5 replies to this topic

[Herdo]

I have a quick question.  The cotton on my test tubes looks pretty dry.  The cotton ball itself is wet, but on the side with the queen it looks very dry.  I've also noticed some of my queens stacking their eggs directly inside the cotton, as if they can't get close enough.

 

The test tubes are 16mm x 150mm and I fill the thing up a bit more than half way, then shove an entire cotton ball down.  I've noticed there are large air bubbles now in the water section that weren't there before, so some water must be escaping (and being replaced with air).  The last thing I want to do is try to move them, but I'm concerned they aren't getting enough moisture inside their tubes.

 

Am I overreacting?

[kellakk]

No, sometimes this happens.  When you push the cotton in, the surface of the cotton that the queens touch has to be wet or else they'll try to dig into it (possibly flooding it).  You could either try to push the cotton in a little more so it's fully touching the water, or you can transfer them to new test tubes.

[Herdo]

Thanks for the reply. I actually had a filled test tube with no queen sitting around so I just pulled a small sample of the cotton out using tweezers. The cotton looked dry but actually felt slightly moist. That test tube actually had no cotton lid in it either, just the cotton holding the water back.

Should the cotton feel wet, or just damp? I just tried pushing the queenless test tubes cotton in slightly and it flooded.


My gut tells me they are probably fine. These queens are from Phoenix, where it's not uncommon for us to have months of 100 degree temperature with zero rain. Two of the queens have been in those test tubes for nearly two weeks now and are doing great.

[kellakk]

Well, I was giving you that advice based on the description you gave. Usually when I set up test tubes I push the cotton in until it floods slightly, then clean out all the extra water.  That way I know for sure that the queen can get water.  However, it's entirely possible that the test tubes are fine, and you should definitely just go with what you think is right.  

[Herdo]

Sorry if that sounded like I was dismissing your advice. Based on the information I gave you, your advice was probably spot on. My tendency to worry probably caused the information I gave to be slightly exaggerated, haha. I think I will try to poke the edges of the cotton in a bit more just to make sure.

Thank you again kellakk.

Oh by the way, are you an Arizona resident as well?

Edited by Herdo, July 7 2015 - 9:34 PM.

[kellakk]

No problem, I'm only a step or so ahead of you in this hobby so I'm happy to help.  I'm a California resident just like half this forum haha.