ANTSTORE World of Ants

[iamdan]

hi, have set up my 2 starter tanks and filled them both with the sand and clay, and sand in the other one. When i placed my test tube with 3 workers and 1 queen into the smaller tank... the water from inside the test tube seems to soak through the cotton wool.

I did not notice this until this morning, when i looked at them and 2 of the workers have drowned and are not moving, the queen is at the top of the test tube hanging on to the cotton wool.

I have only just set this all up and have only had the starter set for 1 day.

does this usually happen? it's very annoying..

and if i buy some more lasius niger worker ants, will they intergrate with the queen? or am i doomed to fail?

if anyone could give me some advice or help me, i would be very grateful..

[Kiam]

Well you cant get another colony with the colony you have right now they will fight. You could always buy a lasius niger colony again and take out the others?

[iamdan]

hmm.. thank you Kiam. its a shame that, that happened. i think i will have to get another colony. is there any way i could prevent the ants from drowning in the future? it seems like the water would soak through no matter what..? hmm..

[JimmyVe]

the water from inside the test tube seems to soak through the cotton wool

Did you made the tube yourself ?

[iamdan]

no i didnt. i got the test tube along with the ants from antstore.

[SimGee]

Only cause 2 workers drowned you mustn´t be doomed to fail!!!

I guess the Queen is very stressed atm but perhaps she will regenerate soon, just give her a chance before buying a new colony and kill (or anything) the "old colony". Especially in the beginning a colony is not very spectacular, so a new one wouldn´t be better!

I would do the following:

Get yourself a new tube and build it up just like it came from the antstore. Have a special look at the cotton at the water tank. Just place it next to the original tube, so the ants may settle down into it for the beginning. You also may put it down angular(?) to prevent the water from flowing into the ants "lounge"... i did i that way. The next thing is: Let them calm down! Place some paper (or whatever) about the tube to darken the tubeand leave the paper (or whatever) on the tube, don´t pick it up every hour/day. Have a carefull look after a week if they are still alive.

Important is also that u give´em access to water and to dry sand, so that the worker can use it to sheet wet places inside the original tube.

I hope everything is clear and i wish much luck!!

Simon

[SimGee]

Oh, i forgot to say... don´t force the ants to move into the new tube! Leave´em there where they are...

[iamdan]

thank you very much for your help. i will do as you said and see what i can do. thank you very much again