants than you expect, and the hydration/humidity levels is also great. They are also very resistant to mold and dirt, making them ideal for destructive and dirty species. I successfully raised raptiformica in them, which are notoriously dirty ants.

[NPLT]

I absolutely love these, one of the best nests available in my opinion (besides tar heel ants of course). They have a lot of space and can hold more ants than you expect, and the hydration/humidity levels is also great. They are also very resistant to mold and dirt, making them ideal for destructive and dirty species. I successfully raised raptiformica in them, which are notoriously dirty ants.

Good to know. I don't think there are any destructive or messy species in my area ( though, I'm yet to check the local forest, over the course of the weekend I'll probably have a couple id threads ), but it is good to know that that nest is great for humidity, would you describe it as something for more dry-loving ants or humidity lovers?

[Manitobant]

I absolutely love these, one of the best nests available in my opinion (besides tar heel ants of course). They have a lot of space and can hold more ants than you expect, and the hydration/humidity levels is also great. They are also very resistant to mold and dirt, making them ideal for destructive and dirty species. I successfully raised raptiformica in them, which are notoriously dirty ants.

Good to know. I don't think there are any destructive or messy species in my area ( though, I'm yet to check the local forest, over the course of the weekend I'll probably have a couple id threads ), but it is good to know that that nest is great for humidity, would you describe it as something for more dry-loving ants or humidity lovers?

its kinda good for both, though coco fiber in the tube may be required for extremely high humidity stuff.

[NickAnter]

I'm' curious, how would one move stubborn ants out of these? it does not look to me as if one could simply dump them out.

[Manitobant]

I'm' curious, how would one move stubborn ants out of these? it does not look to me as if one could simply dump them out.

dumping is actually quite easy, albeit harder than a normal tube. I simply slap the side of the tube and it knocks em out.

[NPLT]

 

 

I absolutely love these, one of the best nests available in my opinion (besides tar heel ants of course). They have a lot of space and can hold more ants than you expect, and the hydration/humidity levels is also great. They are also very resistant to mold and dirt, making them ideal for destructive and dirty species. I successfully raised raptiformica in them, which are notoriously dirty ants.

Good to know. I don't think there are any destructive or messy species in my area ( though, I'm yet to check the local forest, over the course of the weekend I'll probably have a couple id threads ), but it is good to know that that nest is great for humidity, would you describe it as something for more dry-loving ants or humidity lovers?

its kinda good for both, though coco fiber in the tube may be required for extremely high humidity stuff.

 

Understood, I guess Myrmica is off the table then.

[Kaelwizard]

 

 

 

I absolutely love these, one of the best nests available in my opinion (besides tar heel ants of course). They have a lot of space and can hold more ants than you expect, and the hydration/humidity levels is also great. They are also very resistant to mold and dirt, making them ideal for destructive and dirty species. I successfully raised raptiformica in them, which are notoriously dirty ants.

Good to know. I don't think there are any destructive or messy species in my area ( though, I'm yet to check the local forest, over the course of the weekend I'll probably have a couple id threads ), but it is good to know that that nest is great for humidity, would you describe it as something for more dry-loving ants or humidity lovers?

its kinda good for both, though coco fiber in the tube may be required for extremely high humidity stuff.

 

Understood, I guess Myrmica is off the table then.

 

I don't think Myrmica would have a problem in this nest. They would probably primarily use the chambers by the reservoir.

[NPLT]

 

 

 

 

I absolutely love these, one of the best nests available in my opinion (besides tar heel ants of course). They have a lot of space and can hold more ants than you expect, and the hydration/humidity levels is also great. They are also very resistant to mold and dirt, making them ideal for destructive and dirty species. I successfully raised raptiformica in them, which are notoriously dirty ants.

Good to know. I don't think there are any destructive or messy species in my area ( though, I'm yet to check the local forest, over the course of the weekend I'll probably have a couple id threads ), but it is good to know that that nest is great for humidity, would you describe it as something for more dry-loving ants or humidity lovers?

its kinda good for both, though coco fiber in the tube may be required for extremely high humidity stuff.

 

Understood, I guess Myrmica is off the table then.

 

I don't think Myrmica would have a problem in this nest. They would probably primarily use the chambers by the reservoir.

 

Huh? I thought Myrmica needed 90 - 95% humidity, according to Manitobant, I'd need coco fiber for them.

[Kaelwizard]

I'm not sure about species in Poland, but the species I have observed in Michigan don't seem to need nearly that high humidity.

[NPLT]

 

I'm not sure about species in Poland, but the species I have observed in Michigan don't seem to need nearly that high humidity.

 

Most common is Myrmica rubra, others include Myrmica lobicornis, Myrmica ruginodis, Myrmica sabuleti, Myrmica rugulosa, Myrmica scabrinodis, Myrmica vandeli, Myrmica tulinae, Myrmica sulcinodis, Myrmica specioides, Myrmica lonae, Myrmica karavajevi (though, this one is an inquiline without workers ), Myrmica gallienii, Myrmica deplanata, Myrmica curvithorax, Myrmica constricta, and Myrmica schencki. 

Edited by NPLT, April 29 2021 - 9:07 AM.

[Manitobant]

Myrmica would probably be fine in one tbh. If it doesn’t work out you could always move em.

[NPLT]

Myrmica would probably be fine in one tbh. If it doesn’t work out you could always move em.

Huh? Good to know, I doubt I'll find any this season ( nor do I think I have the skills to keep them ), but who knows what my local forest holds.

[Barristan]

I prefer regular test tubes with a water chamber. You can easily see if there is no water inside the chamber while with the ones you posted it is hard to tell when it is dried out.

[Manitobant]

I prefer regular test tubes with a water chamber. You can easily see if there is no water inside the chamber while with the ones you posted it is hard to tell when it is dried out.

true, but I usually water them every week when i feed, so it doesn’t matter that much

[NPLT]

 

I prefer regular test tubes with a water chamber. You can easily see if there is no water inside the chamber while with the ones you posted it is hard to tell when it is dried out.

true, but I usually water them every week when i feed, so it doesn’t matter that much

 

Alright, so, I just need to water it regularly? That should be easy enough since I'd need to do this with other non-test tube nests.

Edited by NPLT, April 30 2021 - 5:54 AM.

[AleeGuy]

Bamboo tubes are great! You just have to pour warm(so the medium would absorb it quicker) water through the small tube that has a black cap on at the end of the test tube using a syringe or pipette, it absorbs water fairly slowly(in my experience) so it might take you some time.

Edited by AleeGuy, April 30 2021 - 6:04 AM.