Keeping Ants in Test Tubes (Advanced Techniques) | Ant Keeping 101

Learn how to set up a test tube nest for your ant colony! This video covers how to feed ants in test tube setups, use outworlds with tubes, heating colonies, and how to move ants into a formicarium.
*Test Tubes: amzn.to/2yIyhis
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Directed by Miles Maxcer
Produced by Ben Schwartz

[@lmcdasc]

Very informative. I had to figure out a lot of this the hard way. Never thought about having an inclined tube as a condensation flood mitigation technique. Nice.

[@twigerthedj5072]

no he copied ACTUAL ant youtubers

[@antsphere1823]

@@twigerthedj5072 He is an actual one, and I think much better then AC.

[@Xlingad]

Awesome videos, Miles!! Keep em coming even if other people covered the same topic in their videos. I like how you’re videos are super informative and straight to the point!

[@TheAntNetwork]

Thanks, Alex! - Miles

[@losanteles7079]

I am so grateful to have someone like you making more professional videos like this for ant-keepers across the globe!

[@TheAntNetwork]

Thank you, Los Anteles!

[@vibrantcat683]

How do you replace a test tube in a tub and tubes setup

[@alicethecat3905]

Awesome video, gets straight to the point and extremely informative.

[@randomname3922]

Cool! You have nice ants and A nice camera

[@nathant7437]

Overall thorough and professional. Thank you. Nice video!

[@TankieBoi]

Quick tip from my experience (particularly with camponotus), workers will try to pick at the cotton to escape the test tube, and there's a chance they can get stuck in it (I had a nanitic get cotton stuck on it, and dealing with it was a nightmare), it's better to use some kind of fabric, or a different form of cotton, I personally used the cut off tops of some old socks I have, but what's important it avoiding cotton balls, while still making sure the ants can't slip through

[@soultosqueeze1853]

This is a way better video for beginners then just listening to Ants Canada. Not to shame him but AC jas had more luck then skill. He has also had very bad luck but his channel definitely shows some of the very cool possibilities on what you can do with OLD and ESTABLISHED colonies. This video shows a sure fire way on how to start a great healthy foundation for your ants.

[@TheAntNetwork]

Thanks so much! We are glad you enjoyed it and found it useful.

[@andykirby7772]

Darn, now I know why I can never get my aunts to the outworlds correctly. Thanks Miles!

[@LamGorYun]

your uncles gotten out quicker?

[@kiryu63]

Lol

[@antwit9343]

Where do you buy your containers for the outworlds? They look perfect for outworlds or terrariums.

[@James-tv2bm]

Very well made video. You have serious potential as a KZbinr, and you're unlocking it!

[@TheAntNetwork]

Thank you, James! We are thrilled to have seen so much growth over the past year.

[@Bigvs.Dickvs]

1:26 I personally don't recommend using Aluminium foil to feed the ants, especially the ones that are sensitive to light. Aluminium foil reflects back *all* the light that hits lit, like a mirror, and can make some ants *very* uncomfortable, thus avoiding their food.

[@anttrails9554]

This is great

[@KevinAndGypsy]

You earned yourself a sub

[@handandjoshkoun2142]

Do you have a video in showing how to remove a Queen out of a test tube into a formicarium ? Thanks

[@treaborzgrover3202]

You should make a video on the care of semi cluastral queens

[@altexpl7572]

Where do you get those acrylic boxes? I've been trying to find little containers like that I could use for making outworlds and such.

[@TheAntNetwork]

The Container Store sells AMAC boxes that work great as small outworlds. When this video was shot, they were our go-to.

[@EnderAnts]

Very nice production with this video. Might have to use the cork method soon!

[@dalcon555]

more, seriously, more. This is amazing, this is what the ants community needs

[@TheAntNetwork]

Thanks, David! We're making as many as we can!

[@craig6903]

Is there a founding formicarium that you would recommend for a black carpenter ant queen? My queen is in a test tube, I caught her about 10 days ago

[@TheAntNetwork]

Hi Craig! We can recommend the Tar Heel Ants Mini Hearth series for carpenter ant queens. Just make sure you get one made for “large” ants.

[@r1te0ndan1ple]

Where do you get your rubber grommets? What size are they?

