1 reply to this topic

[Sopkojohn]

I recently bought a small colony of Camponotus pennsylvanicus. I have them hibernating in about 41 degrees. I can't use my fridge because it fluctuates in temp too much. When I checked in the ants i noticed two of the workers were on there side with water around them. They are still twitching so they didn't drown. I don't know what to do has anyone had this experience before and if so should I try to move then in a dryer test tube or will they be fine. The water isn't pooled in and I only see it on the edges of the workers that are laying on there side against the glass. Please help

[DaveJay]

Warm air can hold more water vapour than cold air, because the air in the tube was warmer when it was plugged now that it's cooled the water vapour has precipitated out of it - condensation. If you set up a new tube in the warmth then cool it down the same thing will probably happen. If you suck up the water with a cotton tip and close the tube without letting it warm up or letting too much warm air in the condensation should be minimal. I don't have any practical experience with hibernating ants but that's how relative humidity and condensation works.