Normal ant behaviour?

[celtikah]

Just wanted to make sure my ants are behaving in a normal way - keen for the colony to expand!

I have an all-in-one habitat (Think fish tank with Ytong block and a few tubes leading to surface) and the ants 'seem' to be enjoying it in there, but I just wanted to make sure they are managing ok.

1. The queen is actually sitting in one of the tubes, not in the actual Ytong, but sort of hidden away so I can't see her! Is this normal? The colony is around 13 ants strong, but I never see nay of them in the Ytong tunnels, and only ever see 3-5 ants at most on the surface, often none at all!

2. They have completely blocked off their entrance to the tunnel (was fascinating to watch) is this a sign of them wanting to hibernate? Or just a natural defence mechanism?

3. They don't seem to be regularly eating food I have left in there (Some watered down honey water, raspberry jam, apple) or is it likely they are eating at night when I am not paying much attention to them?

4. My water supply for them is basically the test tube they arrived in. I put it in on a decline so the water sits high and soaks into the cotton. I have not noticed them pay much interest to it! Is this likely to be sufficient?

The colony have been in there about 2 days now, and are L.niger. I can provide pictures if requested!

Thanks,

[Wood~Ant]

Firstly you want to cover the Ytong nest and make it a bit damp. This will encourage the ants to move from the tube, especially if you make it too bright for them as ants prefer to head for moist dark places.
The colony feels safe and secure in its present location, so you must make them feel less comfortable where they are, but it is normal for ants to be in tubing as my C. ligniperda are doing this despite my efforts to move them.

Small colonies with a few workers may well forage for food at night, or when you are not watching them as it means less disturbance. You can never tell for sure unless you see them eating. 
Pictures are always helpful. 

[crockatt]

If there is any brood, larvae the stage after eggs then you will need to give them protein, ham, chicken, spiders, flies etc as the larvae need this to grow.