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Post by naturekidmn on Jun 6, 2008 23:17:11 GMT
Two days ago I caught a Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen. Today I noticed she has laid an egg. Once the workers hatch, when should I start feeding them? Should I put the test tube in a foraging arena and let the nanitics forage? Or, place food in the test tube? Thanks in advance for any advice you have.  |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 7, 2008 7:28:21 GMT
When you have just 2 or 3 workers, it will be a good idea to pop a bit of food (say a drop of sugar water or small soft bodied insect) into the test tube. Once the population grows a little larger, then leave food outside of the tube for the workers to come out and forage for, as this will simulate their natural wild hunting behaviour  |
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Post by naturekidmn on Jun 7, 2008 15:27:11 GMT
Thank you for the information. |
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Post by Zarbi on Jun 10, 2008 20:56:08 GMT
People seem to keep ants in test tubes for fairly long periods of time, but I find it best to move them into a larger set up once the colony has more than 6 workers, as they do like space to develop |
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Post by toudzard on Jul 12, 2008 7:41:23 GMT
Whats this whole test tube talk??/  I'm really comfused  |
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Post by naturekidmn on Jul 13, 2008 20:29:24 GMT
When you find a mated queen (usally a queen from a mating flight) you take a test tube fill 1/3rd of it with water then take a wad of cotton and block the water off, make sure that the cotton is a little damp but not too damp or the queen may drown. Put the queen in a test tube and block the open side of the test tube with another piece of cotton. Then cover the test tube w/ with black paper, tin foil, or a shoe box as some queen ant species do not like light. Once you have covered her test tube do not disturb here for a wile, and in about 2-7 days she will start to lay eggs. The egg laying stage is very important and if you bother here too much she will eat all of here eggs. After a while the eggs will hatch into larve then they will turn into pupae then they will hatch into workers . To get a test tube go to your local hobby or craft store. I hope this will help . |
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Post by toudzard on Jul 14, 2008 6:00:35 GMT
I'll say its very interesting now the next par is.... air what about it???!!! |
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Post by naturekidmn on Jul 14, 2008 17:35:54 GMT
The air goes through the cotton that is blocking the open side of the test tube . |
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Post by toudzard on Jul 16, 2008 4:39:49 GMT
well I usually put a piece of paper napkin to cover ;D
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Post by naturekidmn on Aug 2, 2008 22:32:55 GMT
Would honey water also work Wood?
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