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nerdgeek: Heating & flooring for Camponotus ligniperda (27. Dez 2009 23:12)

Hello,

Got myself a 30x20x20 basis and a Ytong (standard breeze block size) and ready to get my Camp lig's in Feb.

I have two questions. . .

At the moment I have put a standard sand and loam mix on the basin floor, its seems too powdery for them and I think maybe they wouldn't like it. Is this Ok or should I chang this for something else maybe, or is it OK if I keep it damp?

Second question. .

Heating, I will be keeping them somewhere where a certain times of year before and after they hybernate the temp will be below 20c so I was wondering about getting :

http://www.forttex.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=18
Heat Mat

http://www.forttex.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_5_8&products_id=13
Thermostat

I have been told the heat mats are not suitable to use under/ through glass as it could crack it, the surface temp normally reaches 40c - 45c.

Can someone please advise on the best way to keep the temp 27c during the day and 25c at night with a heating device (not a lamp)???????

Zagone: Re: Heating & flooring for Camponotus ligniperda (28. Dez 2009 05:28)

Hello yourself!

When it comes to the ground around the nest, it actaully matters very little unless the ants are meant to nest in it, so the sand is fine, and you don't even need to keep it damp, but if you'll be keeping the ytong moist, the sand will likely be moist too, I guess; depending on your setup.

For heating, and I know you'd rather not use a lamp, but I'd say a heat-lamp is the absolute best, however heatmats are not bad, it's jsut alot harder to get the temperature just the way you want it. The only Camponotus I keep are exotic and I use a heatlamp for their basin; but for my Messors I use a heatcord that I place against the glass on one side of their nest; and the rest of the basin is about 22-26 C(Which is easily achieved with a normal lamp).

Anyway, 20C is rather warm if compared to average outdoor temperatures during the summer in Sweden, where Camponotus ligniperda also lives so you shouldn't really ahve any issue at all with keeping them in room-temperature.
However you'd want atleast some part heated, preferrably in a way so that they can move their brood closer to the heat.

It's quite late here when I' writing this, so this might all just be a load of nonsense, but I hope it helped somewhat. ^^

Yeah: Re: Heating & flooring for Camponotus ligniperda (28. Dez 2009 06:09)

Hi nerdgeek,

i will try my best with the english words... :D

Mix the sand up with some brickearth (i'm not sure, its the right word). Put it in the formicarium and spray some water on it so it gets realy wet. Now you can form it a bit and than just wait until it's dry. It will become very strong. This is much better than pure sand and looks nearly the same.

greetings
Yeah

nerdgeek: Re: Heating & flooring for Camponotus ligniperda (28. Dez 2009 17:29)

Thanks for the replies, the flooring sounds good so thats something I can cross of my list.

Which still leaves me the heating issue. Space is very limited so a lamp is a no go !

The heat cord sounds good, how do you make sure its not too hot though, do you use a thermostat of some kind?

Thanks

Zagone: Re: Heating & flooring for Camponotus ligniperda (29. Dez 2009 06:00)

Well, a properly functioning one shouldn't be able to reach any really hazardous temperatures, and since the heat is never 100% ( or anywhere close even) tranferred into the air, glass or whatever you wanna heat with it, just by limiting the exposure to the cord you can get a good temperature. Like for my messors I only have about a length of 5 cm or so of the cord pressed to the glass; that way it's impossible for the affected chamber to get too hot, and if it would; the ants can easily escape the uncomfortable heat.