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How much light is acceptable


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#1 Offline oldman - Posted March 21 2020 - 1:10 PM

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Once you have a mature colony how do you go about desensitizing the ants to the to the light so we can observe them? It appears to me that when you film these ants in their formicarium for it takes a long time and they do not appear to be stressed out. I do not like covering them and uncover them to observe them I believe this would stress them out more then if we just left the formicarium open I would appreciate your opinions thank you



#2 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted March 21 2020 - 1:16 PM

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How I would do it would be to slowly let them adjust to the light in fractions (such as 20'ths of the nest if it's big enough) and let them adjust to the 1/20 for a week or two and then another 1/20 for the same duration of time. They would realize the light is not a threat and then not be as weary as it as a result.


There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike


#3 Offline oldman - Posted March 21 2020 - 2:12 PM

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I am 79 years old not sure how to chat.  Thank you that sounds like a good idea


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#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 21 2020 - 3:48 PM

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This will vary depending on species. Camponotus hardly care, while Formica tend to freak out more. One thing some people do is put red film over the ants because they can’t see red light.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#5 Offline AntsDakota - Posted March 21 2020 - 4:29 PM

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Lasius seem to stress the least, in my experience, along with Tetramorium.

[quote name="ANTdrew" post="139576" timestamp="1584834523One thing some people do is put red film over the ants because they can’t see red light.[/quote] I don’t trust this. I’ve tried it, and it never seems to work. They still freak out, just not quite as much.

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 21 2020 - 4:39 PM

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Crematogaster don’t care about light either. What species are you keeping, oldman?
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.




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