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just a little update on my first colony of Camponotus Pennsylvanicus


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#1 Offline olookitsme - Posted August 12 2021 - 9:58 AM

olookitsme

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So my queen and 5(there were 6, but i had my first ant die) workers living in an antscanada test tube and test tube portal set up. I set that up as soon as i noticed my queen had a worker so I can quickly give some food, and had 2 test tubes set up. They finally moved out of their original test tube and into their new one with the black plastic bag covering it. unfortunately i didn't catch them making the move or I would have gotten a picture of them. Before the great migration to the new test tube, I still left the whole set up in a shoe box and in the dark for the past few weeks and would check every few days to make sure they were still alive and offer them either a meal work cut in half or a drop of honey. I would occasionally leave them in the light to try to convince them to make the move so i can get rid of the old test tube but they just seemed more aggravated  than anything and would go after  their eggs. now that they finally switched to the new test tube, is it safe for me to leave them out like that and do you all think that bag is doing a well enough job for them for darkness? also, as for the feeding times every few days, is that well enough for the time being and should I really worry about overfeeding?

 

Sorry for all the questions, but as usual. I appreciate all the input i get! Thank you all in advance

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Queens owned

     3 Camponotus pennsylvanicus

     3 Formica pallidefulva

 


#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 12 2021 - 10:25 AM

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Wrapping aluminum foil around the tube would look and work better. Feed them a little bit of protein every other day or so. Keep sugars available consistently. Don’t worry about overfeeding; most people underfeed their ants.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline olookitsme - Posted August 12 2021 - 10:44 AM

olookitsme

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Wrapping aluminum foil around the tube would look and work better. Feed them a little bit of protein every other day or so. Keep sugars available consistently. Don’t worry about overfeeding; most people underfeed their ants.

thank you. i will probably wait a couple days before switching the bag to tinfoil to let them get adjusted to their new test tube. I always fear for them eating their eggs. it was a constant issue for my queens


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Queens owned

     3 Camponotus pennsylvanicus

     3 Formica pallidefulva

 


#4 Offline zA-Z0-9 - Posted August 12 2021 - 2:15 PM

zA-Z0-9

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Wrapping aluminum foil around the tube would look and work better. Feed them a little bit of protein every other day or so. Keep sugars available consistently. Don’t worry about overfeeding; most people underfeed their ants.

I've personally learned that tin foil molds the test tube way faster than if the test tube was to have colored paper or something not saying that it doesnt work 

just thought i shoul share my experience with tin foil


I LOVE ANTS!!!!


#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 12 2021 - 2:39 PM

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I can’t think of any reason clean tin foil out of the box would contribute to mold at all. You are probably observing something coincidental.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline zA-Z0-9 - Posted August 12 2021 - 2:46 PM

zA-Z0-9

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I can’t think of any reason clean tin foil out of the box would contribute to mold at all. You are probably observing something coincidental.

no it makes it sweat too much in my opinion


I LOVE ANTS!!!!


#7 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted August 12 2021 - 3:03 PM

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I can’t think of any reason clean tin foil out of the box would contribute to mold at all. You are probably observing something coincidental.

no it makes it sweat too much in my opinion

 

If it is near a heat source it probably causes lots of condensation to occur, so that is probably what you are observing. 


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#8 Offline zA-Z0-9 - Posted August 12 2021 - 3:32 PM

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I can’t think of any reason clean tin foil out of the box would contribute to mold at all. You are probably observing something coincidental.

no it makes it sweat too much in my opinion

 

If it is near a heat source it probably causes lots of condensation to occur, so that is probably what you are observing. 

 

hmm youre probaly right


I LOVE ANTS!!!!





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