22 replies to this topic

[LowQualityAnts]

I have a problem. My ants are chewing and tearing out the cotton in between the reservoir and the colony. I was hoping that their water would dry up before they broke through or that thier larvea would grow and force them out but I don't think that will happen in time. I am trying to get them to move from a single tube in an ac test tube portal to a mini hearth xl with a heating cord and in a darker area than the portal. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do?

[antperson24]

I have a problem. My ants are chewing and tearing out the cotton in between the reservoir and the colony. I was hoping that their water would dry up before they broke through or that thier larvea would grow and force them out but I don't think that will happen in time. I am trying to get them to move from a single tube in an ac test tube portal to a mini hearth xl with a heating cord and in a darker area than the portal. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do?

Well, since it is an emergency, you could try dumping them into the outworld (normally I don't recommend this). 

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

As said, if this is a time pressure issue you can just dump them in the outworld on top of the mini.

But that will be stressful on them, if it could be avoided, best to.

 

Try this:

Make the new nest all the good things, dark, warm, humid.

Hook the test tube up to one of the side ports with just a  few inches of tube.

Make the test tube brightly lit and let it go cold.

 

They will probably move all on their own over the course of a few hours.

 

Here is an image of how I hooked up my test tube of ants the mini for this.

It's using a custom bit of printed plastic from Tar Heel Ants. But really anything could be cudgeled together for that. A couple rubber bands, some cling wrap could be used for  sealing the test tube to the vinyl  tube.

 

 

 

The test  tube is sitting on a folded sock to make it level wiht the port and keep it from rolling around.
Any ants out roaming around the old outworld i'd use a wood skewer or something to just move them over one at a time to the new outworld.

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, March 7 2023 - 11:09 AM.

[antperson24]

As said, if this is a time pressure issue you can just dump them in the outworld on top of the mini.

But that will be stressful on them, if it could be avoided, best to.

 

Try this:

Make the new nest all the good things, dark, warm, humid.

Hook the test tube up to one of the side ports with just a  few inches of tube.

Make the test tube brightly lit and let it go cold.

 

They will probably move all on their own over the course of a few hours.

 

Here is an image of how I hooked up my test tube of ants the mini for this.

It's using a custom bit of printed plastic from Tar Heel Ants. But really anything could be cudgeled together for that. A couple rubber bands, some cling wrap could be used for  sealing the test tube to the vinyl  tube.

 

 

 

The test  tube is sitting on a folded sock to make it level wiht the port and keep it from rolling around.
Any ants out roaming around the old outworld i'd use a wood skewer or something to just move them over one at a time to the new outworld.

That sounds good. Just don't use the light, it only stresses out Camponotus, it does not help them move.

[ANTdrew]

Direct sunlight on the tube will get them to move fast. Artificial light doesn’t motivate them much, especially if they are accustomed to light already.

[Manitobant]

I’d dump em. In my experience most ants handle it just fine unless they are a super sensitive species.

[LowQualityAnts]

I was thinking of dumping them but they are camponotus and there are alot of them. I am afraid I might crush/loose some if I dump them into the outworld since Camponotus can be very fast when scared.

[LowQualityAnts]

Direct sunlight on the tube will get them to move fast. Artificial light doesn’t motivate them much, especially if they are accustomed to light already.

I might try this.

[antperson24]

I was thinking of dumping them but they are camponotus and there are alot of them. I am afraid I might crush/loose some if I dump them into the outworld since Camponotus can be very fast when scared.

You can put baby powder on the top of the outworld, and also on the outside of the test tube. It should go just fine if you do it that way.

[LowQualityAnts]

Just moved them into semi direct sunlight to try and get the colony to move.

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Edited by LowQualityAnts, March 8 2023 - 2:40 PM.

[antperson24]

Just moved them into semi direct sunlight to try and get the colony to move.

I don't think that will work. My C. novaeboracensis colony is in direct sunlight all day, and they are fine with it.

[rptraut]

If there is an air bubble, prop up the test tube so the water isn't touching the cotton.   Or, put the test tube on such an angle so there is no way water can flood the ants.  I store all my queens in test tubes on an angle, so if there is a flood, there is always a dry area at the top for refuge.  I make sure the cotton is wet each time I check them, but I don't think the cotton needs to be saturated at all times, especially when they're in hibernation.

[rptraut]

At a 45 degree angle, ants will never be flooded out in a test tube.

[Manitobant]

Just moved them into semi direct sunlight to try and get the colony to move.

I don't think that will work. My C. novaeboracensis colony is in direct sunlight all day, and they are fine with it.

yeah camponotus are notoriously stubborn when it comes to moving. As i said before, I’d just dump em.

[antsriondel]

 

 

Just moved them into semi direct sunlight to try and get the colony to move.

I don't think that will work. My C. novaeboracensis colony is in direct sunlight all day, and they are fine with it.

yeah camponotus are notoriously stubborn when it comes to moving. As i said before, I’d just dump em.

 

Yeah it once took my colony a month to move before I just moved them manually.

[antperson24]

I totally agree with these two.^^^

[AntsCali098]

Lots of people say dumping can stress and kill the ants, but I always do this when moving into mini hearths, never had a problem. Especially with Camponotus, taping/dumping the ants out carefully should be fine.

[antperson24]

Lots of people say dumping can stress and kill the ants, but I always do this when moving into mini hearths, never had a problem. Especially with Camponotus, taping/dumping the ants out carefully should be fine.

It is harder with small species, but it is really easy to do with Camponotus given their large size.

[AntsCali098]

 

Lots of people say dumping can stress and kill the ants, but I always do this when moving into mini hearths, never had a problem. Especially with Camponotus, taping/dumping the ants out carefully should be fine.

It is harder with small species, but it is really easy to do with Camponotus given their large size.

 

Yeah, smaller species are harder because they can hold on to the test tube cotton blocker easier.

[antperson24]

 

 

Lots of people say dumping can stress and kill the ants, but I always do this when moving into mini hearths, never had a problem. Especially with Camponotus, taping/dumping the ants out carefully should be fine.

It is harder with small species, but it is really easy to do with Camponotus given their large size.

 

Yeah, smaller species are harder because they can hold on to the test tube cotton blocker easier.

 

Ya, I just did a dump with a Brachymyrmex colony this morning, and that was fairly difficult. Sad to say, there were a few casualties.