About Ant Farms

Ant farms allow people to observe up close the complex behavior of ants. They are great learning tools and are often used in home or classroom science experiments. Some people like to keep ants as pets and watch the ants construct massive nests. There are several types of ant farms from which to choose, from ant farms that are ideal to use briefly (for an experiment, for example) to ones for the novice to ones that are quite elaborate.

  1. What's An Ant Farm?

    • Ant farms are contained habitats for ants. With ant farms people can see a colony of ants work and dig tunnels. Learning about the highly organized habits of ants can be interesting, and first-hand viewing is one of the best ways to witness behavior that is normally kept secret underground. Within the ant social system are defined roles and jobs for each ant, and there are rituals and a hierarchy. Ant farms make it possible to watch the development of this miniature community.

    Description

    • No matter how simple or grand the ant farm, its main purpose should be to view ant behavior. Ant farms should always have a clear enclosure that has enough room for them to build a tunnel system and to move around in. They can be tall and wide, but they should be thin so that you can see them in action. When introducing the ants to the farm, there should be a thin layer of soil that is packed into the middle -- this allows the ants to start building their tunnels. There should be space at the top of the enclosure so the ants have room to search for food.

    Types of Ant Farms

    • There are a variety of ant farms available on the market. Beginners can use starter kits to help them get familiar with the hobby. There are themed ant farms, from safari-style to space-style. Some ant farms are constructed to look like mini cities or like a natural ant hill. Recently, a new type of ant farm was developed from a gel created by NASA. Ants can burrow through the gel in these ant farms. The gel also provides the food and water needs of the ants, and the enclosure doesn't need to be cleaned, unlike traditional ant farms. Additionally, ant farms can be homemade; materials such as CD cases can be used to make a basic ant farm.

    Kinds of Ants for a Farm

    • There are many thousands of species of ants, but ideal ants for an ant farm fit a couple qualifications. Pick a species that builds underground nests or in dirt mounds, rather than ants that construct their nests in places like pieces of wood. Pick ants that do not bite. Ants can be purchased or collected.