tenant
Callow Ant 
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 20, 2008 18:23:20 GMT
My new queen is here at last! I've put her in the feeding pot, in her tube opened up with her two nanitics in the lid, which is seperated, but I watered the sand a lot before I left on Friday, hoping it would have been damp when I got back, but the sand is very dark and it's got a little condensation. Will this prevent her from digging?
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Post by Formicalondon on Apr 20, 2008 18:39:42 GMT
it should be fine, what species is she ?
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 20, 2008 18:52:25 GMT
Lasius Niger. My first.
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Post by Shawn on Apr 20, 2008 18:54:55 GMT
Hi Tenant, Gratz on getting your L.niger queen at last  Just leave her in the dark and she will be happy. It may take a week or more for her to move out of the test tube that is normal just try not to disturb her to much  Did she have any brood? Shawn |
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 20, 2008 19:08:45 GMT
Hi Shawn,
She has a few eggs, maybe 10, and two tiny nanitics. I'll leave her alone and check each day. Should I give her something to munch on?
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Post by Shawn on Apr 20, 2008 19:24:50 GMT
You can give her freshly killed fly if you can find one, her workers will find it and take it to her. You got a Ant world right? how have to got the queen in to it? or you got the test tube attached to it? Add some sugar water soaked cotton wool if you like.
Key is not to disturb her to much and let her settle down after her trip in the postal service ;D
Shawn
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 20, 2008 20:45:56 GMT
Good idea, I plan to just check on her each day. I'm slightly concerned because the shed has no window and it's raining, but the doors are shut so hopefully nothing bad will happen. She's in her test tube with the lid off in the feeding pot. Tomorrow I'll give her some sugar water in cotton wool if she's moved and the workers aren't too active- I'm dreading their escape. I hope she'll dig soon and settle in well, I'm not worried yet though. What if she doesn't dig after a couple of weeks? Thanks  Beth |
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Post by Shawn on Apr 20, 2008 20:56:04 GMT
Her workers will dig the tunnel and chamber, she is just a egg laying machine now and they will move her when they are ready.
Shawn
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 20, 2008 21:16:33 GMT
Ahh. That helps, thank you. I really appreciate it.
Beth
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 21, 2008 7:35:25 GMT
Nice to hear she arrived alright. Now the best thing you can do, seeing as it is only a very small colony is, don't overfeed them, as this is a regular mistake of some novice ant keepers. One fly or other dead insect will suffice if given twice a week. A tiny spot of honey or jam is fine, but do watch out for mould growth on any food uneaten after 3 days. When the colony has grown larger, then increase the amount of food intake Good luck and best wishes with your ants Wood |
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tenant
Callow Ant
I have ants in my pants.
Posts: 48
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Post by tenant on Apr 21, 2008 18:07:18 GMT
I just gave her some sugar water in tissue paper, so I'll leave that for her and her two workers for a couple of days, yes?
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Post by Jenny on Apr 21, 2008 18:29:02 GMT
You can always soak some sugar water in a small cotton wool ball and place it in a bottle cap. Tissue will dry out, sometimes before the workers shows any interest in it.
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