The title compounds, [Ni(S(2)O(3))(C(12)H(8)N(2))(2)].0.92H(2)O.1. 4CH(4)O and [Ni(S(2)O(3))(C(10)H(8)N(2))(2)].2H(2)O.0.55CH(4)O, are monomeric, containing nickel(II) in a distorted octahedral coordination environment provided by the four N atoms of two bidentate bipy or phen groups and one S and one O atom from a chelating thiosulfate anion. The crystals are highly unstable outside their mother liquors and are stabilized in solution by a not fully determined number of water and methanol solvate molecules. The phenanthroline structure includes two independent moieties related by a non-crystallographic inversion center. The thiosulfate anions display the usual S-O lengthening found when the anion acts in a bidentate mode.