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Shipping Information for Ant Colonies

Shipping depends on outdoor temperatures. Please check the current conditions before ordering live ants.

Night temperatures

Northern & Central European species > 0°C

Southern European species > +5°C

Tropical species > +10°C

Express shipping exceptions

Northern & Central Europe: > -5°C with insulation

Southern Europe: > 0°C with insulation

Tropical species: > +5°C with heat pack

Check current minimum temperatures →

Day temperatures

Northern & Central European species < +30°C

Southern European species < +30°C

Tropical species < +30°C

High daytime temperatures can also prevent safe shipping of live ant colonies.

Check current maximum temperatures →

Important: No shipping outside the EU!

Prepare for Your Ant Colony

Before your colony arrives, make sure the required housing, climate and basic supplies are ready.

What must be prepared before delivery?

Have suitable housing, water, food, escape protection and the required climate ready before your ants arrive.

Tip: A small colony generally should not be transferred into a much larger nest than it currently needs.

Continue with the right setup

Once you have selected your ant colony, choose housing that matches its species, colony size and husbandry requirements.

Antfarms & nests → Choose suitable housing for your ant colony. Ant starter sets → Choose a coordinated complete setup.

Buy Ants – Ant Colonies from Around the World

In this category you can buy ants and order ant colonies online, with species from Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America and Australia. The range includes ant colonies for different levels of experience and husbandry requirements.

Before selecting a colony, compare the species profile, diet and feeding requirements, eventual colony size, husbandry class, temperature, ambient humidity, nest moisture, diapause, growth and risk class.

Availability of live ants may change throughout the year. Shipping is also dependent on suitable outdoor temperatures.

Need help choosing? Compare our popular ant species or read our ant-keeping guide .

Ants for Beginners and Experienced Ant Keepers

For beginners, we generally recommend species classified as Husbandry Class 1 (HK 1), provided that their individual climate and seasonal requirements can be met.

Species in HK 2 are generally more sensitive to factors such as climate, humidity or stress. HK 3 species should only be kept by experienced ant keepers.

The Risk Class (RK) provides additional information about possible hazards. Depending on the species, these may include stings, structural damage or potential environmental impact.

For a dedicated species comparison, visit our ants for beginners and experienced keepers .

Why Buy Ants from ANTSTORE?

Large selection
Ant colonies for different levels of experience.

Classification by origin
Quickly narrow the selection by geographic region.

HK & RK information
Husbandry and risk information helps compare species.

If you want to buy ants, ANTSTORE offers a specialist selection of ant colonies for different requirements. Classification by origin, husbandry class and risk class helps you compare species and choose a colony that fits your experience and planned setup.

Live-animal shipping and responsible preparation

Live ants should only be shipped when temperatures allow safe transport. Please check the shipping conditions before ordering and prepare suitable housing, water, food and climate conditions before the colony arrives.