Stress and heat!

Discussions about the care and keeping of ants

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Theantkid
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Stress and heat!

Post: # 85333Post Theantkid
Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:57 am

For some reason the cold room where I keep my ants was warm and I also had to water their nest today and on top of that, this two days before I start a new schedule to check on them. Will they be okay? :?:
Theantkid, Keeper of Formica subsericea/The Black Knights, Queen name, Black and Gold.

AntsLuxembourg
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Re: Stress and heat!

Post: # 85342Post AntsLuxembourg
Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:46 am

Well it depends. How big was the temperature change? Was it a difference of 5°C or bigger? Was the difference slowly over a few days or was it within a few hours or minutes?
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.

Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566

Currently not keeping any ants anymore.

Theantkid
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 8:18 am
Location: New York

Re: Stress and heat!

Post: # 85376Post Theantkid
Tue Nov 23, 2021 8:49 am

It was within a few hours and it just happened again today. Are they going to be ok? :?:
Theantkid, Keeper of Formica subsericea/The Black Knights, Queen name, Black and Gold.

AntsLuxembourg
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Re: Stress and heat!

Post: # 85378Post AntsLuxembourg
Tue Nov 23, 2021 9:37 am

Theantkid wrote:
Tue Nov 23, 2021 8:49 am
It was within a few hours and it just happened again today. Are they going to be ok? :?:
How big was the temperature difference?
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.

Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566

Currently not keeping any ants anymore.

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antnest8
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Location: Detroit, MI

Re: Stress and heat!

Post: # 85385Post antnest8
Tue Nov 23, 2021 11:14 am

Theantkid wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:57 am
For some reason the cold room where I keep my ants was warm and I also had to water their nest today and on top of that, this two days before I start a new schedule to check on them. Will they be okay? :?:
They should be fine. As long as it is not going from the 40's to 70's daily then temperature changes should be fine. Also, as long as you don't check on them every day (every week is usually sufficient during hibernation).
Some of My Informative Sheets
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
Includes :
  • Ant Care Sheets
    Queen Hunting
    How To Identify Ants
Goal is to become #2 poster on the forum

Theantkid
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 8:18 am
Location: New York

Re: Stress and heat!

Post: # 85391Post Theantkid
Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:56 pm

I was thinking about putting them in the storage room of the house in the ant farm box so bugs won't get in. It gets cold and stays cold in their, but how would the plastic ant farm hold up?
Theantkid, Keeper of Formica subsericea/The Black Knights, Queen name, Black and Gold.

Theantkid
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 8:18 am
Location: New York

Re: Stress and heat!

Post: # 85393Post Theantkid
Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:26 pm

I was just looking at a care sheet ant it says that for hibernation it should be 70-80 degrees. Is this correct?
Theantkid, Keeper of Formica subsericea/The Black Knights, Queen name, Black and Gold.

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antnest8
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Re: Stress and heat!

Post: # 85401Post antnest8
Tue Nov 23, 2021 7:22 pm

Theantkid wrote:
Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:26 pm
I was just looking at a care sheet ant it says that for hibernation it should be 70-80 degrees. Is this correct?
No. It is for the summer since Formica does well in heat, but almost all ants, except a select few hibernate at temperatures in the 40s and 50s Fahrenheit because that is what the ground is 3+ feet down.

As long as the storage room doesn't freeze it will be fine
Some of My Informative Sheets
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
Includes :
  • Ant Care Sheets
    Queen Hunting
    How To Identify Ants
Goal is to become #2 poster on the forum

AntsLuxembourg
Posts: 1578
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2018 7:17 am
Location: Luxembourg
Contact:

Re: Stress and heat!

Post: # 85421Post AntsLuxembourg
Wed Nov 24, 2021 10:32 am

Theantkid wrote:
Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:56 pm
I was thinking about putting them in the storage room of the house in the ant farm box so bugs won't get in. It gets cold and stays cold in their, but how would the plastic ant farm hold up?
The plastic formicarious shouldn't5 be an issue since they should be able to withstand temperatured inside a freezer but so far I haven't heard of any antspecies that needs freezing temperaturs for hibernation. It should do just fine for your hibernation needs.
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.

Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566

Currently not keeping any ants anymore.

Theantkid
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 8:18 am
Location: New York

Re: Stress and heat!

Post: # 85423Post Theantkid
Wed Nov 24, 2021 12:17 pm

It is an Uncle Milton ant farm ant it will go a little below freezing this week. Is this ok? :?:
Theantkid, Keeper of Formica subsericea/The Black Knights, Queen name, Black and Gold.

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