Sam: (29. Jul 2007 20:37)

Instead of Vaseline, KY Jelly may be a safer outbreak preventative, as this is a water based product. I am currently using Vaseline but might try KY. For my ants. :lol:

JimmyVe: (30. Jul 2007 12:58)

@ Varban: which do you mean, the first picture ore the second ?

miszt: (30. Jul 2007 13:02)

I would expect KY jelly to dry out within a few hours tbh, and in a very humid tank it would become very runny and drip allot...

Sam: (30. Jul 2007 14:15)

True, it may dry out being water based, but if it remained slippy enough it might work, you wouldn't want it dripping everywhere though.

I'm using Vaseline at the moment in both the display and the arena but haven't noticed much growth in colony since receiving them at the start of May this year. :( I may remove it, at least from the display just in case it is poisonous for them.

miszt: (30. Jul 2007 15:43)

i wuldnt expect to much from ur colony early on, they can be slow to start depending on what species it is, 3 months isnt very long realy, espcially if it was just a queen and eggs :)

Sam: (30. Jul 2007 17:23)

They are Lasius n iger, queen & approx 7 or 8 workers, they took four weeks to move out of test tube into display. Haven't seen much of the workers recently, might have been put off by the recent bad weather, lol.

JimmyVe: (30. Jul 2007 20:39)

Lasius niger is a slow mover. ;) I used a little 'force' to make them move from there tubes to the Y-tong nest. ;)
This is a normal behavior for such a small colony, they feed at night (the like the dark, thinking they are save) once the colony grows they come out during day also. Be patient. ;)

Skippy: (30. Jul 2007 20:45)

Some my experience with moving my ants

I´ll get light on the old test tube ,and I´ll get book on ytong nest (dark inside) . Ants dont like light in nest and when is new ytong nest able for them ,the move VERY quickly (it during max <5 hours) ;) :) ,some species like Myrmica is more quicklier ,it during in medium colony <1 hour ,when is light on old and dark inside new formicarium ;) :)

Skippy

JimmyVe: (30. Jul 2007 20:49)

I now that Skippy ;) When i was trying to move my Lasius niger there was a lamp above the nest 24/7 and after a week they still where in the tubes, so i had no other option than to 'help' them move. ;) lol

Skippy: (30. Jul 2007 21:10)

Yes ,Slovak people (also ants) are since long history learned to quickly working :lol: ;)