4 replies to this topic

[brian]

Question for the colony here. I have a small dedicated room for my ants that is heated to a constant 75 degrees fahrenheit or 23 degrees Celsius in the summer. For my Camponotus Castaneus and Pennsylvanicus should I also keep using a heat mat under the corner of my formicariums? I can't use heat lights or heating elements over them. Only mats under them on a timer so at night it cools off for 9 hours. With the room that hot constantly are they needed or can I remove them? what's best for the ants?

[ANTdrew]

75 is not that warm from an ant’s perspective. Consider your own body’s optimal temperature for biological functions. I consider 75 the absolute minimum you could keep a colony barely chugging along.

[brian]

75 is not that warm from an ant’s perspective. Consider your own body’s optimal temperature for biological functions. I consider 75 the absolute minimum you could keep a colony barely chugging along.

Would keeping the room at 80 to 85 be advised or just keep the heat mat under those corners? There never on the headed part. that's why I thought maybe to hot.

[ANTdrew]

Warming the whole room is ideal if you can do that. 80-85 is a great range.

[Chickalo]

What ANTdrew said.  Some species do like heat and other don't however, so I'd keep that in mind.  Try to keep the room their in un-air conditioned if it's summer/hot where you are.  It also differs from colony to colony.  For instance, Myrmica rubra are supposed to absolutely simp water and go near heat, but my colony actually moves away from heat and does their best to stay off the water tower.