Finally got ant colony

[dazzi41]

Hi all
This is a great day for me, as my first ants have hatched. I have been waiting since July and it's now November!

Is this normal for it to take so long?

And, can anyone give me a tip on what to do for the following?

I know what you say "don't disturb the queen" but I didn't want her to eat the young and now I fed her some sugar water and now there's a small patch of mold! I tried to cover it up with sand by pushing the nest in slightly, and then I was planning on getting it out once the queen has moved out, but I fear that will be ages now.

Any suggestions?

But anyway, I'm sooo glad my queen had its first as I thought for definate that she wasn't going to have any.

Thanks all

[golix]

The mould usually goes if it is dry enough, or once it has consumed the sugar, as long as it isn't next to the queen and you keep the tank ventilated it should be ok, but best to try and get it out.

To get the queen to move I suppose you could leave the chamber shes in in the light and keep the chambers or dirt next to her dark.

[jumbo992]

You don't have to feed the queen, she will feed when there is enough workers to forage and bring food back(the queen likes lots of protein for all that baby making, and the workers like energy foods)

Hope that helps