24 replies to this topic

[cooIboyJ]

Wow those are fast growing

Heat cable + multiple queens= lots of nanitics and fast growth. My five-queen colony has around 40 workers now, with still five more to eclose from the first batch!

[Zhuge]

 

Wow those are fast growing

Heat cable + multiple queens= lots of nanitics and fast growth. My five-queen colony has around 40 workers now, with still five more to eclose from the first batch!

 

Me: Heat cable+queen ant=heat death

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

 

 

Wow those are fast growing

Heat cable + multiple queens= lots of nanitics and fast growth. My five-queen colony has around 40 workers now, with still five more to eclose from the first batch!

 

Me: Heat cable+queen ant=heat death

 

Thermostat.

I happen to live in a no climate control home, and have big temp swings form cold at night/early mornings, to hot days.
So i couldn't leave a heat cable on them without some control for it to not overheat them during the day while i am at work.

 

 

I got one that had two temp probes each controlling one heat source. I only needed the one up front but they grew into the 2nd one in short order.

the cable keeps "top of the nest" at about 85f, while the other one holds "bottom of the nest" at 72f. Unless room ambient is higher then the cable is off, and then the nest is whatever ambient is.

The third power port is a timer only port that I use to emulate a day/night cycle for them.

I highly recommend one these. It was $40 USD
https://www.digiten....om-fermentation

this one can run one big colony or two separate ones, and they have lots more at different sizes and features, like one that includes humidity probe if it was needed.
The automation of temp control gives me some peace of mind when not at home, and just takes some of the effort of keeping off the top too.
I just look at the temp readout once a day to assure things are as expected.
 

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, October 1 2025 - 8:31 AM.

[cooIboyJ]

 

 

 

Wow those are fast growing

Heat cable + multiple queens= lots of nanitics and fast growth. My five-queen colony has around 40 workers now, with still five more to eclose from the first batch!

 

Me: Heat cable+queen ant=heat death

 

Thermostat.

I happen to live in a no climate control home, and have big temp swings form cold at night/early mornings, to hot days.
So i couldn't leave a heat cable on them without some control for it to not overheat them during the day while i am at work.

thermox2.jpg

 

 

I got one that had two temp probes each controlling one heat source. I only needed the one up front but they grew into the 2nd one in short order.

the cable keeps "top of the nest" at about 85f, while the other one holds "bottom of the nest" at 72f. Unless room ambient is higher then the cable is off, and then the nest is whatever ambient is.

The third power port is a timer only port that I use to emulate a day/night cycle for them.

I highly recommend one these. It was $40 USD
https://www.digiten....om-fermentation

this one can run one big colony or two separate ones, and they have lots more at different sizes and features, like one that includes humidity probe if it was needed.
The automation of temp control gives me some peace of mind when not at home, and just takes some of the effort of keeping off the top too.
I just look at the temp readout once a day to assure things are as expected.
 

 

Next time I need another heat cable or my current one breaks I will be sure to get one of these! They seem so useful, especially if your colonies need a specific temperature.

 

EDIT- Do they also cool? Like if the nest were at 90 degrees and I wanted the cable to make it 60 would that work? (Just example, I would never do this extreme).

Edited by cooIboyJ, October 1 2025 - 8:39 AM.

[Zhuge]

 

 

 

Wow those are fast growing

Heat cable + multiple queens= lots of nanitics and fast growth. My five-queen colony has around 40 workers now, with still five more to eclose from the first batch!

 

Me: Heat cable+queen ant=heat death

 

Thermostat.

I happen to live in a no climate control home, and have big temp swings form cold at night/early mornings, to hot days.
So i couldn't leave a heat cable on them without some control for it to not overheat them during the day while i am at work.

thermox2.jpg

 

 

I got one that had two temp probes each controlling one heat source. I only needed the one up front but they grew into the 2nd one in short order.

the cable keeps "top of the nest" at about 85f, while the other one holds "bottom of the nest" at 72f. Unless room ambient is higher then the cable is off, and then the nest is whatever ambient is.

The third power port is a timer only port that I use to emulate a day/night cycle for them.

I highly recommend one these. It was $40 USD
https://www.digiten....om-fermentation

this one can run one big colony or two separate ones, and they have lots more at different sizes and features, like one that includes humidity probe if it was needed.
The automation of temp control gives me some peace of mind when not at home, and just takes some of the effort of keeping off the top too.
I just look at the temp readout once a day to assure things are as expected.
 

 

I'm still too young to work a job so i can't afford 40 usd. I will buy it once i have the money though (fix child labor laws)

Edited by Zhuge, October 1 2025 - 2:28 PM.