7 Essential Supplies for Ants Keeping, Understand All the Functions at Once (Must Read for Beginners)

Summarize

Ants' Nest: A place where ants live

Feeding Area: connected with the nest, where ants feed on the food

Feed: Ants-specific feed, usually with a vegetarian flavor, can replace sugar water and cockroaches

Anti-Escape: Apply to the top of the feeding area to prevent ants from climbing out.

Water Tower: Provide water to ants

Food bowl: a place to put feed

Connecting Tubes: Tubes connecting ant nests, feeding areas, etc.

Ant's Nest: Private Space for Ants

The nest is not only the home of the ants, but also a place for their social interaction and daily activities. What's more interesting is that more than 70% ant behaviors are carried out in the nest. Therefore, it is very important to choose a suitable nest for your ants.

Ant nests are made of various materials including glass, plastic, plaster and aerated bricks. The choice of ant nests depends on the type and number of ants. Some ants need more space, while others need a more humid environment, but in general, ant nests are not suitable for all types of ants.Buy small, not bigIf there are too many ants in the nest, and too few ants in the nest, it will lead to insecurity, which may result in the queen stopping laying eggs or the nest being destroyed.

Feeding Area: A Place for Human-Ant Interaction

Once you have the nest, you will need a feeding area. This area is usually connected to the nest so that the ants can move around freely.

This is where the feeder interacts with the ants. We will place feed and water in the feeding area so that you can observe the process of the ants gathering, foraging and calling their companions, and the ants will also carry the garbage in the nests to the feeding area for disposal.

There is no limitation on the size of the feeding area and the number of worker ants, as long as you choose one that looks good and is easy to operate.

Feed: Not Just Food, But Nutrition

The growth of ants requires a variety of nutrients, which cannot be met by simple sugar water or biscuits. Therefore, feeding ants with ant feed is the most common way to feed ants.

Worker ants can only absorb food in liquid form. Therefore, ant feed is usually prepared in liquid form, and as soon as it is dropped, the ants will run to eat it and store the food in their abdomens and bring it back to the nest to share with other members.

Ants feeds have different tastes (palatability) and are classified asVegetarianism,carnivorousThe difference lies in the protein content and odor of the ants. Common ants are omnivorous and vegetarian, such as giant mountain ants and spiny ants, while the hunting-oriented termites are carnivorous ants.

Anti-Escape: Prevents ants from climbing out of the feeding area

Ants are very strong climbers, even on vertical walls, so anti-escape coating is indispensable. It is a very fine powder, so fine that ants can't grasp it, thus preventing ants from escaping.

When keeping ants, a layer of anti-runner must be applied on the top of the feeding area to ensure that the ants are kept in a controlled environment.

Water tower: a necessity of life

Ants need humidity to maintain their body moisture and metabolism. Therefore, it is very important to set up a water tower in the nest or feeding area for the ants to get water.

The size of the water tower can be decided according to the number of ants and the environment where the ants are housed. However, care should be taken to keep the water clean and replaceable, and only give the ants as much water as they dare to drink, that is, to provide drinking water for human beings.

Food bowl: small bowl and basin for eating

Since ants have a small food intake, food bowls need not be too big. Mainstream feed bowls are designed to be easy to clip and prevent drowning of the ants.

Connection Takeover: Ant's Transportation Network

Silicone material with transparent connecting tubes, like Lego blocks, gives you the freedom to build a multi-functional living space for your ants.

Conclusion

Keeping ants is fun, but it does take time and effort (though not much).

To be a good ant farmer, you must have all the necessary supplies for ant farming, including ant nests, feed, feeding area and so on.

It is recommended to fully understand the habits, personality and food habits of the ants you are keeping, and to choose suitable nests and feeds for them. It is highly recommended to read the Taiwan Ants Illustrated Book, which contains illustrations and texts that I have spent thousands of hours to observe, collect and produce, and I hope it will be helpful to you.

I believe that through the introduction of this article, you have gained a better understanding and mastery of ant farming, and I wish you more and more success in your ant farming journey!