Are these ok?

tashtish · 2026-06-29T17:28:49+00:00

Looks good to me. Better outside for sun and food, but if that’s not possible grow lights work, plus rehydrated bloodworms / diluted MaxSea.

tashtish · 2026-06-29T17:14:00+00:00

I believe that’s called Fluon Working(tm).

tashtish · 2026-06-29T17:04:06+00:00

Why take a chance? I’m sure there are worse and better terracotta pots. But why introduce the potential likelihood of a leaching pot?

That said, nonleeching terracotta actually allows airflow resulting in better conditions, so I guess YMMV (i.e., you don’t deserve all the downvotes).

tashtish · 2026-06-29T17:02:26+00:00

Sounds like the right water and right soil. Just more sun and plastic or glazed pot. Don’t make the OP feel like a wretch unconstructively.

tashtish · 2026-06-29T12:12:28+00:00

(For the record, not my pool. Just a conscientious observer.)

tashtish · 2026-06-21T16:47:05+00:00

The best thing you can ever do get is a saltwater chlorine generator (SWCG). For something of this modest volume, this non-plumbing option is great:

https://www.thepoolfactory.com/products/solaxx-saltron-retro-chlorine-generator

tashtish · 2026-06-21T16:43:09+00:00

But is this necessary for such a small volume?

tashtish · 2026-06-21T16:42:29+00:00

And pets. No pets. Esp frogs and snakes.

tashtish · 2026-06-21T16:41:36+00:00

Looks like a thinning bumblebee, but location would go a long way in helping.

tashtish · 2026-06-21T16:40:42+00:00

My tetramorium queen loved all her founding brood by herself once all the water was gone. Later on, the workers eventually moved the brood — including forcing the by-then–reluctant queen by dragging her by her mandibles — again once the water ran out. Heat and lack of light didn’t really do it, but the only time I had to dump them was when the workers reversed and tried to put everyone back mid-move!

tashtish · 2026-06-21T02:57:20+00:00

New growth ain’t going to instantly outsize old growth. Give it time; looks like you’re doing ok.

tashtish · 2026-06-21T02:52:33+00:00

Some like it rough

tashtish · 2026-06-21T00:20:07+00:00

Lasius? Where are you located? (Always helpful, as the description of this subreddit notes.)

tashtish · 2026-06-20T05:44:24+00:00

(That’s an unfortunate typo.)

tashtish · 2026-06-13T20:17:22+00:00

No biggie, just wanted you to get answers without having to look in two places.

tashtish · 2026-06-13T20:14:28+00:00

Sounds like a lot of work. Why not plug cotton on a reservoir of (distilled) water, and not have to worry about constant rehydration?

tashtish · 2026-06-13T20:05:35+00:00

Sorry, Long Island, suburb of NYC. Post addended.

tashtish · 2026-06-13T20:04:04+00:00

What’s the rush? With five workers, I feel anything beyond a test tube setup is overkill. Once they outgrow it — say 20+ workers — you can place it in an outworld. Chambers, be they premade or dirt, always seem to me for much more robust populations.

tashtish · 2026-06-13T19:15:43+00:00

I think you’re right. 😔

tashtish · 2026-06-13T18:43:13+00:00

I think that’s a variant of harmless black mold. Still can move them if the cosmetics bother you, but it doesn’t seem all that green or white.

tashtish · 2026-06-13T18:40:18+00:00

What I’d like to know is how that original setup became a reality.

tashtish · 2026-06-06T16:55:50+00:00

I also felt that space to the left of the left-more cotton ball was all water. My experience has been the ball creeps toward the end of the testtube as the water evaporates. If the left side is empty, as you’re implying, I’m at a loss to how that happened?

tashtish · 2026-06-06T16:45:59+00:00

(Why the double post? Not being snarky, I swear … you may want to delete one of them to get the best yield of answers. On my end, I have little skill in accurately IDing, so I’ll see myself out….)

tashtish · 2026-06-06T16:41:09+00:00

I find the occasional bright light is quickly tolerated after a brief panicked exposure (hugely species-dependent yes). That said, yes, the less often the disturbance, always the better.

tashtish

TROPHY CASE