18 replies to this topic

[CamponotusLover]

Alright S0. I am experienced with how to move colonies from an old tube to a new tube, it is just that, they never do move.

In this case, my 4 Queen P. Imparis colony with a large amount of workers and repletes but still don't overly crowd the tube cause it is not a massive colony, won't move to a new tube.

Their current test tube, has little to no water, just a little bit at the bottom which I am assuming has never reached the surface of the cotton that is on the ants side. Most of the colony including the queens are on the cotton. It is also covered in black mold(the surface that they are on) but it hasn't killed them so that's the least of my worries for now.

I have tried everything. They have been connected to the new tube for 2-3 days, I have exposed the tube they are in to light, while letting the new tube covered, I also tried just making the whole room dark, I have tried every option I could think of, but they won't move.

This also begs other questions, related to their period of activity, since they are only active in the spring and fall/autumn, are they just not interested in moving right now? Should I wait?

Also another question, since these ants don't have to hibernate but I heard that they can, I can put them with the rest of my ants in the basement this winter correct and when should I hibernate them if so? December? Thanks.

[Major]

Heres a postI made on someone elses thread.

Now sit down and let me tell you the magical tale of- scotch tape.
'Twas once a young lad name Andrew. His colonys tube was suffering from a severe mold outbreak. Young Andrew didn't know what to do, so went to search the ancient archives of the legendary Formiculture. A brave and handsome man who went by Major came to his assistence. He told andrew a few great words, always to be remembered throughout the history of Formiculture. "Cork shall mold easily, my lad." He reached into his pockets and slowly revealed the golden fleece of anters, cotton. He handed it to young andrew to use as an entrance plug.
Young andrew was very grateful for the wise words of Major, but his question was not yet answered. Now, how to move them? Major would usually tell all the young ones to take their chances wrangling the "Holy Search Bar." But something told him andrew was a special one, one who would easily get lost in the archives.
Now, when Major himself was but just a wee lad, he would go on fantastic adventures. On one of them, he found something he never spoke of, and treasured with his life. Scotch tape. Andrew's eyes went wide with suprise, thou was giving me the fabled scotch?! Major instructed him on how he should use it. "Handle with care, the beast has a sharp edge that has drawn the blood of many heros, including myself. Cut a peice, and tale the old tube to the new one. Cover the new one with darkness, ants seemingly are enticed by it. Expose light over the old tube, the vile little creatures are repelled by it. Leave them be, till the ends of times.
In the end, they will move in.
Andrew was so grateful for the great Major's assistence, he begged to repay him. But the modest Major wouldn't take anything for his service- it was his duty to show the young ones the way of the Formiculture.
With a quick refresh if the page, Major dissapeared into the depths of the archives...

[CamponotusLover]

Heres a postI made on someone elses thread.

Now sit down and let me tell you the magical tale of- scotch tape.
'Twas once a young lad name Andrew. His colonys tube was suffering from a severe mold outbreak. Young Andrew didn't know what to do, so went to search the ancient archives of the legendary Formiculture. A brave and handsome man who went by Major came to his assistence. He told andrew a few great words, always to be remembered throughout the history of Formiculture. "Cork shall mold easily, my lad." He reached into his pockets and slowly revealed the golden fleece of anters, cotton. He handed it to young andrew to use as an entrance plug.
Young andrew was very grateful for the wise words of Major, but his question was not yet answered. Now, how to move them? Major would usually tell all the young ones to take their chances wrangling the "Holy Search Bar." But something told him andrew was a special one, one who would easily get lost in the archives.
Now, when Major himself was but just a wee lad, he would go on fantastic adventures. On one of them, he found something he never spoke of, and treasured with his life. Scotch tape. Andrew's eyes went wide with suprise, thou was giving me the fabled scotch?! Major instructed him on how he should use it. "Handle with care, the beast has a sharp edge that has drawn the blood of many heros, including myself. Cut a peice, and tale the old tube to the new one. Cover the new one with darkness, ants seemingly are enticed by it. Expose light over the old tube, the vile little creatures are repelled by it. Leave them be, till the ends of times.
In the end, they will move in.
Andrew was so grateful for the great Major's assistence, he begged to repay him. But the modest Major wouldn't take anything for his service- it was his duty to show the young ones the way of the Formiculture.
With a quick refresh if the page, Major dissapeared into the depths of the archives...

Yeah.. I appreciate the help but I'm going to assume you didn't read my post. I already tried this.

[ANTdrew]

Major’s got all the answers.

[DaveJay]

Heres a postI made on someone elses thread.

Now sit down and let me tell you the magical tale of- scotch tape.
'Twas once a young lad name Andrew. His colonys tube was suffering from a severe mold outbreak. Young Andrew didn't know what to do, so went to search the ancient archives of the legendary Formiculture. A brave and handsome man who went by Major came to his assistence. He told andrew a few great words, always to be remembered throughout the history of Formiculture. "Cork shall mold easily, my lad." He reached into his pockets and slowly revealed the golden fleece of anters, cotton. He handed it to young andrew to use as an entrance plug.
Young andrew was very grateful for the wise words of Major, but his question was not yet answered. Now, how to move them? Major would usually tell all the young ones to take their chances wrangling the "Holy Search Bar." But something told him andrew was a special one, one who would easily get lost in the archives.
Now, when Major himself was but just a wee lad, he would go on fantastic adventures. On one of them, he found something he never spoke of, and treasured with his life. Scotch tape. Andrew's eyes went wide with suprise, thou was giving me the fabled scotch?! Major instructed him on how he should use it. "Handle with care, the beast has a sharp edge that has drawn the blood of many heros, including myself. Cut a peice, and tale the old tube to the new one. Cover the new one with darkness, ants seemingly are enticed by it. Expose light over the old tube, the vile little creatures are repelled by it. Leave them be, till the ends of times.
In the end, they will move in.
Andrew was so grateful for the great Major's assistence, he begged to repay him. But the modest Major wouldn't take anything for his service- it was his duty to show the young ones the way of the Formiculture.
With a quick refresh if the page, Major dissapeared into the depths of the archives...

