Hibernation tips & suggestions

Discussions about the care and keeping of ants

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UnrealSparks
Posts: 192
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
Location: Turin - Italy

Hibernation tips & suggestions

Post: # 52271Post UnrealSparks
Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:51 pm

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! :D
Keeping the following colonies:
  • [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
  • [2x] Lasius Flavus

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NYAnts11
Posts: 86
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2018 5:08 pm
Location: Fort Edward
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Re: Hibernation tips & suggestions

Post: # 52291Post NYAnts11
Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:49 pm

StigmaticSpark4 wrote:
Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:51 pm
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! :D
Just wanna say Im jealous of your Pheidole colony mainly, and you lasius flavus
2 Tetramorium Immigran Colonies #1 [40-50 workers] #2 [5-7 workers])
1 Lasius Neoniger Queen [waiting to lay after Hibernation]

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UnrealSparks
Posts: 192
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:45 pm
Location: Turin - Italy

Re: Hibernation tips & suggestions

Post: # 52301Post UnrealSparks
Fri Oct 12, 2018 4:23 am

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.
Keeping the following colonies:
  • [2x] Camponotus Barbaricus
  • [2x] Lasius Flavus

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