ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Pugberto]

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

[Dr.House]

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.

[Gaster]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Seems like it's hard to do though.

[miszt]

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]

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]

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

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

[K Kris]

Yes Dr.House

That's the excrements/excrement-residue. It's not really harmful. I've never had a L. niger founding colony whose cotton plug would not get that colour. So far 99% of the Queens were successful in spite of that.

[Dr.House]

Oki, Thank you! I'm glad to hear that
it's my first colony, so it's a little difficult to say what it is.

Hmm, and now i know what is meant with "niger" ... it's the wool after some weeks and the whole tube after some months

[Pugberto]

I'd say it is just excrements.

My queen is being a bit funny though because she seems to be tearing at the cotton wool at the moment. Maybe due to boredom if they are aware of that emotion.

[K Kris]

Tearing at the cotton is common.

It might be just to soak some water out of it, trying to get material for possible pupation...many possible reasons. Don't worry, everything seems to be fine.

Yes Dr.House, a good definition of the species' name, lol