4 replies to this topic

[AntsAreCool55]

Hello,
I have caught a Cephalotes sp. queen few days ago,but she seems very stressed in test tube setup,trying to escape through the cotton. She is tiny.
Any test tube alternatives that I should try? Did anyone keep this species successfully? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

[ZllGGY]

I would say just let her be. She will more than likely calm down and if she's fertile then she will also lay eggs. Just takes a while sometimes. Every ant is different, unfortunately the hobby is never an exact measure

[gcsnelling]

More information would be useful as would a picture. Cephalotes are extremely difficult. They also like very cramped nesting sites so a test tube is likely to be  far to open for her to feel comfortable.

[LC3]

To add on to what gcsnelling said, Cephalotes evolved to exploit pre-existing galleries in wood, mostly bored by beetles. They're pretty picky about it and like it when the exit is just big enough for them to plug it with their heads. Also it seems like nitrogen plays a rather big role in their diet which they obtain from bird poop.

[Leo]

I would say you should drill as mall hole in some wood. But is suck sooo.