LIVE FOOD

To get started, you need a suitable queen or colony, secure housing that matches the colony’s size, fresh water, species-appropriate food, feeding tools and effective escape prevention. Many very small colonies are best kept in a hydrated test tube at first, with an outworld added when needed. Some species also require controlled warmth. An ANTSHQ starter kit can make choosing compatible equipment easier.

Yes. ANTSHQ starter kits are designed to make starting out easier by bringing together compatible housing and essential equipment. Choose a beginner-rated ant species and a kit sized for your colony; a young colony may still be best in its test tube until it needs more room. Check each kits included contents before buying, as a live colony is not necessarily included.

Yes. ANTSHQ sells live ant queens and colonies for delivery within the UK. Choose a species suited to your experience and setup, and check its care requirements before ordering. Standard international retail orders do not include live-ant shipping outside the UK; contact ANTSHQ separately about specialist export enquiries.

Live-ant orders are carefully prepared and dispatched using suitable tracked delivery services, with transit time kept as short as reasonably possible. ANTSHQ normally dispatches Monday to Friday and aims to send orders within 24 hours; orders placed before 1 PM may go out the same day where possible. Dispatch may be delayed if conditions are unsuitable for transporting live animals. If a queen arrives dead, contact ANTSHQ within 24 hours of delivery with photographs so the Live Arrival Guarantee can be reviewed.

Yes. Ant keeping is a fascinating hands-on way to learn about animal behaviour, cooperation and colony development. It can make an excellent long-term educational gift for someone who genuinely wants to care for ants. They are living animals, so the recipient needs suitable housing, food, water and ongoing care; a responsible adult should supervise younger keepers. If you are unsure which species or setup to choose, an ANTSHQ starter kit or gift card is a good place to begin.