luketheluke: Myrmica ruginodis setup problem - pictures included (28. Jun 2008 19:15)

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn115/luketheluke/P6280015.jpg

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn115/luketheluke/P6280016.jpg

I got this small collony on thursday, 3 queens and around 10 workers and lots of eggs :D but i think i might have made a mistake i put that small plant in the basin on the left in a small lid with water in which iwas going to keep watering but they have all moved beneath it, now i dont know if this is bad or what should i just let the plan dry out untill they move back to there testtube or hopefully the nest, maybe i could take the testtube out so they only have the option to go to the nest? :D

thanks

ratgreen: (28. Jun 2008 19:30)

can you not just lift the lid with the plant up? and i would advise you leave the test tube in there as they need some moisture for drinking.

KiamCameron: (28. Jun 2008 19:37)

Well the ants like very moist nest these ants do so if you dry where there nesting it out a bit and make another place very moist but dont make it so theres water everywhere just moist then they should move there...

luketheluke: (28. Jun 2008 20:59)

ok thanks guys, I cant just lift it because there in the lid under the plant :D ill just let it dry out i think and see what happens :D

Uncletommy: (29. Jun 2008 00:50)

what lid is that on there? I have one i brought about a year ago and the lid has metal outside and fits very poorly which is why i had to put vaseline all round the edge.

SteveUK28: (29. Jun 2008 10:45)

Hiya Luke,
yeh i would advise letting it dry out and making sure the nest is damp. I would also remove the test tube clean it out and then fill it up with water and put a cotton wool bung in the end so they have drinking water. ;)

luketheluke: (29. Jun 2008 11:39)

ok cool ill clean the testtube out right now! :D thanks for the advice guys :')

tail__: (29. Jun 2008 15:24)

One more thing - ants won't like to live in test tube open wide. Hey, would you like a house with one wall missing? And it is losing moisture very fast. No wonder they moved out when they had an oportunity. It would be ok to close the tube e.g. with the cork piece, with a hole large enough for ants going in and out, possibly also carrying some goods.

SteveUK28: (29. Jun 2008 15:30)

none of my tests are sealed at all.. and none of my ants seem to mind.. dont worry them in the slightest.

ashhad1: (29. Jun 2008 15:35)

ya and if they do seem annoyed they just make a small wall out of sand or earth at the entrence >.<