How to Run an Ant Farm

Running an ant farm can be an interesting experiment in discovering the inner workings of an insect colony. Through the glass walls of an ant farm a person can be privy to the daily communal activities of a species which is usually hidden underground. With proper care, feeding and watering of ants, running an ant farm can yield healthy ants that will experience long, productive lives.

Things You'll Need

• Ant farm
• Ants
• Piece of paper
• Eye dropper
• Refrigerator
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 multivitamin

Instructions

1. Place the ants in the refrigerator for about five minutes before placing them in the ant farm. The cold will slow down the movement of the ants and make it easier to transition the ants into the ant farm. To transfer the ants, roll up a piece of paper to make a cone shape and funnel the ants into the opening of the ant farm.

2. Avoid moving the ant farm. Moving the ant farm is the equivalent of an ant earthquake, and can collapse tunnels in the sand and upset ants. Place the ant farm in a secure location, away from activity, and leave it there.

3. Keep the temperature cool. Ants will typically live longer in a cool environment that's around 60 to 70 degrees. Avoid placing the ants in a place where they receive direct sunlight as this will heat up the inside of the ant farm.

4. Water the ants by giving them a few drops with an eye dropper every day. Keep the sand in the ant farm moist, but avoid giving them too much water, as it will rise up at the top of the farm and the ants may drown. If the ant farm is a sand free model, make sure the water tubes are always filled.

5. Feed the ants crickets. Crickets can be purchased from most local pet stores and provide ants with nutritional protein. Freeze the crickets in the refrigerator and then feed to the ants by cutting the crickets into pieces and placing them into the ant farm. Ants only need to be fed every two days or so, and one cricket can feed 20 ants.

6. Alternatively, you can feed the ants a honey mixture for energy and additional nutrition. To create a honey mixture, mix 1/2 cup honey into 1/2 cup of water and add a crushed multivitamin. Stir and then store in the refrigerator. Feed to the ants with an eyedropper every two days or so.

7. Reuse the sand in an ant farm after all the ants have died by pouring it out of the farm and sifting it for crumbs and dead ants. Ants in ant farms typically live one to six months, so when the ants die, clean out the sand, pour it back into the farm, and add a new batch of ants.

References

• Ant Farm Village: FAQ
• InfoWest: Ant Care Tips
• Ant Farms: Taking Care of your Ants