Keeping ants

It’s that time of year again where we no longer have to sit inside in the cold . Summertime is a wonderful time for life including, unsurprisingly, ants. Those of you familiar with YouTube channels such as AntsCanada probably know that people do keep ants as pets. Those of you that are not aware of this might find this very weird. However, I would argue the ants are one of the most interesting animals to keep. This post I will tell you a very basic step by step guide of how to obtain and keep your first queen Ant. The species available to you are very dependant on where you live and the time of year. For simplicity, I will be focused around the most common beginner ant species in the UK and Europe, Lasius niger.

Step 0: Knowing what you are looking for

As I am sure you all read one of my earlier articles on ant colony lifecycles I am sure I don’t need to cover this again. For those that haven’t read those I strongly recommend you read them here, here and here. Now that we are up to speed on colony lifecycles and how to identify Queens, lets get started on keeping ants as pets!

Step 1: Catching a Queen

When to Look

Lasius niger queens swarm during nuptial flights, typically from late June to early September in the UK, usually after warm, rainy weather followed by sunshine. Flights often happen in the late afternoon or early evening.

How to Spot a Queen

Large winged ants crawling on pavements or grass will likely be un-mated Queens and will not be suitable for starting a colony. However, wingless queens wandering alone — those are newly mated and ready to start a colony. Queens are larger than workers, usually 8–9mm long, with a noticeably stocky thorax (where wings were).

**A *Lasius niger* Queen surrounded by workers.**

What You’ll Need

Clean test tubes (16x150mm is ideal). Glass will be clearer but plastic is safer for young ant keepers!
Cotton wool
Patience and gentle hands

That’s it! Getting started with ant keeping is easy!

Step 2: Test Tube Setup

This is the standard and safest method to house your queen initially.

Basic Test Tube Setup:

Fill 1/3 of the tube with fresh water.
Plug the water section with a tight cotton ball — this becomes the water reservoir.
Gently add the queen to the tube.
Insert a dry cotton ball at the open end to seal her in.

💡 Tip: Keep the tube somewhere dark, quiet, and warm (around 21–25°C). Check sparingly — stress can cause queens to eat their own eggs!

Step 3: The Waiting Game

Over the next 2 to 6 weeks, you’ll see:

Eggs (tiny white dots)
Larvae (like small maggots)
Pupae (either cocooned or naked)
Finally, your first nanitics (worker ants)!

**A terrible picture of my *Lasius niger* colony with the Queen, eggs, larvae, pupae and workers visible.**

Don’t feed her until the first workers arrive — she’ll survive on energy stored from her wing muscles. Remember, Checking on her too often can slow this process!

Step 4: Moving to a Nest

Once the first generation is active (usually 10–20 workers), you can choose to:

Keep them in the test tube for now (up to 50–100 workers)
Or move them into a formicarium (ant nest) with an attached foraging area

Nest Options:

Starter acrylic nests (great visibility) as shown in the picture above
3D-printed modular nests
Ytong/Plaster nests (great humidity control)
Or DIY it with LEGO, tubes, or old containers (get creative!)

Always attach the original test tube to the nest until they move in naturally.

Step 5: Feeding Your Colony

Lasius niger needs two main things:

Sugars – for energy
- Honey-water mix
- Sugar-water
- Insect jelly or fruit
Protein – for brood (larvae) development and egg production
- Dead insects (fruit flies, mealworms, crickets)
- Tiny bits of cooked egg or chicken
- Protein jelly

Feed small amounts and remove leftovers to prevent mould.

Step 6: Humidity and Heating

Keep their nest humid but not wet. If using a test tube, the water reservoir does the job.
Ideal temp: 20–26°C. They’ll survive at room temp but grow faster with warmth.
Use heating cables under part of the setup (create a hot/cool gradient).

Step 7: Hibernation

In winter (usually late October to March in the UK), Lasius niger colonies slow down or stop entirely.

To hibernate:

Place the test tube or nest in a cool (10–13°C), dark place — like a garage, shed, or wine fridge.
Reduce feeding (they won’t eat much).
Don’t disturb them unless checking water levels.

This rest period is natural and beneficial — it helps boost colony health long-term.

Troubleshooting & Common Questions

Q: My queen hasn’t laid eggs. What’s wrong?
A: She may be stressed. Keep her dark and avoid checking for at least a week.

Q: My workers are dying!
A: Check for mould, dehydration, or lack of food. Clean setup if needed.

Q: They won’t move into the nest.
A: That’s normal. They move only when the test tube becomes dry, mouldy, or too cramped.

Final Tips

Label your tubes! You’ll thank yourself later.
Join ant keeping forums or Discords for advice and ID help.
Don’t worry if progress is slow — ants take time, and patience is key.

Why am I using Lasius niger as my example?

Native to Europe where most of my readers are from — no ethical or legal concerns
Extremely hardy and are so often recommended as a beginner species
Doesn’t require heating (but benefits from it)
Can reach colony sizes of 10,000+ in a few years!

Keeping ants

Step 0: Knowing what you are looking for