Which ant colonies can I keep in the blue NASA Gel farms?

The blue gel in these farms is advertised as a food source for the ants as well as a digging medium.
While it can provide carbohydrates for worker ants to feed on, it cannot sustain a colony due to the lack of protein needed for the queen and brood. Food could be supplied in the form of dead insects but is likely to go mouldy very quickly. If the workers drag the food into the tunnels it may not be possible to remove it without ants and brood getting squashed into the gel.

These farms are usually sold with a coupon for free Pogonomyrmex harvester ants from America. These are large ants so they will not become stuck easily in the gel, and unlike a lot of other species they will dig in the gel.

We personally do not recommend keeping any ants in the blue gel, with or without a queen, for the following reasons:

• High humidity throughout the whole nest. Ants prefer to have a range of temperature and humidity levels throughout the nest.

• No cover from light; these farms also have a light that can be attached to the bottom of the farm, which is very unnatural to the ants.

• Changes in temperature can affect the volume of the gel causing it to peel away from the edges. If the ants move into this gap and the gel expands it could trap the ants against the edge of the glass. Temperature change could also cause the gel to become more watery, easily trapping the ants.

• Because the gel is wet all the time, any extra heat source added for the nest can cause mass condensation on the walls of the farm, easily drowning small ants.

We recommend removing the gel from the farm and filling it with a sand/soil mixture. A tube such as a pen with the middle removed and cotton wool blocking the end cut down and placed vertically in the farm. Then the sand/soil mixture can be added. The tube should stick out of the soil as far as it can without pushing the lid up. Then a cotton plug can be pushed in the end to stop ants falling down the tube. Water can be poured down the tube to moisten the soil from the bottom. Try to keep the soil dryer towards the top. The farm can then be connected by tube to a foraging box or food can be dropped directly into the farm.

I am a beginner, can you recommend anywhere where I can learn how to keep ants?

We recommend you join some of the community forums out there(some are listed on our links page), which have many knowledgeable members who are always happy to help, and can provide invaluable information about raising ant colonies.

We also recommend taking a look through our information pages on the left.

Do you sell just workers for ant farms?

Certain times of the year we may be able to supply you with workers suitable for ant farms; mainly during the summer months.

We do not usually have worker species ideally suited for Gel Farms. Gel Farms are intended for workers only, and for short duration use.

Are Ant queens suitable for gel farms?

Please read 'Which ant colonies can I keep in the blue NASA Gel farms?' above.

Do you ship ant queens to the USA?

No, due to the laws and regulations in the USA we cannot ship Ant queens to you, sorry.

I am a beginner, can you recommend which ant species I should start with?

Lasius niger, Lasius japonicus, Lasius sakagamii and Lasius flavus are all good beginner species.

When should I hibernate my ants?

Generally you should hibernate your northen european ants around November time till March( 4-5 months) at temperatures between 5-9°C

Southern Europe species should have a cooling period from around December till the beginning of February at temperatures ocilating between 14-18°C

Japan/Islands species should hibernate from around November/December till March/April. There is a lot of temperature variation between the islands and mainland depending on location/altitude. We should specify temperatures in the descriptions.

Do you ship outside Europe?

Yes, but only to a limited number of countries unfortunately, please contact us or click here for more info.

Can I make a reservation, when item shows 'due in stock'?

Yes, this is very often the case. You can use this link to contact us.

Why in the shop does status suddenly change from 'stock due in' to 'out of stock'?

This is usually because we have many reservations, so as to not disappoint we change status to 'out of stock'.

Does this mean no more will be available? (Leading from question above)

Not necessarily, once items have arrived, if quantity is above reservations, status will show 'in stock' always check the 'due in' date, this will give you a guide.

When in the shop it states 'date expected' does that mean items will available by that date?

Not necessarily, unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances there may be delays for various reasons. Often the 'due in' will change to reflect this.