8 replies to this topic

[evanmancini2011]

Hi everyone,

I recently set up a new nest that I 3D-printed myself. For hydration, I used a sewing needle to make tiny holes in the hydration chamber. My ants can access these holes, and at first I had a lot of escapes. To fix that, I stuffed some of the holes with paper towel to create capillary action for hydration, and I blocked the rest of the holes with hot glue.

Right now, a lot of workers still seem interested in the hydration holes even though they’re blocked. There are also plenty of workers exploring and living in the actual nest, but no luck getting them to fully move in yet — even after one day, shining a flashlight on their test tube, and letting the test tube dry out.

How long does it usually take for ants to stop obsessing over blocked hydration holes and settle fully into the new nest?

Thanks!

[IdioticMouse26]

It really depends. The colony has a mind of its own. Sometimes, they move in a few hours or refuse to move for weeks! I once had a colony that wouldn't move out for like 2-3 weeks. In the end, I gave up and decided the colony wasn't ready yet. 

Is your new nest covered and dark? You could also try running some heating cables under the nest to encourage them to move in. 

I think it's important that you let the ants move in at their own pace, though. Moving their colony is very stressful for the ants, and they might decide not to move out/in at all. But if you need drastic measures, you can try dumping out the colony (quicker, but it could harm the queen/ants/brood) or relocate them ant by ant using tweezers (tedious but much safer).

 

I wish your ants a smooth and safe moving day!

[evanmancini2011]

Yea the nest is covered in the dark I will make sure the heating cable is attached.

Thank you for all your help!

[ANTdrew]

Paper towel and hot glue will not fully block any ants. Use 100 micron mesh to block hydration, or you will have big problems further down the line.

[evanmancini2011]

Paper towel and hot glue will not fully block any ants. Use 100 micron mesh to block hydration, or you will have big problems further down the line.

Ok thank you so do you think I should leave them in that nest or move them?

[cooIboyJ]

 

Paper towel and hot glue will not fully block any ants. Use 100 micron mesh to block hydration, or you will have big problems further down the line.

Ok thank you so do you think I should leave them in that nest or move them?

 

Have their old nest hooked up to their outworld, with the new one also hooked up. They will move in eventually if they need to, but you can keep them pretty much the same as before you made the new nest.

Edited by cooIboyJ, September 24 2025 - 7:35 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Do not move them into this nest until the hydration holes are fully blocked.

[evanmancini2011]

Yea it's a little too late I already moved the ants in Monday morning and there's already at least 100 ants inside already. I would add mesh to the hydration holes, but I already super glued the clear acrylic onto the nest. So, my hope is that the ants will grow tired of going inside the holes because they are blocked off and just use the nest as I intend. 

[rptraut]

Hello evanmancini;

 

I recently had a small break out of one of my Tetramorium colonies because they had crawled up the hydration tube, chewed off much of the wooden dowel that I used to block the tube, and finally managed to wriggle past the cotton tip at the end of the dowel.   I've blocked off most of their hydration tubes with a piece of 100 mesh stainless steel screen, I guess I missed this one.   To block it off from ants and still allow water to pass through it, I cut a small circle of the screen, cut it from one edge to the center, and then twist it into a funnel shape that fits tightly into the tube.   I then use the dowel to push the cone as far as I can into the tube.    I've yet to see them chew through stainless steel and the water can still move through for hydration.   Good Luck

RPT