How to Make an Ant Farm

An ant farm is fascinating to watch as ants go about their assigned tasks in the colony. Kids, especially, will have hours of fun watching the interaction of the ants with their environment and with each other. It is not expensive to make an ant farm even if you have no access to ants in their natural habitat and have to buy them from a supplier.

Step 1 - Place the Jar in the Aquarium

Place the small jar in the middle of the aquarium. This jar is for the ants to use for their duties. It allows you to watch them easily as they go about their chores.

Step 2 - Obtain Your Supply of Ants

If you have access to ants in their natural habitat, dig the ants out together with the soil, making sure you have a queen ant. She can be easily distinguished by the fact that she has wings, is larger in size and has three eyes in addition to the normal two. The workers in the colony will live longer if she is included, and if you are lucky, the ants you pick up will include males and females and also some eggs and larvae. Collecting ants is always easier after a rain shower, as the soil will be moist.

Worker ants will live about four to six weeks, so you will have to replace them. They are territorial creatures, so always get fresh ants from the same mound, or they will kill each other.

If the kids are to be in charge of the ant farm, don’t get red ants, as they have a nasty sting.

Step 3 - Place the Soil

Fill up the small jar and the main container with soil. Put the lid on the aquarium, making sure you have enough tiny air holes for air to get through but ones that are not big enough for the ants to get out. Using the funnel to fill up the small jar will make the work easier and less messy.

Step 4 - Keep the Bottom Part of the Aquarium in Darkness

Cover the bottom half of the aquarium with the black construction paper, using the tape. This artificial darkness will make the ants start working sooner. You can remove the paper at viewing times.

Step 5 - Feed Your Ants

The ants need to be fed, so put in the food and the water-soaked cotton ball in their food container. Don’t forget to replace this cottony ball every few days. Ants also relish bits of fruit and vegetables, as they like variety in their diet. You can even feed them small pieces of cheese, meat and candy. Remember not to overfeed. Offering a variety of tidbits once a week is enough.

Step 6 - Make Some Pretty Additions

You can pretty up the aquarium by putting in small artificial trees or a moat, using a small plate filled with water. The ants will be intrigued by this moat and will come to test it again and again, dipping their antennae as if testing the water temperature before they take a swim.