6 replies to this topic

[ps004ynos]

So, today I caught a queen. I didn't have any spare test tubes available, so I put her in a non-airtight dish (like a tall Petri dish) with some dirt and a water feeder. She has been drinking (I think) from the water feeder for a LONG time. I tried gently moving her off, and she just kept on hanging on to it. The feeder relatively old, but I cleaned it. What do you think it is? Should I be concerned?

[ps004ynos]

I likely won't respond until tomorrow (it's night time where I am), but I'll take any response I can get! It's been awhile since I kept a queen, so I'm eager to start fresh.

 

Edit: My theory is that the water just comes out really slowly (IT IS A VERY OLD FEEDER), cause I saw her move her head while drinking. Note that the queen is missing her left back leg.

Edited by ps004ynos, July 11 2025 - 9:00 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Totally normal. Most queens will hang out right next to the damp cotton in a test tube setup. Your water feeder was the same sort of place in your petri dish. I doubt she was literally drinking the whole time; instead she was enjoying the humid spot.

[ps004ynos]

Alright, thank you for the answer! She eventually detached from the feeder, so I guess that is what is was! But, how should I make sure I don't disturb her? The feeder is relatively small (about the size of a mini marshmallow), and I also put a small bottle cap with a little amount of water (I am terrified of queens drowning, it has happened to me before). Also, note that the queen looks kinda like a harvester ant species I kept before (pogomyrmex occidentalis) + they cannot climb.

[ps004ynos]

Removed, the bottle cap, I checked and she was upside down stuck in there. Still alive, as she was just thrashing in the bottle cap trying to get out. Had to pour her out. Ok now.

[ANTdrew]

The water feeder is enough. Just moisten the soil every so often and she’ll have plenty of water. Get rid of the bottle cap. If it is a Pogonomyrmex queen, you should also offer her some seeds for protein.

[ps004ynos]

Alright! I removed the cap, and poured the minimal amount of water into the soil. But, should I move her into a test tube setup or just keep her in there?