Ants in the test tube

[darren]

I have kept my ants in a test tube for a few weeks now, I have been feeding them a mealworm every few days and a cotton bud soaked in Honey water.
The Ants seem fine, the eggs have grown very big and the queen seems fine.

Although it is probably just her shiny bum, but I thought she had a cloudy/white patch on her bum the other day; but havent seen it since (although if there is a disease she can get and this happens please let me know).

My only problem is that the sides of the test tube where the food lies have got a bit dirty, and I'm worried if some mould comes, or if there is mould that is microscopic thats going to come and kill them all.

Is it fine to still leave them in the tube from what you've heard?

If mould does come what should I do?

And whats the best way to keep the tube clean and to make sure the ants stay healthy?

Many Thanks Dx

[Wood~Ant]

Many ants are often sent in test tubes, which are fine for transport purposes; but I find become too cramped for a lot of adults with brood.
I usually don't keep any ant colonies in a tube for longer than a week, and prefer to relocate them into a larger set with more space for their development

As for the whitish patch on her gaster, it could be mould or a fungus; but if she is is in good health, she will soon clean it off.
My advice Darren is, don't keep your ants in the tube any longer and find a better home for them

[Formicalondon]

The white patch could also have been a bit of cotton wool as sometimes ants seem to like shred it into fine small pieces I wouldn’t worry to much. If your test tube is kept with a foraging area they will clear the tube out themselves.

[darren]

I got home last night and they were all dead, I have no idea what happened, every single one was dead and the eggs were mashed up
I really have no idea!

[ariko]

that's freakin' weird!

[Soldier Ant Warrior]

I would like you guys to realize is that a lot of times young ant keepers think their ant colonies are dead, and they are not!

what happens sometimes is that the ant colony runs out of air, when your colony had a smaller brood and less population the air quantity was just fine, but when the population increased so should have the air...more ants need more air, and all the ants may appear to be dead and are not whatsoever just sufficated...


the ants look dead and will appear motionless at first sight but leave them out and let the colony lid off or add more air holes. pull the cotton out blocking the entrance for about an hour or two and watch your whole colony come right back to life

P.s. I have thrown many of colonies away in my younger years thinking they where all dead. 1 day they appeared to be fine and overnight they all appeared to be dead... But they where not, in actuality they ran out of air, because as the colony grew I didn't give them an adequate amount of air...