2 replies to this topic

[Justicarab]

I have quite a few queens, i think most of them are non fertile cause only 3 have laid eggs, and it's been a weekish. i noticed that 2 or three have a slight amount of mold (i'm trying to not disturb them more than 1 per 1 week, if not less). there is just a slight discolor (blackish) on the cotton. can the queens tolerate the mold, or do i need to try to give them a fresh tube immediately? can i wait a bit before i do? i know you're suppose to encourage them to tranfer tubes on their own. do i do it now, or can i wait?

[XZero38]

you should be fine, most of my tetra queens and most of my Pogonomyrmex queens had the cotton turn black on them and they lasted a month in their test tube and i transfered them after they had some workers but i let them make the decision to move

[Kevin]

most of my tetra's cotton turned black, they are fine in it... as long as they aren't too messy and you don't let food rot in the testube, then the mold will overcome the queens and basically bury them in it