8 replies to this topic

[NPLT]

So, hibernation season is upon us, and I'm having a small problem, I'm intending to move my my Formica colony into hibernation as they are clearly preparing for it, however, their setup is quite big now, and I don't know how to do it. I've been thinking about getting something like a tray and gently pulling each piece of the setup onto it. I'd like to avoid disconnecting any piece if at all possible, as I fear disconnecting any would cause an outpour of ants too big to control. Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

Setup in question is the one in the front. The one in the back is my Myrmica setup, but they're not going hibernating as I spotted larvae.

[ANTdrew]

I actually think disconnecting is the way to go. That is how I moved my massive Crematogaster back in the day. Just have plugs handy and an aspirator. Get a helper if you can as well.

[antsriondel]

I actually think disconnecting is the way to go. That is how I moved my massive Crematogaster back in the day. Just have plugs handy and an aspirator. Get a helper if you can as well.

I agree, and I may be wrong on this, but isn't formic acid damaging to your lungs? An aspirator might not be the right idea. 

[Flu1d]

I actually think disconnecting is the way to go. That is how I moved my massive Crematogaster back in the day. Just have plugs handy and an aspirator. Get a helper if you can as well.

I agree, and I may be wrong on this, but isn't formic acid damaging to your lungs? An aspirator might not be the right idea.

There is a cool video that Miles at "The Ant Network" on Youtube put out showing a neat filter trick to help with formic acid and tiny particles

[T.C.]

Disconnect all the nests. I use a soft paint brush to get escapees and sweep them into a container with a barrier. 

Edited by T.C., December 6 2022 - 8:20 PM.

[rptraut]

I've found this to be one of the biggest disadvantages of a colony housed in a modular system formicarium. Moving them can be difficult. I had a similar problem with a colony of mine this fall, so I enlisted my wife's help and we lifted all of the sections high enough to slide a tray (like a small cafeteria tray) underneath all of them at the same time.

For another similar formicarium, my wife slid the tray under each section as I lifted it and the ones already on the tray just slid along as we pushed the next section on. Now I can pick up the whole thing myself. When I add more sections in the future, I'll connect them so they are all on the tray and I'll keep them there permanently. I'll probably construct new modular formicaria on a tray right from the start.

If I see ants that are close to escaping while I'm feeding, cleaning, or disconnecting, I blow on them gently and they usually retreat back into the formicarium. If they don't, I blow harder! It usually buys me enough time to finish what I'm doing.

[T.C.]

I've found this to be one of the biggest disadvantages of a colony housed in a modular system formicarium. Moving them can be difficult. I had a similar problem with a colony of mine this fall, so I enlisted my wife's help and we lifted all of the sections high enough to slide a tray (like a small cafeteria tray) underneath all of them at the same time.

For another similar formicarium, my wife slid the tray under each section as I lifted it and the ones already on the tray just slid along as we pushed the next section on. Now I can pick up the whole thing myself. When I add more sections in the future, I'll connect them so they are all on the tray and I'll keep them there permanently. I'll probably construct new modular formicaria on a tray right from the start.

If I see ants that are close to escaping while I'm feeding, cleaning, or disconnecting, I blow on them gently and they usually retreat back into the formicarium. If they don't, I blow harder! It usually buys me enough time to finish what I'm doing.

 

Same. I've always vouched for all in one setups. It's easier [debatable] and looks nicer.  However if it's built right I still don't even think it's debatable. I have all in one 10 gallon setups that looked great and served their purposes with no issues.

[rptraut]

There is definitely something to be said for having a setup that you can pick up with one or two hands. However, with modular formicaria, my ants usually congregate in one main nest section for hibernation. I disconnect the sections not being used and only store the section where the ants are. That way I don't have to store sections like outworlds and brood chambers. Some colonies, like my Tetramorium, never seem to slow down and actually hibernate so I store the whole setup. They were still active yesterday, even at 11.7 degrees Celsius in my cold storage.

[NPLT]

Small update: managed to get by with only disconnecting the test tube and the outworld. Thank you everyone.