7 replies to this topic

[m99]

My year-old americanus ladies are still in their initial setup, with their (glass) founding tube taped up to the AC portal, with an AC tube next to them that I added this summer for additional water. However their home tube (where the queen lives) is coming up on being completely dry.

 

I'd make more of an effort to scare them from one tube into another but they've heavily blocked up the nuptial entrance and I'm not sure the queen could even get out if she wanted to.

 

My plan had been to do a big dramatic move into a small undergroundcities formicarium by putting both setups inside a tupperware container with talcum around the edges, then opening their current nest completely up so they feel forced to move into the closed space.

 

Do I need to bother? Will they keep themselves moist enough during hibernation to make it until next year?

 

I store my ants in a wine cooler at around 50 degrees for the winter.

Edited by m99, October 15 2022 - 8:26 AM.

[T.C.]

In this case I put them in hibernation, then once they're chilled and slow I dump them into a different tube. Just make sure you chill the new setup in the fridge prior.

[m99]

aHA I hadn't even considered that strategy. Good, it means I can [censored] off and wait another month until I've fully moved and am ready to put them into hibernation, that makes it the perfect plan lol

[nofuel11]

I have this exact same problem, but with 3 first year camponotus pennsylvanicus colonies. They're in dry tubes, but i'm hesitant to move them because they're sooo ready for hibernation , like always huddled and not moving much. 

 

Can anyone else confirm the suggestion above about waiting until they're in deep cold sleep, then dumping them in a new tube? I mean they've positioned themselves and the larvae in their very specific formation. Is it really ok to haphazardly dump them in a new tube, ending up with them all randomly scattered discombobulated in the new tube? My ants don't like to be right up against wet cotton, but if i dump them, i feel like there's no choice but to end up with part of the colony butted right up against the wet cotton. 

 

My other idea was to hibernate in the dry tubes, but take them out like once a month and let them stagger out to drink if needed. But feel like this is an awful idea that won't work at all. 

[AntsCali098]

If the tube is dry, you could put a liquid feeder in their outworld

[rptraut]

If there is enough room in the test tube, cut off the end of a cotton swab, saturate it with water (damp - not dripping wet) and place it in the tube. You can also do this with a small piece of cotton rolled into a ball. This also works well for sugar water if placed on a small tray to avoid mold on the tube. I use this method to feed founding colonies and place both of the cotton pieces on the feeding tray.

I usually cut a triangular piece of a cotton pad for the sugar water so I know which is which when it comes time to rehydrate them. If they get dirty or moldy they are easy to replace.

When I have moved my Camponotus in the past, I've waited until they were very cold and "dumped" them in their new home. Then I put them somewhere warmer, let them reform their winter huddle and then, back into the cold. Even though they are very cold they can still move away from things like wet cotton, albeit very slowly.

[ANTdrew]

If there is enough room in the test tube, cut off the end of a cotton swab, saturate it with water (damp - not dripping wet) and place it in the tube. You can also do this with a small piece of cotton rolled into a ball. This also works well for sugar water if placed on a small tray to avoid mold on the tube. I use this method to feed founding colonies and place both of the cotton pieces on the feeding tray.

I usually cut a triangular piece of a cotton pad for the sugar water so I know which is which when it comes time to rehydrate them. If they get dirty or moldy they are easy to replace.

When I have moved my Camponotus in the past, I've waited until they were very cold and "dumped" them in their new home. Then I put them somewhere warmer, let them reform their winter huddle and then, back into the cold. Even though they are very cold they can still move away from things like wet cotton, albeit very slowly.

I second this: dump and let them regroup in a warm place before returning them to hibernation.

[LowQualityAnts]

You could try pulling the cotton up with something like a pick.