Pugberto: How do you? (18. Aug 2007 15:38)

How do I change the cotton in my tube. It's gone mouldy but my My L asuis n iger is right next to it with her eggs.

Dr.House: (18. Aug 2007 15:57)

some prepare a new tube and connect both of them. The new one is completely dark, no light should enter when the other one is open.

That's one possibility to get her out there.

Anonymous: (18. Aug 2007 15:57)

There is no way to change the cotton in a test tube which inhabits a colony or queen. The best thing to do is to place a second tube next to the old one so the queen could move. But I believe the queen won't move since she doesn't come out of her tube which in turn means that she can't find the offered tube.
But as long as the queen does fine, there is nothing to worry about.

Regards, Jan

K Kris: (18. Aug 2007 16:09)

Hi,

Are you sure it is mouldy? Sometimes beginners think their cotton-plugs have turned mouldy because they get a dark-brownish/black color. This is not mould but the Queen's excrements - and they do not do any harm to her.

Pugberto: (18. Aug 2007 23:55)

Hi,

Are you sure it is mouldy? Sometimes beginners think their cotton-plugs have turned mouldy because they get a dark-brownish/black color. This is not mould but the Queen's excrements - and they do not do any harm to her.

Yeah thats what it is. Thanks for the help guys.

JimmyVe: (19. Aug 2007 10:51)

in deed i would just give them a new tube and hope she move, must say these species are know for them not want to move. ;)

Pugberto: (20. Aug 2007 15:51)

Seems like it's hard to do though.

miszt: (20. Aug 2007 16:04)

not really, prepere ur new test tube, selotape the 2 together at the entrance, wrap the nu test tube in foil, and wait :)

K Kris: (20. Aug 2007 16:10)

I thought we estsblished that it's not mould?

Mould is normally of a white/grey colour. It's sort of bushy and has filaments growing from it. It resembles soft cotton just of a different colour.

The black/brown colour on the cotton is just excremental residue and doesn't harm the inhabitant(s)

Dr.House: (20. Aug 2007 17:00)

@K Kris: Does the queens excrements look like this? http://antstore.net/viewtopic.php?t=5641&p=51893#bot

If so @Pugberto you can compare it with your "mouldy" test tube