14 replies to this topic

[kgollehon]

Hello again all,

 

I am going to be transporting my test-tube setup tomorrow by car. It's about an 80 mile journey on freeways and county roads. What methods do you use to keep the queens safe and down to a minimal level of stress? I have the tube in a sheath so it'll stay dark but I'm concerned about the shock and vibration of the road. 

[drtrmiller]

• Remove any rocks or hard/sharp loose substrate that could move around and injure ants
• Ensure any test tubes are oriented so they cannot leak water
• Keep all containers away from direct sunlight
• Drive carefully
• Optionally, you may use foam, plastic, paper, or similar material to cushion the enclosures so vibrations are reduced

Edited by drtrmiller, June 14 2018 - 7:16 PM.

[Shifty189]

you can try something like these. They should minimize the vibration as much as possible.

 

[kgollehon]

 

• Remove any rocks or hard/sharp loose substrate that could move around and injure ants
• Ensure any test tubes are oriented so they cannot leak water
• Keep all containers away from direct sunlight
• Drive carefully
• Optionally, you may use foam, plastic, paper, or similar material to cushion the enclosures so vibrations are reduced

 

Thanks for the input, I'm only transporting test-tube setups tomorrow so shouldn't have any issues with debris crushing ants. I am worried about keeping the test tube's oriented but I'm sure I'll find a way around that.

 

you can try something like these. They should minimize the vibration as much as possible.

 

 

I wish I could find some of that material short notice. Perhaps I'll get some bubble wrap and try wrapping the tubes in that. 

[kgollehon]

Wanted to update you all, here's what I came up with! I braced the test-tube with card-stock, folded like an accordion, and sandwiched with cotton between the layers. The test-tube itself is sheathed with a paper tube. Hopefully it'll reduce the shock and keep the tube at proper orientation. 

[Russell]

That looks good for holding test tube in place. I also place my ant test tubes in a cooler when ever delivering them to protect from temp fluctuations. 

[kgollehon]

That looks good for holding test tube in place. I also place my ant test tubes in a cooler when ever delivering them to protect from temp fluctuations. 

Thanks for the tip, I may be able to pick up a small one. Do you use a basic styrofoam cooler or something more regulated?

[Barristan]

Pipe insulations work fine too:

 

[CoolColJ]

I use a pool noodle chopped up to send ants in test tubes through the mail, and receive ants like this as well.

Just tape up the ends with cotton, leaving a gap for air, and more cotton inside to take up the slack as they are >20mm inside

 

Similar to the pipe insulation above, but thicker and cheaper

Edited by CoolColJ, June 15 2018 - 3:40 AM.

[Barristan]

[...] and cheaper

 

I doubt that. 2 m of this insulation for pipes between 12 and 15 mm diameter is 0.83 €. 

 

But of course prices may differ in your Country and I also don't know how easy you can get them. In Germany every hardware store has them in different sizes. The material is also a little bit softer, but I don't think it matters

Edited by Barristan, June 15 2018 - 5:16 AM.

[Mortamir]

My best strategy.

Use common sense.

We need a topic to discuss this really?

What is this A.C.?

[Shifty189]

My best strategy.

Use common sense.

We need a topic to discuss this really?

What is this A.C.?

i strongly disagree with this. its always better to ask the question then to assume that you know what is best.

Edited by Shifty189, June 15 2018 - 12:32 PM.

[GeorgeK]

My best strategy.

Use common sense.

We need a topic to discuss this really?

What is this A.C.?

If you do not wish to contribute to thread positively, don't post at all.

Regarding question, i usually take small box, fill it with crumpled paper, and put test tube inside pool noodles. Had no problem with that so far. Also if possible, get your packet marked as "fragile"

[rbarreto]

Queen ants are weird, I once had queens in loose test tubes in my backpack fro 3 days and they survived just fine. I also moved houses and had a queen in a setup similar to yours. I my very best to protect them from everything yet despite all that she died during a 30 minute car ride.

Edited by rbarreto, June 15 2018 - 11:15 AM.

[GeorgeK]

Queen ants are weird, I once had queens in loose test tubes in my backpack fro 3 days and they survived just fine. I also moved houses and had a queen in a setup similar to yours. I my very best to protect them from everything yet despite all that she died during a 30 minute car ride.

I too had few lasius and tetra queens forgotten in my backpack for 4 days, the tubes they were in did not even have water in them...