ANTSTORE World of Ants

[sithmaster676]

hi all
yeah i hav a light on to keep temperature warm during the colder seasons and to provide light throughout the summer i will see how much light gets into the shed through its windows if a lot then there will be no need for the light
sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

That is nice, mine are in a room where there is enough light so i don't need it. Only my South-European ants have a heating lamp, they need it because they are joust to much higher temperatures than it gets here.

[sithmaster676]

yeah
mine dont need a light for heat cause they are lasius niger and can cope with it in the wild so they should be better off in my shed i only have it because my ants are still currently inside the test tube.
i have something which i think is strande for the first two weeks my colonie was in complete light the test tube had no covering yet as soon as i put some sand over the test tube they went straight into hibernation can anyone please give there opinion on this
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

Normally ants keep there nest in underground. It is always dark there. the queens never come out of the nest (normally) and also some workers stay underground for there hole live. maybe that is the reason.

I didn't now you did not covered the tube, you need to do that, not only in hibernation.

[sithmaster676]

yes i no now but at least without them covered up i got a lot of food into them before hibernation they ate apple, flies and daddy long legs in the time of only one week so that may have boosted there chances.
Sithmaster676

[mpir]

... they are lasius niger and can cope with it in the wild so they should be better off in my shed...
Sithmaster676

Bare in mind that "in the wild" they are underground where temperatures are above 0 oC. In the testu tube in the shed however... I hope you know where this is going.

[JimmyVe]

That is true, they had a nice diner before hibernation. Mpir is right, normally they can survive temperatures below 0°c but then they are underground, i heart is wont hurt them if they are in a test tube but i don't want to find out.

[sithmaster676]

no i hav a blanket covering the whole tank and a lamp on for a couple hours oif the day just to make sure as they still are in the test tube
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

Do you have a thermometer in the tank ? (that way you can check up on it)

[sithmaster676]

yes i fo hav a thermometer inside of the tank but i know that roughly everyday the tank gets up to about 14 degrees c yet because the test tube indide the tank is so covered up with sand it is cooler inside of there
so really im happy because the temp doesnt lower than say 4 degrees and the ants are still hibernating

[JimmyVe]

That is nice to here. Looks like everything is going to be fine.

[sithmaster676]

Now i think of it how on earth will my colony be able to get air inside the test tube as they have completely blocked it up
and the water that is behind the cotton wool is the same they got from antstore
so will this be ok till next march or not
Thanks for all your interest
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

Air is no problem, it are small animals they don't need much air. and if they do they will open the tube.
That depends on how much is in it. Most of the time it is good for a few months. If the water reserve is out you can put another tube near by the old one and they will move.

[sithmaster676]

but they are in hibernation i do have a whole test tube next to them though which is full of water so will they come out of hibernation to get some water or not

[mpir]

First of all, do you really think that the ants closed that test tube air tight?? I guarantee you that the air is getting in there. And look on the bright side of it. By closing the entrance less water vapor will manage to escape. And I think you don't have to worry about the water. Now the temperatures are down and water is not evapurating that much. I think the water should suffice till March.