Ants for children – ready-made kits and breeding

Can ant farming for children be an attractive hobby that stimulates the imagination, a sense of responsibility and genuine interest? Among the many dubious forms of entertainment available online and the countless hours spent in front of tablet and smartphone screens, running a home ant farm may prove to be an activity that will completely absorb both younger and slightly older children.

Keeping ants at home – is it a good gift idea?

At some point in their lives, most children begin to shyly (or quite categorically, depending on the stubbornness of the little one) mention their desire to have a pet. It is not always possible to take in a pet, but keeping ants at home can be an interesting alternative, which will both awaken empathy in your child towards smaller creatures and allow them to test their patience and sense of responsibility.

So, is a home ant farm a good gift idea? Absolutely! Especially if it is to be a child’s first contact with their “own” pet, or rather several pets at once. Relatively inexpensive to maintain, hassle-free and exceptionally original, keeping these tiny insects at home is a way to get your child away from their phone screen and show them the natural, microscopic world up close.

An ant farm for children – why is it worthwhile?

Your own ant colony can be the perfect introduction to the world of science for your child – observing these industrious creatures on a daily basis gives them the opportunity to see a piece of nature up close and in real time, without leaving home (which can also be important for children with various types of physical disabilities, who may have difficulty accessing the forest, where they could see an anthill in its natural environment). In this way, children naturally develop their powers of observation combined with learning patience – building a home colony is a long process (mainly for the ants, of course).

Running a home ant farm instils a sense of responsibility in children, builds awareness of the complexity of our world, and can therefore make them realise how important it is to protect it in the future. The educational and ecological dimension of caring for an ant colony is certainly of great importance here. And who knows, awakening such curiosity about the world may also encourage a child to take specific steps on the path of science – perhaps today’s ant observer will become a biologist or entomologist in the future?

Spending time together breeding ants

There is nothing stopping you from running your home breeding operation together with the whole family! Observing the insects’ work on a daily basis, assessing changes in the colony, and even selecting new accessories to expand the breeding facility facilitates strengthening bonds between children and parents and helps build relationships between siblings.

A child who can tell adults about their passion, who sees that their words are treated seriously and with understanding, learns to trust their loved ones and builds a bond with them, which is incredibly strengthened by something as seemingly insignificant as keeping ants at home.

We mustn’t forget about the power of shared learning – searching for books or videos on topics related to ants, and later other insects, is a way of discovering a shared passion and finding the right form for it.

Ants – what you need to know before you start breeding them

We hope we have already convinced you how important a home ant colony, which your child can look after every day, can be in their life. So if you want to start one in your family, check out our crash course on ants, which will allow you to get to know them a little better (and fall in love with them just like we did!).

Ants are insects belonging to the order Hymenoptera. They build complex communities (anthills), in which the central figure is, of course, the queen. All other ants live for her, so to speak, and around her, making sure that neither she nor her eggs lack anything.

The life cycle of an ant progresses from egg, through larva and pupa, to adult. Worker ants then take up their naturally “assigned” positions, ensuring the continued maintenance of the entire colony.

As you can imagine, this is a huge simplification. You and your child can observe the life of ants in practice and come to many interesting conclusions (for example, that cooperation is invaluable in the nest).

First steps in ant farming – important tips for parents

Are you planning to buy your child a home ant farm as a gift? Congratulations! We invite you to familiarise yourself with our entire range – and our mini-guide below will help you choose the right species for children.

However, before we move on to it, here are a few important tips from us:

• choose a sensible breed – preferably one that we recommend for beginners (see below),
• find a stable, safe location for the farm (avoid excessive sunlight),
• Always check that the formicarium is securely closed so that the ants cannot escape.
• Involve your child from the very beginning – from choosing the species, through setting up the formicarium, to caring for the colony itself.

And that’s it for the absolute minimum. Now, with a clear conscience, we can move on to what is probably the most pressing issue for you, which is choosing the right species of ants.

Ant species suitable for children to keep as pets

At this point, we would like to emphasise that every colony, even one that is theoretically suitable for beginners, requires care from its keeper. Ants, although tiny, are living creatures – they should not be treated brutally or deliberately harmed. Each species needs proper nutrition (check what ants eat), hydration and a safe environment.

