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Gypsum Ant Nest Test Tube 15×150mm, 1 or 5 pack
Gypsum Ant Nest Test Tube 15×150mm, 1 or 5 pack
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The benefit
A founding chamber built to last
Gypsum holds moisture evenly, stays firm, and gives your new queen exactly the stable, humid environment she needs to raise her first workers. No more improvised setups. Just a proper home from day one.
Product details
Gypsum that actually does the work
The tube is standard borosilicate glass, 15 mm wide and 150 mm long, a size that fits most founding setups and outworld connectors. The gypsum plug at the base absorbs water and releases it slowly, keeping humidity consistent without flooding the chamber. No cotton wool to replace every week, no guesswork about moisture levels.
In action
Your queen moves in, you relax
You caught a Lasius niger queen, the common black garden ant, during nuptial flight season. You add a few drops of water to the gypsum end, slide her in, cork the opening, and tuck the tube somewhere dark and quiet. She seals herself in, lays her first eggs, and the gypsum keeps conditions steady while you check on her every few days.
Field test
Five tubes, five queens, zero stress
If you caught multiple queens or you keep several species side by side, the five-pack means every founding colony gets its own dedicated tube without a last-minute hardware store run. Identical dimensions make it easy to move tubes between setups, compare colony progress, and slot them into the same outworld when the time comes to connect.
FAQ
Your questions answered
What is the gypsum plug actually for?
The gypsum absorbs water and releases it gradually into the tube, maintaining a stable humidity level around the queen and her brood. You re-hydrate it by adding a few drops of water to the gypsum end whenever it looks dry. No cotton wool, no flooding.
Which ant species can I use this tube for?
Any queen that fits comfortably in a 15 mm diameter tube during the founding stage. That covers most common species including Lasius niger, Camponotus (carpenter ants), and Messor barbarus, the seed-harvesting ant. Check your queen's size before ordering if you keep larger exotic species.
Is the 1-pack or the 5-pack right for me?
The 1-pack is perfect if you have a single queen and want to try the format. The 5-pack makes sense if you caught several queens during nuptial flight season, keep multiple colonies, or simply want spares ready so you never scramble for a tube at the wrong moment.
How do I know when to move the colony out of the tube?
Watch for the first workers to appear and the colony to start feeling cramped, usually when workers begin clustering near the cork. At that point your queen has established her first brood and the colony is ready to connect to a larger formicarium or outworld.
Can I connect this tube directly to a formicarium or outworld?
The 15 mm diameter is a standard size that fits many outworld connectors and tubing adapters available in the hobby. Check that your formicarium connector matches a 15 mm tube opening before connecting, as fittings vary between brands.
