F.A.Q.

  • Does your ants colonies have Queens?

Yes, all of our ant colonies are sold with queens. This is because ant workers can only survive for a few weeks to months, so it would not make sense to sell them without a queen.

 

  • Are your ants Queens are mated ?

Yes, all of our ant queens are mated. This means that they are able to produce fertilized eggs, from which female workers will hatch. However, if we accidentally sell you an unmated queen, we will replace it for free or refund your money.

 

  • What does DIAPAUSE mean ?

Some ant species need to have a DIAPAUSE (hibernation), which is a period of rest. This is especially true for ant species from temperate zones. During hibernation, ant colonies move deeper into the soil. They don't need food during this time, and their offspring don't develop. However, the nest area must not dry out. Hibernation is more pronounced in northern areas. In the Mediterranean region, most ant species only have a short and mild hibernation period during which they are still mostly active.

 

  • Should I remove the ants from test tube after shipping ?

No, you should not remove the ants from the test tube immediately after shipping.

Here are some reasons why you should not remove the ants from the test tube immediately after shipping:

  • The ants may be stressed from the shipping process.
  • The ants may not be familiar with their new environment.
  • The ants may not have had time to build a new nest.

 

FOR FOUNDATIONS : 

for foundations, leave them in the test tube and feed them until you have a population of more than a dozen workers. At this point, you can just connect a small hunting area of a few square centimetres. Place some food and water in the hunting area. You can then connect their new nest, and they'll move off at their own rhythm.

FOR BIGGER COLONIES :

It is best to place the open test tube in a prepared hunting area  and let the ants decide when to move. This could take several days or weeks. Some species may close the test tube entrance with soil, which is not a cause for concern.

By leaving the ants in the test tube for a few days or weeks, you are giving them time to adjust to their new environment and move into a new nest. Once they are ready, they will move out of the test tube on their own.

Here are some tips for preparing a nest for your ants:

  • Choose a hunting area that is large enough for the ants to move around freely.
  • Place some food and water in the hunting area.
  • Place the open test tube in the hunting area.

Once the ants have moved out of the test tube, you can start to feed them more protein-rich foods, such as HONEYMOON PROTEINATED NECTAR and live  insects.

 

  • Is sugar water or nectar enough food for my ants?

Most ants eat a variety of foods, including sugar  water or nectar and insects. However, there are some species, such as Atta, Acromyrmex, and Messor, that have special dietary needs. For example, Atta and Acromyrmex ants need leaves to grow a fungus on, which they eat. Messor ants collect seeds and store them in a chamber, where they knead them into a kind of bread.

Adult ants can be fed sugar water or nectar, but their young need a lot of protein, so it is important to give them proteinated nectar or insects to eat.

To make feeding easier, we also have a range of fruit jellies and protein jellies.

Pheidole ants can also be fed raw meat (minced meat), especially in large colonies. These ants will also store the meat as food for later.

In simpler terms:

Most ants eat a variety of foods, including sugar, honey, insects, and seeds. However, some ants have special diets. For example, some ants eat leaves or seeds. Adult ants can eat sugar water or nectar, but their young need to eat protein, such as insects or meat.

 

 

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND GIVING HONEY, AS IT MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH BEE VIRUSES.

 

  • Which insects are right for feeding my colony ?

Ants love to eat insects of all kinds, from tiny flies to big beetles. Just be careful to avoid insects that might carry mites, such as spiders. If you're not sure, freeze the insect for two days before feeding it to your ants. This will kill any mites that might be lurking inside.

 

 

  • Why are my ants (workers or queen) smaller than the size given in the presentation?

Common explanations:

Approximate sizes: The sizes indicated on ant sales websites are generally given as a guide. They may vary from one individual to another, depending on genetic, environmental and dietary factors.
Natural variability: Ants can vary in size naturally in the wild. Colonies that are young or do not have access to sufficient food will generally have smaller ants. This is because ants need food to grow and develop.
Physogastry: Physogastry is a phenomenon that occurs in ants. The social stomach of ants is a structure that stores food and nutrients. When the social stomach is filled to capacity, it expands the gastre, the posterior part of the ant's body. Physogastry can increase ant size by several millimeters.

 

  • Delivery and shipping

shipping costs are kept as simple as possible. They are fixed, regardless of the size and weight of your parcel. However, for all orders including live animals, please choose the fastest delivery to avoid stressing these animals too much.

 

  • Do you ship outside the EU ?

no, we don't ship outside the european union at the moment. Please note that for live ants, import and export permits are required, and import duties may apply. The prices in our store only apply to deliveries within the European Union. If, despite this, you would like us to ship outside the European Union, please contact us using the form below, so that we can respond to your request.

 

  • Do you also deliver ants in winter?

For the well-being of our ants, we don't send any hibernating ants. For other species, we'll send your ants order with a heatpack. Don't forget to include the heatpack in your order.