Sced: Help in moving ants to tube (5. Jul 2007 19:31)

Hi, I want to move my Camp L. out of the nest they are in [ y-tong] into a test tube, does anyone know any good ways to do this?

miszt: (5. Jul 2007 19:44)

you'l have to be quick, get everything ready, then kool the ytong down in the fridge for ~half an hour till they stop moving, then u can transfer them to the test tube, a quick way wuld b to tip the whole lot onto a piece of paper then fold it and pour them in

be quick...they will be asleep for only a few mins

Sced: (5. Jul 2007 19:48)

ok thanks, are you sure this is a safe way to do it? I can imagine the ants getting very stressed out.

miszt: (5. Jul 2007 20:01)

nah, the ants will goto sleep :) they wont even realize its happend till they wake up a few minutes after coming out of the fridge, and by then they shuld b in the test tube......but u've litraly got ~1.5minutes to get them in, so dont faff ;) or they will end up all over u lol

miszt: (5. Jul 2007 20:04)

assume ur talkin bout Camponotus ligniperda?

Necturus: (5. Jul 2007 20:11)

Guys, thats a pretty rough way to do it! If you wanna force them out (why, by the way?) remove the lightproof cover of the ytong and put a lightsource in front of it (not too close to it, it builds up quite a heat in the chambers). Then put a test tube covered in something dark (e.g. tinfoil) right in front of the Exit of the Ytong (no light falling on it, to prevent overheating)- if all ants are inside the Ytong, you can try to connect the tube to it. They will move into the tube, and Bobs your uncle.
Necturus

Kale^^: (5. Jul 2007 21:17)

Or just dry the nest. They will move quite soon.

Sced: (5. Jul 2007 22:28)

Ok thanks for everyone's help, I am going to dry the nest and put it in light, then place a test tube in the arena.