Ha, love it mate! Nice one

[DaveJay]

Wow! Triple quote, that's a new record!

Edited by DaveJay, September 8 2018 - 7:17 PM.

[DaveJay]

Alright S0. I am experienced with how to move colonies from an old tube to a new tube, it is just that, they never do move.

In this case, my 4 Queen P. Imparis colony with a large amount of workers and repletes but still don't overly crowd the tube cause it is not a massive colony, won't move to a new tube.

Their current test tube, has little to no water, just a little bit at the bottom which I am assuming has never reached the surface of the cotton that is on the ants side. Most of the colony including the queens are on the cotton. It is also covered in black mold(the surface that they are on) but it hasn't killed them so that's the least of my worries for now.

I have tried everything. They have been connected to the new tube for 2-3 days, I have exposed the tube they are in to light, while letting the new tube covered, I also tried just making the whole room dark, I have tried every option I could think of, but they won't move.

This also begs other questions, related to their period of activity, since they are only active in the spring and fall/autumn, are they just not interested in moving right now? Should I wait?

Also another question, since these ants don't have to hibernate but I heard that they can, I can put them with the rest of my ants in the basement this winter correct and when should I hibernate them if so? December? Thanks.

Have you tried adding heat to the equation? I think that's about all you could do that you haven't done.

[CamponotusLover]

Alright S0. I am experienced with how to move colonies from an old tube to a new tube, it is just that, they never do move.
In this case, my 4 Queen P. Imparis colony with a large amount of workers and repletes but still don't overly crowd the tube cause it is not a massive colony, won't move to a new tube.
Their current test tube, has little to no water, just a little bit at the bottom which I am assuming has never reached the surface of the cotton that is on the ants side. Most of the colony including the queens are on the cotton. It is also covered in black mold(the surface that they are on) but it hasn't killed them so that's the least of my worries for now.
I have tried everything. They have been connected to the new tube for 2-3 days, I have exposed the tube they are in to light, while letting the new tube covered, I also tried just making the whole room dark, I have tried every option I could think of, but they won't move.
This also begs other questions, related to their period of activity, since they are only active in the spring and fall/autumn, are they just not interested in moving right now? Should I wait?
Also another question, since these ants don't have to hibernate but I heard that they can, I can put them with the rest of my ants in the basement this winter correct and when should I hibernate them if so? December? Thanks.

Have you tried adding heat to the equation? I think that's about all you could do that you haven't done.

I have tried that. I guess this means I should just wait till it gets colder and P. Imparis get more active. It seems nothing will get them to move as of now while they behave lazy.

[DaveJay]

Something that crossed my mind in regards to moving some I have is to make a hole at the water end of the tube and gently push the cotton from behind forcing them to move. You could do that with two joined tubes, the dirty cotton becoming the plug for the new tube. Once you're sure there's no brood on the cotton it could be replaced. It would only work with plastic tubes but it could be done imo.

[nurbs]

Amateurs!

 

 

Just kidding. Don't do that with your P. imparis.

[CamponotusLover]

Something that crossed my mind in regards to moving some I have is to make a hole at the water end of the tube and gently push the cotton from behind forcing them to move. You could do that with two joined tubes, the dirty cotton becoming the plug for the new tube. Once you're sure there's no brood on the cotton it could be replaced. It would only work with plastic tubes but it could be done imo.

Genius! I'll give it a try tommorow, thanks.

[CamponotusLover]

Amateurs!
 

 
Just kidding. Don't do that with your P. imparis.

LOL WTF

[Major]

This is a last resort that must be dealt with care; cold. Put a little ice on their tube, not too long. If they are really stubborn they might just freeze, so be careful.

[StopSpazzing]

 

Amateurs!
 

 
Just kidding. Don't do that with your P. imparis.

LOL WTF

 

This is the certified Nurbs way of moving your colony. 

 

They will move once no water is left. Wait till then.

[CamponotusLover]

This is a last resort that must be dealt with care; cold. Put a little ice on their tube, not too long. If they are really stubborn they might just freeze, so be careful.

will keep this in mind!

Amateurs!
 
 
Just kidding. Don't do that with your P. imparis.

LOL WTF

This is the certified Nurbs way of moving your colony. 
 
They will move once no water is left. Wait till then.

There is like no water reaching them, idk..

[Ikerrilove]

While I don't have the experience or the eloquence of others here, I do remember reading something this year that stuck with me. Regarding moldy test tubes and stubborn ants... trust your ants. They should know when the level is to toxic or if the mold is too dangerous, they're pretty good at survival. 

 

I decided to put my test tubes in small outworlds so I can leave two tubes in it and not fuss with trying to feed in the tubes. I let them decide what to do and and so far the one queen I thought was dead at this stage surprised me with a rebirth. Another thing I remembered learning early on is that sometimes a dead ant... isn't a dead ant, so don't toss them right away LOL

 

Would be nice if I could move them all to nice fresh test tubes before hibernation but you just can't control something that small, especially being a newbie myself, I'd be afraid of doing more harm then good. So far it's working for me

[StopSpazzing]

Yeah, agreed with above. Almost no water isn't the same as no water. They WILL move when they need to.

[CampoKing]

oh my so there's so much nesting of comments in this thread I half expect it be in Russian (nesting doll joke........will show myself out now)

[DaveJay]

The bears of Russia are only long in the tooth.