10 replies to this topic

[azzaaazzzz00]

I have a Tretramorium Immagrins colony with 9 workers. Whenever I try to feed them (let it be sugar water of half a superworm) I obviosly have to open the cotton ball. But whenever I do, the workers come rushing to the opening and then I have to reclose the cotton. This is also happening with my Camponotus Pennsylvanicus colony, they have 4 workers, and they take up quite a lot of room so whenever I put in food, The opening is like a cenameter away from a worker. So, what's a good way to feed them in a test tube (like without connecting it to anything)?

[TacticalHandleGaming]

Honestly you really may want to think about a small outworld to connect them to for feeding purposes. Tarheelants sells some simple feeding stations you can hook up to a test tube. Or simply make your own with a piece of old tupperware and some tubing. You could try some sort of insert that you can slide in with the cotton ball, but I don't think that would really fix your problem. 

[azzaaazzzz00]

Ok, but I can like feed them sugar water in a test tube when they only have 1 or 2 workers right? Also a pic of a proper ant set up would be nice (like including the test tube, the formicarium, and the outworld). Honestly I've been keeping ants for a while now but I never actually realy understood the set up too much.

[Queen]

I put mine in the fridge for 15 min.

For pictures I believe there’s a pinned section on this forum that is dedicated just for pictures of set ups.

https://www.formicul...-and-outworlds/

[Barristan]

Yep get them an outworld. Can be a small plastic box with some and in it. That is how I keep all my small colonies with first workers:

 

 

 

[ANTdrew]

Yep get them an outworld. Can be a small plastic box with some and in it. That is how I keep all my small colonies with first workers:

Exactly what Barristan said. There are zero benefits of feeding direct in a test tube and many negatives.

[Canadant]

Also, I usually make the entrance smaller to make the ants feel more secure. I cut the tip off a straw (about 2 cm) and place it in the opening with cotton around it. Works great.

[azzaaazzzz00]

 

Yep get them an outworld. Can be a small plastic box with some and in it. That is how I keep all my small colonies with first workers:

 

Thanks I'll give them an outworld as soon as possible. Also will one of the AntsCanada test tube portable things work for a feeding ground for a while at like 5-6 workers?

[ANTdrew]

Yes it will.

[azzaaazzzz00]

Ok, thank you all for the help!

Edited by azzaaazzzz00, June 7 2021 - 10:10 AM.

[cap_backfire]

This is solid advice.  Thanks to all who posted responses.  I have some adjusting to do for at least one of my queens tonight.