Module 2: The Founding Chamber
THE FOUNDING CHAMBER
Module 2 of 6 · Initiate Certification
The Test Tube Setup
Every queen we ship travels and founds in a test tube setup. It has been the hobby standard for decades because it is simple, cheap and gives her exactly what she needs.
- Water fills roughly the back third of the tube.
- A tightly packed cotton plug holds that water back. This is the whole design. The cotton wicks moisture into her chamber and keeps her humid for weeks without you touching anything.
- A second cotton plug seals the open end so she cannot escape.
- The tube lives somewhere completely dark.
Three Ways to Lose Her Here
- Flooding. If the water plug is packed loosely, the reservoir leaks through and drowns her. Pack it firm. If you ever move her to a fresh tube, test it upside down for a few minutes before she goes in.
- Light. Leaving her on a desk or windowsill so you can watch. This is chronic stress. Put her in a drawer, a box, a cupboard.
- Handling. Rolling, shaking or carrying the tube around. Set her down and leave her.
Mould Is Usually Not an Emergency
A little mould on a cotton plug or on leftover food is common and often harmless. Colonies frequently wall it off themselves. Move her to a fresh tube only if it is spreading badly or she is clearly avoiding her chamber. When in doubt, ask us before you disturb her, because the move itself carries more risk than the mould usually does.
When the Water Runs Low
A well-packed tube lasts a long time, often months. When the reservoir is nearly gone, that is your signal to set up a fresh tube and let her walk across on her own, or to move her into her first nest if the colony is ready. Module 5 covers that call.