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SirJet: Test tube type and size? (25. Jul 2008 09:24)

Hi all,

I'd like to start a colony with a single queen in a test tube to begin with and have a few quetions about what the tube itself.

1) Does it have to be glass or is plastic ok?

2) Is there a recomended size? I'm guessing bigger tubes will give the ants more room and water supply.

3) Does the cotton wool bung at the end let air in, or do i need to occasionaly remove it to allow fresh air inside?

Many thanks

SirJet: (25. Jul 2008 09:32)

Here are a range of test tube sizes I found on ebay.

75mm x 10mm
75mm x 12mm
75mm x 16mm
100mm x 12mm
100mm x 13mm
100mm x 16mm
150mm x 16mm
150mm x 18mm
150mm x 24mm

SteveUK28: (25. Jul 2008 10:03)

I persoanly use 120 x 10mm and i try and never use glass.. as when u reuse and u need to get the cotton out they can smash... I take the cotton wool out to recycle the air once a week... Size tbh will go by what spec. the ant is.. somat smallish like a lasius niger will be fine in a smaller test tube.. but larger spec like camponotus are gonna need a bigger one.
:drink06:

SirJet: (25. Jul 2008 10:19)

Thanks Steve

mpir: (25. Jul 2008 11:41)

From my personal experience I can say that it is much easier to get cotton out of the glass tube then out of the plastic one. But this is just my oppinion. I have a lot of glass tubes and it never happened that one would shater in my hands.

miszt: (25. Jul 2008 11:45)

the main problem with glass tubes comes from transport, if you are not planning on sending them thru the post, then you may aswell use glass, as they are a bit easier to clean to