7 replies to this topic

[Connectimyrmex]

After reading many journals, I learned that it is common for semi-claustral queen or founding colony tubes to get heavy layers of mold on the cotton eventually. I then realized that I never got mold on the cotton of my tubes. Even though having mold is a bad thing, it made me wonder if I was feeding my ants something wrong or if the cotton contained antibacterial chemicals. So far, every queen that I've caught in CT is still alive (except for one wild caught colony), and they've been in those tubes. 
I think that I might have figured out why my tubes never mold.

 

Whenever I put a piece of cotton in a tube, I cover the exposed part with a little bit of filter paper or tissue to make it more difficult for the ants to pull at. It also makes it harder for the ants to bury their food in the cotton, Since the only uncovered part is the dry cotton, they stuff their food scraps and feces in the cotton plug, which can easily be cleaned.

 

I also use freshly filtered water instead of distilled or bottled water. This might not have anything to do with the lack of mold, but I think that distilled water may pick up harmful mold spores when sitting out. 

 

NOTE: This does not work with termites.

 

 

You can see a drawing of what I mean here: https://scratch.mit....jects/192981209

[AkumaArtist]

I like the idea to put the filter paper

Two of the queens i caught died because of mold (it was summer,so the heat+humidity and their leftovers made it a death trap) so I'll try it,thank you!

[Connectimyrmex]

Hope it works well for you as well!

[drtrmiller]

Mold is only generally a problem when an excessive amount of food or other organic materials are left in the test tube for too long. Otherwise, it grows far too slowly, and does not pose an immediate danger to ants.

Feeding your ants only as much as they can consume within a few hours, and removing uneaten food and waste is the best way to eliminate any harmful effects mold may have.

[T.C.]

Mold is only generally a problem when an excessive amount of food or other organic materials are left in the test tube for too long. Otherwise, it grows far too slowly, and does not pose an immediate danger to ants.
Feeding your ants only as much as they can consume within a few hours, and removing uneaten food and waste is the best way to eliminate any harmful effects mold may have.

Test tube outworld works best. Then the chance of ever getting mold is way less.

[StopSpazzing]

Don't put food or water in test tubes prevents mold from forming. I need to modify my water reservoir 3D plans to allow food to be added without need to remove the whole thing.

Edited by StopSpazzing, December 12 2017 - 5:10 PM.

[Connectimyrmex]

Okay, I just wanted to give some suggestions for those without outworlds

 

I never really used outworlds because my ants would often start nesting outside of the tube.

[Serafine]

Properly washing hands before making test tubes matters.

I've had Camponotus barbaricus living in a test tube for over 8 months (at the end they were around 80 ants) and my Solenopsis fugax are still living in the test tube they got 14 months ago. The Camponotus never had ANY mold and the Solenopsis got one tiny spot of mold so far that emerged about a month ago.

 

The only ants that have a noticable amount of mold in their tube are my Lasius niger because they though sticking garbage onto the cotton was a great idea. However they are using sand (lots of sand) to very effectively suppress the mold growth.

Edited by Serafine, December 13 2017 - 5:47 AM.