So I recently attached a test tube to my Lasius Niger formicarium/outworld, mostly because I was worried about keeping proper humidity in the formicarium & also because it was causing some mold to form more quickly on the food. They liked the test tube & moved the queen and brood into it within a single day. I've since added another (connected with a 2-foot long section of PVC tubing) and there's always at least 20 ants, and occasionally some brood, in it.
But the first test tube seems to be growing a black mold on the wet cotton, despite only being used for about a month. Is this something I need to worry about? They seem fine, but certainly the mold can't be good for them?
Is there any way I can prevent mold growth in future test tubes? This definitely seems to be their preferred setup, and I also like having their nests in test tubes.
Maybe also worth mentioning, where I live there is constant mold issues because the humidity here is regularly 80% or higher.
Advice is greatly appreciated! Photos of the moldly test tube attached
