ANTSTORE World of Ants

[kerzhakov]

Hi Guys. Ive Been Wondering, when i go to put my 2 colonies into hibernation, what do i do about water? Ive read that you leave water for them but im just concerned because the water bottle is above the surface, i mean its not like they just nip up for a drink in the middle of the night is it? if so thats fine. or do i just make the nest damper than normal? first hibernation for me! lol.

also if anyone hows off hand the duration and month of Messor barbarus's hibernation that would be great cause ive looked around and can't find much info. but ill certainly look again closer to the time.

Thanks in advance.

[JimmyVe]

Hibernation is still a long way ahead.

But here are the answers to your questions.
You just need to keep the nest moist like you always do. You can leave the water bottle in the out world and refill it when it is empty but the change that they will come and drink form it is small. But if they will they could.

These ants keep a hibernation period form 2-4 months. November till February. Keep them between 5-10°c and they will do just fine.
Don't let it cool of to fast and don't heat them up to fast after the hibernation.

[kerzhakov]

Good stuff ive got time for them to grow to greater numbers, ive had them for a couple of months, theres a few big workers in there but they never come out, just let the little guys do all the hard graft!
Thanks very much jimmy. appreciated.

[JimmyVe]

No problem.

The bigger workers will come out when the colony is bigger. Now they save them. It takes the colony longer to create a bigger worker so they will not risk them out yet.

[kerzhakov]

still crazy. i cant help but think, just one of those media workers could lift twice as much! something to look forward to! thanks again.

[JimmyVe]

They in fact don't lift twice as much, just more. Ants are wired animals but they have been long on this planet and will stay much longer so i think they know what they are doing.