Free UK Delivery on orders over £99
Ant Farms for Beginners
Our range of Handmade Ant Farms for Beginners with Black Live Queen Ants Colony - the perfect Ant Farm Bundle for anyone exploring the fascinating world of ants. These Starter Kits, including our popular ant cube and ant cube combi designs, provide everything you need to get started with ant keeping basics. Our full starter sets include Lasius niger (black garden ant) or Messor barbarus (black harvester ants), some of the easiest ant species to raise. We also offer options with Lasius flavus (yellow meadow ant) for those interested in different species. Begin your journey into the world of ant-keeping with our exceptional starter kits and ant bundles.
At Best Ants UK, we are committed to providing the best ant-keeping experience. Whether you're looking for a basic ant cube or a more advanced ant cube combo setup, we have the perfect solution for you. Our ant starter sets cater to beginners and experienced keepers alike, offering everything from Lasius niger colonies to specialised Messor harvester ants.
Our Ant Keeping Essentials
We offer a variety of ant essentials, including accessories, to make your ant-keeping experience more enjoyable. Our ant accessories range from pipettes, tweezers and ant tube setups to ant farms and formicariums, including the innovative LED-nest design. We also provide ant food, PTFE Fluon for escape proofing, and more. Essential items for feeding, such as feeding dishes, are also available.
We don’t have any products to show here right now.
Ant Keeping FAQs
Q: How do I keep ants as pets?
A: To keep ants as pets, start with a founding queen or a small colony rather than wild-caught workers. House them in a suitable formicarium with proper humidity (50-70%) and temperature (20-25°C for most UK species). Feed them a mixture of sugars (honey water) and proteins (insects) weekly, and minimise disturbance to reduce stress.
Q: What is the easiest ant to keep?
A: For UK beginners, Lasius niger (Black Garden Ant) is the easiest species to keep. They're abundant, hardy, relatively small (making housing simpler), adaptable to varying conditions, and have modest feeding requirements. Their colonies grow at a manageable pace, making them ideal for learning colony management.
Q: How do I make my own ant colony?
A: To start your own ant colony, capture a founding queen after a nuptial flight (typically May-September in the UK). House her in a test tube setup with water trapped behind cotton wool for humidity. Keep her in darkness and undisturbed until her first workers arrive (6-8 weeks). Only then should you begin offering small amounts of food.
Q: What is ant keeping called?
A: Ant keeping is formally called "myrmecology" when referring to the scientific study of ants, while the hobby aspect is called "ant keeping" or "formiculture" (similar to apiculture for bees). Some enthusiasts also use the term "antkeeping" as one word.