ANTSTORE World of Ants

[bigbibble]

Hi i was wondering if you are keeping ants that live in a higher climate (like 27c) what is better for them a heat mat or heat lamp. Thanks for the replys.

[JimmyVe]

Well it depends. If you use a heat lamp you will dry out the air more than with a heat mat. But it is harder to heat up an out world with a heat mat. I do it like this. I heat up the nest with a heat mat and use a heat lamp to heat up the out world. Just keep an eye on the humidity than.

[Alby]

I've used a heat mat and the temperature arrived to 25° from 17° without it..I lost my queen after two week that I became to use it..there were other cause, but I think that I didn't used it so well..

[JimmyVe]

I don't think the heat mat was the problem Alby. Maybe it warmed up to soon for the queen are she was just not strong enough.

[miszt]

heat mats can be hard to use, you need a good thermostat to keep a stable tempreture, in an enclosed space, a 7W heat mat can easily top 45-50C, be careful!

If you need a specific tempreture, go for a thermostat like the Microclimate B1, it will give a constant temp of what ever you need

[Gubbtjuven]

Does the ants need any source of light, like some small diods, If i use a heatmat?

[ratgreen]

yer i got a 14w heat mat for my gecko, and it is rubbish it wouldnt even top 22 after 4 days between the tank and the desk it was on. but that might just be mine, so.

[miszt]

You shouldnt be using a heat mat to heat a Geko tank! Heat Mats for Reptiles are for ambient warmth, that the Geko can goto when it needs, for eg at night when you have the Heat Light switched off

Heat Mats produce allot more heat when they are trapped between to hard surfaces, this is why they are good for Formicariums, as they can be pressed against the glass and controlled with a thermostat.

In a reptile tank, the heat mat should be inside the tank, on the base, covered with substrate, when used in this way, the heat does not stay trapped and so wont get as warm

[JimmyVe]

Does the ants need any source of light, like some small diods, If i use a heatmat?

Inside the nest ? No they need no lights.

[ratgreen]

yer miszt i only have one side of the tank with the heat mat so it can thermoregulate, and its no to warm that is the problem its too cold, you cant even feel the heat through the tank. anyways back to ants.