Below, we have prepared our own, somewhat subjective, of course, ranking of ants suitable for breeding by beginners, including those that are also suitable for children. We have organised our selection according to the level of difficulty in care, although all the species listed below should not really pose too many difficulties.

Non-hibernating ants – for those who want to observe them all year round

A great choice for absolute novices in the field of ants are non-hibernating species, i.e. those that live according to an annual cycle. Caring for them could not be simpler – there is no need to worry about the colony hibernating (during which it is impossible to look after them for about three months!), and the development of the nest can be observed continuously.

One of the easiest species of ants to breed, which does not require hibernation, is undoubtedly Messor barbarus (harvester ant). These are European insects, also found in Africa. The colony is extremely diverse – with small workers (sometimes measuring only 3 mm), large soldiers (over 1 cm long) and a large, distinctive queen. Caring for a Messor barbarus formicarium is extremely rewarding! Please note that Messor barbarus Red Head, a harvester ant with red markings on the head of the queen and soldiers, requires very similar conditions.

An interesting species that is easy to breed without hibernation is Camponotus nicobarensis, ants native to distant Asia (they occur naturally in India, for example). These are fairly large insects which, despite their distinctive appearance, are extremely easy to care for. Exotic, fast-growing and eye-catching – for Camponotus nicobarensis, it is therefore worth choosing a large XL nest with ants and an attached arena so that you can observe these fascinating insects without interruption!

Ants for beginners

In this section, you will find a selection of ants for beginners, which are still extremely easy to keep, but will require overwintering at a sufficiently low temperature (a convenient solution is to overwinter the nest in the refrigerator).

• Difficulty level: very easy ant farming

Species that are very easy to breed include Lasius niger, which are a kind of “foundation” in the life of every lover of these insects. There is no soldier caste among them, and the queen does not exceed 1 centimetre in size. The simplest glass formicarium with a cork nest is sufficient for their breeding.

Lasius flavus are visually appealing yellow ants. Found throughout Europe (and Poland), they do not have particularly complex dietary requirements and will thrive in a simple formicarium.

• Difficulty level: easy ant farming

Crematogaster scutellaris are easy to keep ants that delight with their appearance – their bodies are black, topped with red heads. The approximately 3-millimetre-long workers take care of the queen, who grows up to 9 mm.

Camponotus foreli ants are elegant insects with black bodies and heads, which can be fed with insect food and honey water. The colony develops extremely quickly, producing very visible results in a short time.

• Difficulty level: easy/medium ant farming

Does your child dream of large, visible ants? In that case, breeding Camponotus herculeanus would be the ideal solution. These are large, very visible ants, whose workers can reach a length of up to 14 mm. You can set up your colony in a Combo M formicarium.

Camponotus barbaricus are black and red ants that are distinguished by their ability to adapt very easily to their environment. This means that they will quickly acclimatise to their new home, and caring for them will be truly enjoyable and provide plenty of opportunities for observation.

Still unsure which species of ants to choose for your child? Trust our breeding expertise and select a surprise ant package! Inside, you will find everything you need to start your own home colony.

Equipment for ants needed to expand breeding

Your child is probably looking forward to having their own ant farm, but amid all the excitement and anticipation, it is worth taking a moment to select the appropriate accessories. To put it simply, you need the right formicarium in which the ants can build their nest and expand it for their queen.

Our offer includes many different variants made of materials such as acrylic (3D) or plaster. You can choose an ant arena to go with it, which will make the insects’ daily work even more visible, and feeding trays, where your child can feed their charges as if in a luxury restaurant.

Where can I find advice on ant farming?

We feel that we have eaten our proverbial teeth on ants, but despite this, we are constantly learning, developing and gathering information – also in order to provide our customers with the necessary support at every stage of ant breeding. That is why we invite you to regularly visit our MrówSon blog and TikTok profile.

You can find a lot of interesting information and tips on the Internet, but we also recommend reaching for traditional books (knowledge proven on concrete!). A wealth of tips is also provided by the huge community of “ant lovers” – visit online forums or Facebook groups to find answers to your questions.

Summary

A home ant farm for children is a way to give your little one lots of joy from observing these hard-working insects. Such a farm stimulates the imagination and appetite for knowledge, and can also become a hobby for the whole family.

You may not be able to go to the park and throw balls with an ant, but a home colony will certainly provide plenty of excitement, allowing you to see nature from a perspective that is usually invisible to the human eye.