13 replies to this topic

[CamponotusLover]

Well basicaly. I am pretty sure New Jersey's big black ants that run around are Camponotus Pennsylvanicus (Black Carpenter ant) but I really want to make sure and have this question too just incase I catch a queen in the future. Which atm I just want to catch a worker and try to identify it on the internet and then let it go but what I want to ask is this.

 

Now I know ants have no lungs and all and they breath through their abdomens and such but basicaly I have a test tube with a cap. And I know how to set it up and all but basicaly. Will the ant suffocate after the 7 hours it can stand without air? Or will it be able to breath in this tube?

[Batspiderfish]

Can you not plug the tube with cotton? Seven hours is probably fine, regardless.

[CamponotusLover]

Can you not plug the tube with cotton? Seven hours is probably fine, regardless.

I can plug it with cotton. But I have seen test tubes with plastice covers with queens in em. And I know 7 hours is fine I did say that XD. But I mean will it survive in a test tube with a plastice cover after the 7 hours.

[Canadian anter]

It could probably survive for many days if there was water

[CamponotusLover]

It could probably survive for many days if there was water

Yeah I could add water. But I NEED to know if it will survive that way, I AM JUST sooo confused.

[Antsinmycloset]

I've kept ants in tubes with a twist on cap for days fine before. All you have to do is just make sure not to twist it all the way tight so there is some slight airflow. A big Camponotus isn't going to sneak out through some tiny crack, anyway.

It really just depends on what you're calling a "cap". If you mean something like this, well, I wouldn't chance it.

Edited by Antsinmycloset, October 1 2016 - 7:38 PM.

[andSocks]

It could probably survive for many days if there was water

Yeah I could add water. But I NEED to know if it will survive that way, I AM JUST sooo confused.

There should be enough water already in the test tube for a few ants to last several weeks, don't add more.

Cotton seems like the quickest and most widely accepted way to seal ants inside tubing/test tube/formicaria. You could still use a cap; but hold a small piece of cotton or paper towel inside when you close the lid, this should leave room for air to get in.

[CamponotusLover]

 

 

It could probably survive for many days if there was water

Yeah I could add water. But I NEED to know if it will survive that way, I AM JUST sooo confused.

There should be enough water already in the test tube for a few ants to last several weeks, don't add more.

Cotton seems like the quickest and most widely accepted way to seal ants inside tubing/test tube/formicaria. You could still use a cap; but hold a small piece of cotton or paper towel inside when you close the lid, this should leave room for air to get in.

 

No... I meant add asen.. Like... There is no water in the test tube. Because there is no ant. But I want to know if I were to setup a testube what would be enough for it to breathhhhhhhhhh 0_o

[kellakk]

As long as there is room for air to get in, the ant will be fine. If you use a cap that seals the opening, there will not be enough room for the ant to breathe.  Ants  will last a while in a sealed container because they don't require a lot of oxygen, but eventually will die.

[T.C.]

My tubes have a plastic cap, I just used a pin and poked holes in the lid, it was for a camponoutous queen which she is till in today!

[NightsWebs]

in a previous post I added a different setup concept that would take care of your issue.  Although, the traditional test tube setups work they are not very desirable.  Firstly, you have trapped the ant to simulate her claustral chamber and taken away any choices for the ant, understandably captivity limits the queens choices.  Secondly,  the traditional test tube setup uses cotton to allow breathability and not a cap.  Thirdly, if the tube floods from overheating or condensation build up the cotton does give the tube some absorption and hopefully prevents your poor ants from the perils of drowning. 

[CamponotusLover]

Ok. Now lets just forget about this fourm it is no longer necasary.

And I have bad spelling apparently.

[T.C.]

What do you mean you have bad spelling? Who said anything about it? Also the idea of a forum is for people to ask a qestion and other people answer it. Whether you need more information or not, another person will come along eventually and want an answer to the same question, with all the info they can get! So their is no need to stop the topic... your not the only one that will want an answer! No offense!

[CamponotusLover]

What do you mean you have bad spelling? Who said anything about it? Also the idea of a forum is for people to ask a qestion and other people answer it. Whether you need more information or not, another person will come along eventually and want an answer to the same question, with all the info they can get! So their is no need to stop the topic... your not the only one that will want an answer! No offense!

I didn't say anyone did but I mispelled something. Anyhow. Non taken. But okay. I guess..