Hi everyone -
I am getting ready for first hibernation ,and I'm trying to decide how to do it. I have a basement but it's just not that cold - around 50 degrees in the coldest, darkest spot at the dead of winter. So, I'm thinking to get a mini-fridge or wine cooler. It would need to be really quiet to be in my office, fairly small, and cheap.
This would be a winner for me because I'm also breeding flies and other insects for preying mantises. So I'm hoping to find something for $100 or less if possible.
Many of the wine coolers I see aren't very specific about how cold they'll get. I am reading that minimum temp of a thermoelectric unit can be affected by the ambient temperature, and that wine coolers just don't go as cold a a regular fridge. This would also mean that the temperature would be less stable as ambient temps vary. Some of the cheaper ones say they won't go below 50 degrees F.
It also occurred to be that these things are somewhat sealed, so is there any concern that the ants won't get fresh air during their hibernation?
Can anyone give me some examples of the wine coolers they use? I'm trying to get a feel for this and it's a bit confusing.
thanks!