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Freezing Test Tubes

Started By Ants_Dakota , Sep 21 2020 6:55 AM
test tubes cotton south dakota

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#1 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 21 2020 - 6:55 AM

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I live up here in South Dakota, and whenever i try to hibernate by queens that are in a test tube, the water always freezes, and the queen and her workers die. It as happened like 5 times already. Is there any way to help them not go through winter in a warm house? Because i have heard that harms them. Also, I don't have a mini fridge to put them in.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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#2 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 21 2020 - 6:58 AM

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me neither.


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#3 Offline BlueLance213 - Posted September 21 2020 - 8:05 AM

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wouldn't a normal fridge work? I mean I have a digital themometer in mine and it doesnt go below 7, so that water shouldn't freeze unless you have it on a really cold setting? 

 

If it still happens even when its like that then all I can say is... OOF, I think its up to the ants though whether they decide to hibernate or not though sadly


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#4 Offline Antkid12 - Posted September 21 2020 - 8:23 AM

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I live up here in South Dakota, and whenever i try to hibernate by queens that are in a test tube, the water always freezes, and the queen and her workers die. It as happened like 5 times already. Is there any way to help them not go through winter in a warm house? Because i have heard that harms them. Also, I don't have a mini fridge to put them in.

Put them in a garage if you have one.


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Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

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#5 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 21 2020 - 8:37 AM

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I live up here in South Dakota, and whenever i try to hibernate by queens that are in a test tube, the water always freezes, and the queen and her workers die. It as happened like 5 times already. Is there any way to help them not go through winter in a warm house? Because i have heard that harms them. Also, I don't have a mini fridge to put them in.

Put them in a garage if you have one.

 

I do, and they still freeze.


wouldn't a normal fridge work? I mean I have a digital themometer in mine and it doesnt go below 7, so that water shouldn't freeze unless you have it on a really cold setting? 

 

If it still happens even when its like that then all I can say is... OOF, I think its up to the ants though whether they decide to hibernate or not though sadly

I have a normal fridge, and i am not allowed to put ants into it.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

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#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 21 2020 - 8:39 AM

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If you have room, a normal fridge would work fine. I get that not every family is keen on filling up the fridge with ants, though. An unheated basement has worked for me in the past, too. You only need to get them down to 50 degrees.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#7 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 21 2020 - 8:43 AM

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If you have room, a normal fridge would work fine. I get that not every family is keen on filling up the fridge with ants, though. An unheated basement has worked for me in the past, too. You only need to get them down to 50 degrees.

I am debating buying a mini fridge for ants.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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#8 Offline Barristan - Posted September 21 2020 - 9:39 AM

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either buy a mini fridge, or if you want to store them outside, you can use cooler bag. Put some plastique (glass bottles will burst) bottles filled with water in it, that will help smoothing out the climate inside the bag. The water will store heat during day and prevent the bag to getting too cold.


However if it is permanently below zero in the garage that also won't help...

 

Ants can dig quite deep and will stay in deeper regions of the nest during winter, so it'll a lot warmer than at ground level. If you keep them in test tubes they don't have that option.


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#9 Offline DDD101DDD - Posted September 21 2020 - 9:39 AM

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This might not work, but maybe dig a hole outside and put your tubes in it.


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#10 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 21 2020 - 9:46 AM

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This might not work, but maybe dig a hole outside and put your tubes in it.

Yeah, basically like a root cellar. A used mini-fridge off Craigslist might be your best bet, though.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#11 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 21 2020 - 9:53 AM

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This might not work, but maybe dig a hole outside and put your tubes in it.

Yeah, basically like a root cellar. A used mini-fridge off Craigslist might be your best bet, though.

 

yup. i will think about it.


This might not work, but maybe dig a hole outside and put your tubes in it.

good idea. i will try this if i do not get a fridge. Ants are harmed when not in hibernation during winter, right?


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

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#12 Offline BlueLance213 - Posted September 21 2020 - 3:24 PM

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As far as I know, they arent exactly harmed by it, but it does seem more beneficial, and would help improve longevity, I like to think of it as imagine not being able to sleep for several days/weeks. It won't really kill you, but your not gonna feel like a spring chicken and if you have any existing health issues it might make those worse. 

 

If your winters are not too bad, putting them in a black bag outside would help with frost, but not if its cold enough to the point where its proper Ice. I like DDD101DDD's suggestion as its more of a natural thing, but the problem is making sure they have water is harder.

 

Even a small cheap desk fridge etc would do the job I think, possibly an attic? In the UK they get cold but don't freeze, just kinda enreliable


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#13 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 21 2020 - 4:12 PM

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attic is a good idea. I will have to see how cold it gets up there. This might work.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal

#14 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 21 2020 - 6:46 PM

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South Dakota is one of the coldest places in the USA.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#15 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 21 2020 - 7:08 PM

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It depends on how deep the ground freezes. If its six feet down, then it would be kind of difficult. I would say it would only be able to really work without causing a colossal pain in the rear, if the ground did not freeze more than 1.5 feet down.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#16 Offline BlueLance213 - Posted September 22 2020 - 5:19 AM

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I think the ground temperature is pretty stable after something like 3ft. 


#17 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 22 2020 - 6:47 AM

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i an actually thinking about the attic idea. i will do that or buy a tiny fridge cheap.


Edited by Ants_Dakota, September 22 2020 - 6:47 AM.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal

#18 Offline ConcordAntman - Posted September 23 2020 - 4:26 AM

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Something else to consider. It has adjustable temperature. 
1FBE06BB 1475 495E 9209 6110F071EEC2

 


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#19 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 23 2020 - 5:04 AM

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How much is that?


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal

#20 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 23 2020 - 5:11 AM

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I am thinking of getting this https://www.amazon.c...3-4aad70960d99 

because of the price and reviews.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal

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