Hi everybody!
This is my first hibernation as an ant keeper so any tips or suggestions will be very well accepted.
I'm currently keeping many colonies:
- 2 Messor Barbarus (~150 workers & ~75 workers)
- 2 Pheidole Pallidula (~100 workers & ~50 workers)
- 2 Lasius Niger (~30 workers & ~20 workers)
- 2 Lasius Flavus (~7 workers & 1 worker)
- 2 Camponotus Barbaricus (9 workers & 3 workers)
- 10 Lasius Emarginatus (all at around 15 workers)
I know I have to keep them in a cold place (but not freezing) which I guess will be my garage at around 5-10 C°(40 - 50 F°).
Messor Barbarus are an exception tough, because they should stay at around 15 C° (60 F°) to hibernate.
That said, I'd like to know about your experience with past hibernations, like:
- How often and how much food did/do you provide your colonies before and after hibernation?
- Do you start hibernation in late October or early November, or do you just wait for your ants to show some signs like less activity/ blocking their entrance etc.?
- When will you approximately take them out of hibernation (example Feb-Mar)?
Thanks in advance for all your answers!
Hibernation tips & suggestions
Moderator: ooper01
- UnrealSparks
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
- Location: Turin - Italy
Hibernation tips & suggestions
Keeping the following colonies:
- [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
- [2x] Lasius Flavus
Re: Hibernation tips & suggestions
Just wanna say Im jealous of your Pheidole colony mainly, and you lasius flavusStigmaticSpark4 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:51 pmHi everybody!
This is my first hibernation as an ant keeper so any tips or suggestions will be very well accepted.
I'm currently keeping many colonies:
- 2 Messor Barbarus (~150 workers & ~75 workers)
- 2 Pheidole Pallidula (~100 workers & ~50 workers)
- 2 Lasius Niger (~30 workers & ~20 workers)
- 2 Lasius Flavus (~7 workers & 1 worker)
- 2 Camponotus Barbaricus (9 workers & 3 workers)
- 10 Lasius Emarginatus (all at around 15 workers)
I know I have to keep them in a cold place (but not freezing) which I guess will be my garage at around 5-10 C°(40 - 50 F°).
Messor Barbarus are an exception tough, because they should stay at around 15 C° (60 F°) to hibernate.
That said, I'd like to know about your experience with past hibernations, like:
- How often and how much food did/do you provide your colonies before and after hibernation?
- Do you start hibernation in late October or early November, or do you just wait for your ants to show some signs like less activity/ blocking their entrance etc.?
- When will you approximately take them out of hibernation (example Feb-Mar)?
Thanks in advance for all your answers!
2 Tetramorium Immigran Colonies #1 [40-50 workers] #2 [5-7 workers])
1 Lasius Neoniger Queen [waiting to lay after Hibernation]
1 Lasius Neoniger Queen [waiting to lay after Hibernation]
- UnrealSparks
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
- Location: Turin - Italy
Re: Hibernation tips & suggestions
I'm sorry!
I didn't want to make anybody jealous, but I kinda get the reason. Even though I can assure you those little pheidole were a nightmare at first because they were able to squeeze through every tiny opening... took me a while to fix this problem.
I didn't want to make anybody jealous, but I kinda get the reason. Even though I can assure you those little pheidole were a nightmare at first because they were able to squeeze through every tiny opening... took me a while to fix this problem.
Keeping the following colonies:
- [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
- [2x] Lasius Flavus
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