ANTSTORE World of Ants

[sithmaster676]

hi all
it has been since last November since i got my lasius niger colony which arrived with 12 workers and a healthy queen, they now have around 40 workers and a healthy and an uncountable amount of eggs ( i estimate around 100+) but still these ants test my patience they really don't seem like they want to move from there test tube.
is this down to something i might have down?
i don't really want to have to tip them out of the test tube. and i try my best to keep a 9 gallon tank moist but sometimes the surface gets dry.
can someone help please
Sithmaster676

(also my lasius flavus queen i caught died from some form of mold or fungus )

[miszt]

dont worry, they will move when they are ready, u need to tempt them out rather than force them out, ie lots of light into the test tube, and let the test tube dry out, n keep the farm area moist and dark

[JimmyVe]

Hi Sith, well (i said it before) Lasius sp. are really slow movers. I'm not fund of it but the last time i moved my Lasius niger i helped them move , i rather let them move them selfs but after being patient a week (nest uncovered, lamp above 24/7) i helped them move. I just hold the tubes vertical (a bit) and let them slide down the tube.
(This colony was about 150 workers strong and where in 3 tubes, now they are in a y-tong nest)

[sithmaster676]

wow that is a large colony but i still don't wish to have to force them out surely if the colony gets to big for the tube they will move?
Sithmaster676

[Bob]

I have a general question. Why are people so apprehensive about 'forcing' their ants out of test tubes? I mean would it hurt the ants that much to be tipped over into their new home? surely they face far more stress during the process of collection from the wild. Any insights?

[K Kris]

You're kind of right there Bob but anyway...some species are sensitive and very stationary in their lifestyle, while others aren't that much.

European Tapinoma spp. change their nest-sites on a daily basis (may be a little of an exaggeration but anyway) while other species do so only under the harshest of conditions.

It is best not to force and boss your ants around too much. Just to be on the safe side.

[Sam]

I sort of wish may Lasius were still in their test tube so I could see what they were all up to. Instead they are just a few cm below the sand in the display but not up against the glass, so can't count eggs or anything.

[fernando_regio]

I have the same problem but with Messor Barbarus, mine dont move from the test tube too and today i saw into the tube and it semed to me that the ants are mutch less dan the last time i saw them, i think the queen stoped laying eggs, and i dont know why cause i didnt stress them mutch. I went to see the test tube were they still are because i saw one dead outside. Correction, after wrighting this i went and take another loock and they started moving litle white eggs, they are not mutch but there they where, i have them for some time know, and it seems strange never the less, they are so few. As for the Lasius i dont have the same problem, has metter of fact my Lasius are doing very well, well fed with crickets and working in the nest, even made a big room in there to put the eggs, and i can see them very well on the farm. Oh well guess i should wait, only time will tell if the Messor are doing good or not, they dont have any water left in the test tube, so i think they will be forced to move any time soon.

[JimmyVe]

I have a general question. Why are people so apprehensive about 'forcing' their ants out of test tubes? I mean would it hurt the ants that much to be tipped over into their new home? surely they face far more stress during the process of collection from the wild. Any insights?

Well sometimes there is just not an other option, if the tube is dry or is full of mold and they still don't like moving out, it is better to help them move than the let them die. I like them moving out more than helping them. But if it is for the better of the colony.

I sort of wish may Lasius were still in their test tube so I could see what they were all up to. Instead they are just a few cm below the sand in the display but not up against the glass, so can't count eggs or anything.

That is the reason why i prefer a y-tong nest. So you can always look into the nest if you want.

[Sam]

Yes I will prob make a y-tong nest for my next colony. Hopefully for this wingless queen I found, Lasius Niger I think, on the 30.07.07 whilst the sun was out, she was trying to squeeze into a crack. Is it more likely she has been fertilised if her wings are gone?

[K Kris]

@Sam

Yes, the females shed their wings after mating. In some instances though even unfertilized queens shed their wings. So if you find a dealate (wingless; alate = wingright, with wings) queen, chances that she mated, and therewith can produce viable offspring, are high.

[Sam]

Nice one K Kris, fingers crossed then. I've popped her in an unused Urine sample pot (from doc's) as I didn't have a test tube. Ive got a cotton wool water plug & cotton wool end plug, but no honey/sugar & its covered up. Just have to see if she starts laying.

[K Kris]

Fingers crossed Sam! You probably don't need to feed her at all, but try to get a test-tube real soon. Establishing a colony in an (albeit unused) urine sample pot won't do much good. Chances for success are considerably lowered.

[Sam]

I know they aren't perfect but it will have to do until I get some proper test tubes, they are only a little wider than the test tubes 4 or 5mm bigger. They would make good collection containers as they have a screw on lid & label for place & time of capture.

[JimmyVe]

They are fine for a short while, don't forget to put some moist cotton in it. (ore water/cotton/queen/lid)