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shopping guide

Buying Guide

Are you fascinated by ant keeping but not yet sure how and with what to start?
Then you’re in exactly the right place!

For beginners, species that are easy to care for, adaptable, and not too demanding are especially suitable. As a general rule, it is recommended to start with Housing Class 1 (HK1) species – these are robust ants that cope well with simple keeping conditions.

Housing Classes 2 and 3 include species that are more demanding to care for or more sensitive in captivity.

Top Recommended Species for Beginners

Lasius niger – Black garden ant

  • Classic beginner species, very adaptable and easy to observe
  • Tolerates moderate humidity and temperature fluctuations well
  • Fast-growing and easy to care for
  • Relatively small species that becomes inactive during winter

Messor barbarus – Seed harvester from the Mediterranean region

  • Fascinating behavior: collects seeds and produces “ant bread” in communal chambers
  • Very popular among beginners
  • Large and very active ants
  • Two nest areas are required: one dry for seed storage and one slightly humid for brood. Therefore, the starter set is slightly more expensive.

Camponotus nicobarensis – Large species with attractive coloration

  • Very active – lots of movement in the arena
  • No winter dormancy – can be kept all year round
  • Simple diet – sugar and insects are sufficient
  • Does not actively dig; mainly uses preformed chambers

Recommended for beginners:
From the experience of many keepers, Lasius niger, Messor barbarus, and Camponotus nicobarensis are among the most uncomplicated species to start with.

Colony Size

Ideally, start with a queen plus a few workers, not just a single queen. This significantly increases the chances of success and allows you to observe activity much sooner.

Which Formicarium / Starter Set Is Suitable?

For each of these species, a suitable starter set is listed in the product description.

These starter sets are usually sufficient for the first two years and can then be expanded:

  • If the ants run out of space in the nest, simply connect an additional nest.
  • If it becomes difficult to place food dishes or water dispensers in the arena due to the number of ants, the arena should be expanded.

Nest / Antfarm

The nest area (often an ant farm) serves as the living space for the queen and brood. Ants keep this area very clean, and it usually requires no cleaning.

Arena

The arena represents the “outdoor area” and is used for feeding, waste disposal, and movement. Fresh water and food must be placed here, and waste should be removed regularly.

Escape Protection

Escape protection is applied to or underneath the rim or frame to prevent ants from escaping when the arena is opened.

Further Information

More information about the starter sets, their function, and setup can be found in the videos on the respective product pages, as well as on our YouTube channel “antstore”.

What’s Included

Everything required to get started is included in the starter set.

Optional Accessories

  • Food dishes and water dispensers: A second set is useful for easy replacement during feeding
  • Food: Depending on the set, some food may already be included. It can be helpful to keep extra food in stock
  • Decoration: Too much decoration at the beginning is not recommended, as the colony may hide in it. Only small, subtle decorative elements should be used
  • Information: Would you like to provide information about your species to visitors? For many species, we include a free information card. If there is space on the wall, we also offer a highly informative poster with a QR code in multiple languages.

Starter Set Expansion

If you want to expand your starter set, you will need a tank-to-hose or tank-to-tube connector for 27 mm drill holes. This allows various hoses, tubes, and connectors to be attached.

  • For an ant farm M, you need a 14/10 mm hose
  • For an ant farm L, you can choose between a 14/10 mm hose, a 20/16 mm hose, or a 20 mm tube system

For an additional arena with a 20 mm depth, tank-to-hose or tank-to-tube connectors for 27 mm drill holes are required.

For large arenas with a 30 cm depth, there are 50 mm drill holes and a corresponding 50 mm tube system.

If you want to connect a 30 × 30 cm arena with a 20 × 20 cm arena, you will need a drill-hole adapter from 50 mm to 27 mm. All tank-to-hose or tank-to-tube connectors for 27 mm drill holes can then be used.

Additional Accessories Required When Arenas and Farms Are Purchased Separately

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