6 replies to this topic

[Deia]

New antkeeper here, I started the hobby towards the end of September and so I've had to learn a lot about ants in a relatively short amount of time. One thing that bothers me though is when it comes to looking up hibernation, it feels like I have to scour tons of different conflicting answers, and often each thread only has answers to a few questions.

 

Anyway..

 

I bought a mini-fridge for the ants to hibernate in.

 

1: If the test-tube gets moldy during hibernation, is it safe to relocate the colony to a fresh one, or will that interfere with the hibernation?

 

2: Since the fridge does seal when shut, do I have to regularly open it to allow fresh air?

 

3: Two of my colonies have laid their first batch of eggs, do I need to let them raise nanitics first, or are they okay in the fridge?

 

4: Do I need to feed them a lot before I hibernate them? I have three species that are fully-claustral, and I haven't been feeding them because they don't need food during the founding stage.

 

5: Will vibrations still stress out the colonies while in hibernation?

 

 

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

[Vern530]

I was told by a experienced ant keeper that you should skip first year colony’s in regards to hibernation if they have eggs larvae or pupae
I’m skipping all my first years colony’s and only hibernating the ones who have no eggs

[ANTdrew]

Don't stress too much about hibernation. It's actually a nice break - if only I could put my wife and kids in a mini-fridge for a couple of months!

 

1. Put your ants in clean tubes before hibernating them. At low temperatures and with ants not actively eating and defecating in the tube, mold growth is way less of an issue.

 

2. If you open your fridge to check on your ants every two weeks or so, that should be plenty of air.

 

3. This depends on species I think. What species are you keeping?

 

4. You can give your fully claustral queens a drop of honey for energy before hibernating them. Colonies with workers should be fed as much as they'll take in beforehand. I keep nectar and fresh water available even in the mini-fridge.

 

5. Vibrations should not be an issue since the ants are in a state of torpor. Try to keep them relatively undisturbed though.

Edited by ANTdrew, October 31 2019 - 11:30 AM.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I'm going to ignore the first part of ANTDrew's statement, and it also depends in the type of ant you're keeping

[Deia]

3. This depends on species I think. What species are you keeping?

 

Lasius (Americanus?): Eggs

 

Formica (possibly argentea?): No eggs/brood

 

Camponotus Novaeboracensis: Brood

 

Myrmica (rubra?): Brood

[ANTdrew]

I'm going to ignore the first part of ANTDrew's statement, and it also depends in the type of ant you're keeping

You’ll understand when you’re older. Lol

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Yeah...