4 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

So my mom has gotten sick of the ants in the refrigerator and has elected to let me get a mini fridge for hibernation purposes. Of the couple I found that would work, one was a mini fridge with a max temp. of 39°F (3.9°C) and the other was a wine cooler with a minimum temp. of 41°F (5°C). Obviously if I went with the fridge with lower temperature I would have to use the higher end of its range since I don't want to freeze the ants, and if I went with the warmer wine cooler I would have to use the lower end of it's range since I want the ants to hibernate, not just be sluggish. Either way,  the temperature would be near 40°F (4.4°C). The advantage the wine cooler might have is that I could adjust the temperature slowly up or down when putting ants in or out of hibernation. But what do y'all think? Slightly warmer side of 40°F (4.4°C) or the colder side?

Edited by Mettcollsuss, January 19 2020 - 4:24 PM.

[ConcordAntman]

I’m in Massachusetts and for diapause I’ve kept my colonies at 48-48 degrees. Go for the wine cooler. This is what I use.

 

Edited by ConcordAntman, January 19 2020 - 7:52 PM.

[rbarreto]

The max temperature of the mini fridge is 4°C? I'm gona assume you ment minimum, I would go with the wine cooler as you probably want to keep the ants between 5 and 10°C.

[Ants4fun]

Either or. Since you’re based in Chicago, native ants there endure much worse temperatures than 39 degrees.

[ANTdrew]

Either or. Since you’re based in Chicago, native ants there endure much worse temperatures than 39 degrees.

I was thinking the same thing about ants from Chiberia.