[@TheAntNetwork]

Hi Joshua! We sourced them from McMaster-Carr: www.mcmaster.com/rubber-grommets "1 9600K33 SBR Rubber Push-In Grommet for 7/16" ID and 3/32" Material Thickness, Packs of 100"

[@mb-vj4gd]

When manually moving ants into a new nest, it is safe to refrigerate brood? Should I use a similar temperature to hibernation (~10 degrees C) or should I put them in my regular fridge (~4 degrees C)?

[@TheAntNetwork]

It is safe for the ants and brood of most ant species to be placed in the refrigerator for a short period of time. Tropical species may be more sensitive and could be negatively affected.

[@mb-vj4gd]

@@TheAntNetwork thanks!

[@jstump1972]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a heating cable? I have a queen novae in a tube

[@TheAntNetwork]

Hi Jeremy! We can recommend the following heating cable from Zoo Med: amzn.to/2T7cnO4 (Amazon Affiliate Link)

[@bbbbbbbb1942]

I connected my Camponotus queen to an outworld....and then she promptly moved out of the test tube into the outworld with all the eggs and workers. Any suggestions on how to get her back in the tube?

[@finnmorris6328]

Where can i get the test tubes that you use in these videos

[@TheAntNetwork]

Hi Finn, thanks for asking! You can purchase 20x150 mm glass test tubes here: amzn.to/2yIyhis (even comes with a cleaning brush!)

[@jakew4895]

Where do you get your outworlds from

[@TheAntNetwork]

Our outworlds come from a few places. We make our own from boxes purchased from The Container Store and Pioneer Plastics, and we also have pre-made outworlds from Tar Heel Ants.

[@PriestessKikyo1]

If anyone can help me with this.. I have a couple of carpenter ant queens.. One of them definitely doesn't have nearly enough water in her test tube set up. I'm pretty sure it's going to dry up before her first workers hatch.. Any suggestions??

[@jackireland2298]

Migrate into a new tube

[@southwestantchannel7943]

Ahha a part 2

[@trent9847]

how often should you feed them

[@TheAntNetwork]

That is very dependent on the ant species and size of the colony. Do you have something particular in mind?

[@withergamin8005]

Hey my queen wont move WHEN DERES A MOLD CRISES i tried a flash light my phone flash light and she wont budge but the mold was stipl small

[@Spyros_Mazarakis]

Είδα κάτι που μου άρεσε: η συνδεόμενη ταΐστρα, οι σύνδεσμοι βινυλίου και όχι μόνο!

[@James-tv2bm]

Κι εγώ επίσης. Δεν μιλώ ελληνικά και πρέπει να το μεταφράσω. Είναι αυτό ακόμη και αναγνώσιμο;

[@94hoi97]

I've owned every single pet but now the only thing that's left are ants

[@tribeofcam3762]

how to keep a colony from dying out in the founding test tube stage???

[@daveykonijnenberg951]

Feed them!! sugar and proteïne once or twice a week and make sure the got water keep em in the dark dont play with it

[@emo81309]

What to do if i need to put more water in my test tube but i have no nest to put my ants ?

[@FizzleFX]

4:52 this i like. a grid to keep water in. i swear to god those gravity feeders are meant to kill ants cause they can suddenly run wild!

[@BeforeDinosaurs]

0:40 Is that Manica?

[@TheAntNetwork]

It sure is!

[@diy-projects]

"be careful: @ 4:46 *SMACC*

[@kbants4063]

👍🇬🇧🐜

[@jack_corvinus]

I miss you Miles.

[@cripsbooble4931]

whare i can but ants in Indonesia

[@Wertboy999]

How do you feed an extremely active ant colony in a test tube

[@TheAntNetwork]

You don't! Use an outworld with your test tube or move the colony into a proper formicarium.

[@haydenwa11ar]

Hi

[@twigerthedj5072]

wow test tubes are hard *rolls eyes* ants Canada had made a more informative one in 2015!

[@user-gq6yu3en8x]

For some reason my ants are not eating but jumping all over the Queen

[@Daketnietweet]

Drowned my larves for 2 seconds. Hope i didn’t kill them.

[@chicken5761]

Did you?

[@getoffyourbassandletsfish7651]

Pavement ants die if put in fridge for any length of time. Found that out the hard way!

[@trent9847]

oof

[@yesproductions5256]

Big oof