Glass Test Tube 16×160 mm — Round Bottom Founding Tube

• Diameter: 16 mm
• Length: 160 mm
• Base: round bottom (water-tight, no flat seam)
• Material: borosilicate glass (heat-resistant, chemical-resistant)
• Transparency: crystal clear — full colony visibility
• Reusable: yes, indefinitely (sterilise between colonies)
• Sold as: single tube (not a pack)

Fill the tube one third with clean tap water. Push a cotton ball into the tube with a thin object (chopstick, pencil end) until the cotton meets the water and absorbs it. The wet cotton becomes the back wall of the chamber. Cotton must be tight enough that the queen cannot squeeze around it, but loose enough that humidity passes through. Insert the queen, plug the open end with a second piece of cotton, and place the tube in a dark drawer or covered container for the first weeks.

Check the cotton weekly. When the water reservoir runs low — usually 3 to 6 weeks depending on humidity — prepare a new tube and move the queen and brood across with soft or ultra-soft tweezers.

The 16×160 mm format fits the vast majority of European, Mediterranean, and South-East Asian queens — from small Lasius niger through medium Camponotus through to most Messor. For very large queens (Carebara, Dinomyrmex, mature Camponotus gigas), a 20 mm tube is the better fit.

• Fits standard cotton wool from any pharmacy or supermarket
• Compatible with most modular formicarium connector tubes (16 mm outer)
• Pairs with our heating mat if you keep tropical species that need 26–28 °C
• For brood transfer, see our soft and ultra-soft tweezers

Sterilise between colonies. Boil for 10 minutes or wipe down with isopropyl alcohol, rinse with clean water, and dry. Borosilicate tolerates rapid temperature change and is dishwasher-safe, but hand-cleaning is gentler on the long term. Inspect for hairline cracks before reuse — cracks become escape routes.

• 1 × borosilicate glass test tube, 16 × 160 mm, round bottom
• Cotton plug not included — use any cotton-wool ball from a pharmacy or supermarket

Is this one tube or a pack of five?
This is a single tube. The reference image showing five tubes is for context only — the price is for one.

What size queens does it fit?
Small to medium queens, up to about 14 mm body length. For very large queens (Camponotus gigas, Carebara), use a wider 20 mm tube instead.

How long does the water last?
Typically 3 to 6 weeks depending on ambient humidity and how tightly the cotton is packed. Check weekly. When the water side is dry, move the colony to a fresh tube before the cotton dries fully.

Can I reuse a tube after the colony moves out?
Yes. Clean and sterilise as described above. Borosilicate glass is reusable indefinitely until physically damaged.