Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 10, 2015 8:43:04 GMT
I have found that only those acrylic nests that have a plaster base, or plaster dot spots to allow for a more moist nest, seem to get heavy condensation. This is normally early in the morning after a cold night when the room temperature increases from the warmth of the sun.
The only solution is to let the nest dry out and not add any more water to the hydration reservoirs for as long as it takes. Only when the nest gets really dry do you need to add a few droplets of water, and stop as soon as the plaster (if present) starts to take on a bluish colour as it soaks up the water. I would suggest no more than a millilitre or 2 of water at a time, and perhaps once a week or even once a fortnight.
Normally plaster is white, but looks darker and blue or grey when saturated with water. When the nest gets warmed up the condensation dissipates and you can then see the ants through the clear top of the nest; but as acrylic acts like glass and can get cold, it may help to place a warm heat mat or something which is warm on the top of the nest until the dampness goes, though it will come back as long as the nest is damp and if it gets colder over night.
My Myrmica sabuleti are in such a nest, but as the excess moisture is not detrimental to this ant genus/species or their brood, the colony is doing well living under these conditions and suffer no ill effects.
The only solution is to let the nest dry out and not add any more water to the hydration reservoirs for as long as it takes. Only when the nest gets really dry do you need to add a few droplets of water, and stop as soon as the plaster (if present) starts to take on a bluish colour as it soaks up the water. I would suggest no more than a millilitre or 2 of water at a time, and perhaps once a week or even once a fortnight.
Normally plaster is white, but looks darker and blue or grey when saturated with water. When the nest gets warmed up the condensation dissipates and you can then see the ants through the clear top of the nest; but as acrylic acts like glass and can get cold, it may help to place a warm heat mat or something which is warm on the top of the nest until the dampness goes, though it will come back as long as the nest is damp and if it gets colder over night.
My Myrmica sabuleti are in such a nest, but as the excess moisture is not detrimental to this ant genus/species or their brood, the colony is doing well living under these conditions and suffer no ill effects.
