New to ant keeping and not sure where to start? This page lays out a structured path to get going under the best conditions.
Step 1: Understand the cycle
First, read our article how ants are born and our guide on the annual cycle of a colony. You’ll understand the biological needs that drive all ant keeping.
Step 2: Choose your species
Not every species is suited to beginners. See our guide to choosing your first species and our species profiles. To start out, go for Lasius niger or Messor barbarus.
Step 3: Find a queen
Follow the advice in our guide catching a queen in the wild. Nuptial flights happen on specific dates depending on the species.
Step 4: Prepare the gear
The bare minimum to get started: test tubes, cotton wool, soft tweezers. Our gear page lists all the essentials.
Step 5: Founding
Follow our tutorial preparing a test tube, then let nature do its work. Be patient: 4 to 8 weeks before the first workers appear.
Step 6: First care
Once the nanitics have appeared, follow our guide feeding your ants and learn to manage nest humidity.
Step 7: Grow
As your colony grows, you’ll need a roomier nest. See our guide upgrading your setup and our build tutorials (plaster, Ytong, acrylic).
Mistakes to avoid
Be sure to read our article 10 beginner myrmecologist mistakes before starting. It will save you from the classic pitfalls.
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