Homemade Ant Farm

Prepare the Tank

• 1

  Clean a large glass mason jar. Poke holes in the lid of the jar and cover with nylon so the ants cannot escape through the air holes.

• 2

  Fill the jar halfway with soil. Add fresh, damp soil and leaves to make the environment as natural as possible.

• 3

  Cover the jar with dark construction paper or fabric; use tape to secure it. Keep the jar as dark as possible to make the ants feel as though they are still underground.

Obtain the Ants

• 4

  Capture a queen ant to ensure the colony lasts a long time. Queen ants are easiest to capture during the summer, when they are flying around, searching for a place to begin a new colony. Capture a number of flying ants as they can be either males or potential queens. Every female in the tank can potentially become the queen of the colony.

• 5

  Transport the ants in a small container. Add a water-soaked cotton ball to provide the ants with something to drink.

• 6

  Take a cup of soil from the ant colony to add to the jar.

• 7

  Add the ants to the jar.

• 8

  Add fresh leaves and a damp paper towel on occasion to keep the jar moist. Store the jar in a cool, dry place.

Feed the Ants

• 9

  Sprinkle sugar, honey or sweet jam on the surface of the soil.

• 10

  Throw a bug into the jar occasionally to keep the environment natural.

• 11

  Feed the ants small pieces of meat or fruit. Ants are omnivores and will eat almost anything.